Smith Launches Undergraduate Fellows Program

Several Robert H. Smith School of Business freshmen got to know their classmates even before the fall semester began Aug. 30. The approximately 250 first-year students played games, bonded over meals and helped each other complete a ropes course and climbing wall as part of their orientation to the Smith Undergraduate Fellows Program.

This is the inaugural year for Smiths Freshman Fellows, students initial opportunity to get involved in the Undergraduate Fellows Program. Faculty and administrators created the undergraduate program to help downsize the large university experience and create small communities of scholars within the Smith School of Business (read more about the program in the spring issue ofSmith Business magazine).

New incoming Freshman Fellows are grouped in cohorts of approximately 40 classmates according to enrollment in BMGT 110, an introductory business course. Students participate in Freshman Fellows through their sophomore year, at which point they can choose to participate in up to two upperclassmen fellows tracks in specialty areas such as research, accounting, entrepreneurship, supply chain and investments, among other things.

Though the Freshman Fellows program is not required, Pat Cleveland, associate dean for undergraduate programs, estimated 75 percent of incoming freshman are participating this year.

Fellows cohorts move through the first two years of Smith completing activities together, such as attending field trips, lectures, classes, a retreat, workshops, volunteer projects, and dinner clubs. The program kicked off with the activities at Freshman Fellow Orientation, held Sunday, Aug. 27 and Tues., Aug. 29. Students met their cohorts and had a chance to get to know each other through team-building activities.

I met a lot of new people that I wouldn't have had a chance to otherwise, said Sarah Trippe, a Freshman Fellow from New Jersey. Were starting out bonding with Smith classmates.

Smith School sophomores, juniors and seniors acted as orientation mentors for the Freshman Fellows, organizing activities and answering questions. Smith senior Kirsten Cicale, a participant in the Research Fellows program and part of the QUEST program, served as a mentor and said the program offers a really good opportunity for students to be introduced to the Smith School in a relaxed, social atmosphere. She said she would have participated had it been offered when she entered Smith four years ago.

Freshmen walk into Van Munching and see the MBA [students] in their suits. As a freshman you're probably overwhelmed because you probably don't even own one, Cicale said. This program is a good way to get acclimated to the Smith School climate.

Several fellows said they liked having experienced Smith students as orientation mentors. Eddie Tao, an incoming freshman from Potomac, Md., said the small-group discussions during which fellows could ask their mentors questions about the Smith School, classes, campus life or anything else were very helpful.

Smith sophomore Marla Weintraub, with help from a team of Smith student mentors, organized activities for the two-day orientation program. Activities included group discussions, ice-breaker games to get to know classmates, games, and a turn climbing the ropes course and climbing wall at the university's Outdoor Recreation Center.

Students enjoyed simulating a supply chain by assembling 20 university-related items from marshmallows, licorice, M&Ms, pretzels and frosting. They also played a game of Clue, with small groups posing as various universities mascots to solve the murder of the Duke Blue Devil by the Lady Terps.

The Freshman Fellows orientation culminated with a dinner with Smith School Dean Howard Frank in the atrium of Van Munching Hall, followed by an ice cream social. Next for the Freshman Fellows: the annual Smith Business Week, which includes career workshops, a career fair and networking event, opportunities to get involved in student activities, and a tailgate party before a Terps football game a busy and exciting kickoff to four years at the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Freshman Convocation will be held on Friday, September 8, followed by Business Week, the week of September 11.

▓ Carrie Taschner, Office of Marketing Communications