By DR. JANET CUNNINGHAM, Guest Columnist
Welcome back, students! I am excited to see such an active campus again while being able to meet and greet many of you.
These last two weeks have already been extremely busy, and I hope you have had the opportunity to make connections.
As you have noticed, Northwestern is moving forward with our school year as planned, which is a traditional classroom set-up with no face covering mandate.
Of course, we encourage wearing face coverings if you feel comfortable.
We are watching COVID data and reports to ensure we are making the best decisions.
With moving toward normalcy, I am excited to attend concerts and plays, sporting events, and get to know our students on a personal level.
If you see me around campus, please come say “Hi” and introduce yourself. I enjoy meeting our Ranger family and hope you have the best experiences on our campuses.
To make the best of your time as a student, I have some tips to share with you.
My number one tip to succeeding during the school year is to attend your classes.
Northwestern does have an attendance rule in place, and our instructors do notice if you’re missing.
You will meet new people, you will learn more and retain more information, and you will receive personal attention from your instructors when in the classroom.
Some instructors may even give participation points!
I highly encourage you to get involved on campus.
The culture at Northwestern is very welcoming, which leads to great student organizations and clubs. Ask questions and get involved – you will be a busy student if you do so!
If you find there isn’t an organization that fits your interests, visit with Student Services and develop your own group.
My last tip for you is to choose an organizational system that fits your needs.
Whether you’re an avid user of sticky notes or prefer to keep your calendar of activities on an electronic device, stay organized and on top of your assignments and commitments. If this is something you struggle with, purchase a planner and hand-write all your activities while also placing them in your cell phone calendar.
Writing your items down, along with an alert from your phone, will help you remember your schedule. As we look ahead, I encourage you to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. This not only adds a layer of protection for yourself, but also helps protect your loved ones as you return to your families over the breaks and holidays.
We have a great incentive program that was recently announced and we encourage you to take part in that. I am looking forward to seeing you at all the events Northwestern has to offer this year and happy you chose to become a Ranger.
Ride Rangers Ride,
President Janet Cunningham
Dr. Janet Cunningham is the president of Northwestern Oklahoma State University.