SMU Football: Freshman Move-In

Prepared for: Coach Stigall

Prepared by: Jessica Resler
Date: January 30th, 2017
Planning

Program Name: Freshman Move-In

Program Purpose: The purpose of this program is to provide a welcoming environment

where freshman football players can learn about their campus resources

and have a chance to settle in to their new home as an SMU Mustang.

Program Goals: 1. Students will gain an understanding of their available athletic and

academic resources.
2. Students will gain a sense of belonging and become accustomed to the

SMU campus.
3. Students will take their first steps towards becoming responsible for

their own academic success (i.e. registering for courses).

Program Outcomes: 1. Students will become accustomed to the campus through identifying

potential mentors and peer student-athletes as their new network of

support.
2. Students will be able to identify various athletic and academic staff that

they can reach out to when they have any questions or concerns.
3. Students will be able to navigate campus and identify where each of

their classes, athletic, and academic obligations are located.

By holding the Freshman Football Move-In, students will start to feel like part of the

SMU community. Freshman football players will have the chance to interact with upper-

classman teammates, coaching staff, academic staff, and athletic administration. It is pivotal that

these athletes are able to navigate campus early on as summer and fall camp leaves little time to

become acclimated to their surroundings. The overarching purpose of this event is to show

SMUs commitment and investment in each of its football players and to send a message to their

families that they are being left in the great hands of the SMU athletic staff.

Implementing

2 months in advance is when every athletic, academic, administrative, and support staff

should be contacted about their commitment to the event (Appendix A). Once we have
confirmation on the individuals able to attend we can move forward in booking spaces and

preparing all logistics. We will start with closing off a large area for the athletes and parents to

park while they are moving in to the dorm rooms. We will contact parking services to

specifically reserve an area for our event, with the hopes that we can get it closed off for public

and campus traffic control. Parking passes will be provided to each athlete upon their arrival, and

will be distributed by a group of upper-classman athletes at the entrance of the parking space

(Appendix B). Along with parking spots, signage should be secured/created, which will guide

attendants to the summer dorm rooms. We will contact Creative Services regarding how to

design and print directory signage that will be placed around campus. Roughly one (1) month

before the event happens, signage should be approved and printed for display (Appendix C). This

signage will be displayed in various high traffic locations across campus.

Roughly 2 weeks after sending our previous commitment email, athletic, academic,

administrative, and support staff that have yet to respond to the first invitation should be sent a

follow-up. At this time we will also email our upper-classmen regarding their commitment to the

event. We will send them the running schedule and explain our expectations of them on the day

of (Appendix D).
Roughly 6 weeks before our event we will send a special request to use Lee Campus

Dining Hall and ask for it to be closed during the time our athletes and families will be attending

lunch. We will go through dining services to make this request and will provide them with the

number of individuals attending. We will also work out a payment option with campus dining to

ensure each individual is able to enter hassle-free.

2 weeks in advance, we must finalize the commitments of the athletic, academic,

administrative, and support staff. We will then need to assign respective athletes to each advisor

for the advisor portion of the day. We will also need to confirm with the RA, RD, and GCC of

the residence hall for their Dorm Room Etiquette and Rules 101. We will need to gather a list

from the residence life staff for room assignments and to obtain keys for each athlete. Sign-in

sheets for student-athletes with their room assignments can be finalized at this time (Appendix
E). Lastly, we will contact parking services to confirm that parking spaces have been reserved for

attending participants.
In the days before the fair, training will be held with the upper-classman football players

explaining their roles. Signage should be picked up and put up around campus. Supplemental

food (Chic-fil-A, water bottles, etc.) should be ordered 3 days before and picked up the morning

of the event. Lastly, in the days leading up to the event, all materials should be organized and

potentially packed into a vehicle for transport. A final email should be sent to the athletic,

academic, administrative, and support staff, along with the residence life staff with the running

schedule attached (Appendix F).

On the day of the event, the parking services staff should cone off all parking spots.

Upper-classman athletes should be prepared at the entrance, food table, and room assignment

table in order to efficiently serve the athletes and their family.

Assessment

In order to receive feedback on our efforts, a link to an anonymous online survey will be

distributed to each student. The list of recipients was gathered from the ASDA and compliance

database. This survey will gather information about whether the athletes felt welcomed, included,

and prepared to start their journey as a Mustang. This survey will also prompt students opinions

on the event itself and their personal experience. Students will be asked questions with a five-

point likert scale about their experiences during Freshman Move-In. A screenshot and link to the

survey is available in Appendix G.

Conclusion
Move-in requires a lot of moving parts. This is the athletes and families first impression

as an official SMU Mustang, and this impression must be positive. A lot of front load work must

be done to ensure a smooth day of operation. By contacting the correct parties beforehand, we

will be able to move through the day with limited unexpected issues. This event will require the

work of a lot of individuals but it has the power to make or break a freshmans impression of

campus and the football program.

Appendixes

Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Appendix G
https://docs.google.com/a/g.clemson.edu/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeV762sN4D44e
4dCwNe_5KaRJsPViMatYqU_barNAQyIBIzaw/viewform

Time Location Activity Staff Involved Athletes Involved Description

8-9 AM Summer Coach and Coaches, AD, Upper-classman Families and athletes
 housing Athlete meet Support staff athletes will be be directed to respec
Location and greet. day of ops, required to show up parking in front of th
Room recruiting and welcome summer housing. Th
assignment, director, incoming freshmen Coach and AD will
and schedule recruiting and families welcome families by
of the day. operations ** Athletes will be giving a short speech
They will coordinator, given service hours SMU and their next
also receive a director of for their time ** years. Athletes will
small free external welcome freshmen a
breakfast operations) their families as they
and will give out a c
a biscuit and there ro
assignment upon the
arrival.
9 AM-12 PM Summer MOVE IN! Recruiting Upper-classman Upper-classman athl
Housing director and athletes will be will help freshmen a
Location operation required to stay families take the athl
coordinator during this time belongings up to the
(anyone else can period to help dorm. They do not n
join if they want) freshmen bring their set the rooms up, how
belonging into their they do need to offer
dorm helping hand to expe
the process.
12:30-1:30 PM Lee Lunch! Recruiting Upper-classman can Freshmen and their
Campus director and come to lunch if they families will be treat
Dining operation want, however they complimentary lunch
Hall coordinator are not required to
attend
2-4 PM Loyd All- Freshmen ADSA Advising No upper-classman Freshmen will meet
Sport will register staff are required to be an academic advisor
Center for their first here register for their fall
semester of classes. They will re
fall classes their class schedule i
hard-copy during thi
meeting.
4:30-5:30 Gerald J. Stadium tour Recruiting No upper-classman Freshmen and their
Ford director and are required to be families will have th
Stadium operation here opportunity to tour th
coordinator stadium, locker room
(anyone else can strength training faci
join if they want) during this time.
6-6:30 PM Assigned RA meeting RA, Resident No upper-classman RAs and Resident
summer Director, GCC are required to be Directors will go ove
housing here ruled of the dorm an
common hall with the athletes
area
Running Schedule: