The closing of campus for the Democratic National Convention Aug. 25-29, two weeks after the semester has started, will have many ripple effects. Brooke Dilling, director of Student Activities, hopes that student attrition isn’t one of them.

To keep new students engaged with the College when it closes for the DNC, Student Activities Director Brooke Dilling and her staff have planned "Metro State Gets Unconventional."

According to Dilling, student development theory holds that “students spend the first two weeks at a new college determining whether or not they’ve picked the right place.” The first six weeks tend to determine how successful a student will be, as patterns are set in class attendance, study habits, meeting with advisors and making friends.

“The convention is happening at a crucial time of the semester, especially for students new to college altogether or just new to Metro State,” says Dilling. “We want to continue to connect them to the College during DNC week and make sure they come back.”

Accordingly, the Student Activities department has planned a number of activities for students both during the initial weeks of the semester and during the convention week.

The first week of class will be “Welcome Week,” during which there will be activities to help new students make friends, including a tri-institutional event featuring a barbecue, live music and games.

Then, during the week of the convention, Student Activities has planned “Metro State Gets Unconventional.”

“Our hope is to help connect students with one another in volunteer and social opportunities,” Dilling says. All the activities will be held off campus, to avoid the traffic congestion and clamor that will undoubtedly surround the convention.

The service opportunities range from single-day to multiple-day events, and will put volunteers together in groups to further their ability to get acquainted. Activities range from trail work at Rocky Mountain National Park to playing basketball or riding a tandem bike with disabled persons. Partner organizations include Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Colorado Wheelchair Sports, Assisted Cycling Tours, Jeffco Action Center, Food Bank of the Rockies, Jefferson County Open Space, Dumb Friends League and Friends of Dinosaur Ridge. Student Activities will be distributing tee shirts to all volunteers.

The social opportunities include Metro State days, with discounts at area attractions: Water World on Monday, Elitch Lanes Bowling on Tuesday, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Wednesday, the Denver Botanic Gardens on Thursday and Boondocks on Friday. In addition, discounts at other area attractions are being offered throughout the week to students with a Metro State ID.

Student Activities will promote “Metro State Gets Unconventional” at new-student orientations, in the Tivoli, outside of classrooms, in residence halls and at other crowded spots around campus, as well as electronically, during the first week of the semester. Any faculty member interested in having a representative from Student Activities announce the program in his or her class is encouraged to contact Student Activities.

Call Student Activities at 303-556-2595 or go to http://studentactivities.mscd.edu/ for more information about the program or to sign up for a volunteer project.