Averett University is always making moves to create an exciting and fun environment for its students. To enhance student life on campus, the Student Involvement Team is always looking for new ways to get Averett students involved through on campus events.
Starting on March 10, 2025, Student Involvement hosted a five day series of events for Spring Fling. These events included a pop up shop, late night bingo, a paint and sip event, intramural basketball games, look good and feel good events, a movie night and even a fashion show. All of these events bring something new and enjoyable to the students while also giving them a chance to connect with their peers.
“As a commuter, student involvement events have helped me feel more connected with Averett. They have also given me the chance to meet new people and make new friends,” Alheli Ramos-Garcia, a junior majoring in psychology, said.
Not only do events like the ones during Spring Fling give students a chance to connect with their peers, they also shape campus life as a whole.
“Having events like the ones during Spring Fling is important in shaping Averett’s campus life and culture because students have a week of engaging activities to look forward to. We are able to bring our campus together for special events and cater them to their liking,” Morgan Dearing, the coordinator of student involvement, said.
Over the years, Averett’s Student Involvement Team has hosted so many different events that students have grown to love.
“Some of my favorite events would have to be the intramural games as well as late night bingo,” Ramos-Garcia said. “I think they are important because they allow students to build connections, help them engage in non-academic activities, and it also helps students feel more involved.”
Averett has built a reputation of calling the members of its community a family. This is due to the strength of that community, and student involvement lies at the heart of it.
“Student involvement events contribute to building a strong campus community at Averett by providing a wide variety of events that cater to different student demographics,” Dearing said. “We are able to tailor our event planning to meet the needs and wants of our students. We listen to what they would like to see and implement their feedback the best we can.”
The main purpose of student involvement at any university is to provide students with an opportunity to connect with others and to emerge themselves in campus life. On top of that, students are given a chance to learn new things and develop themselves as a person.
“Participating in student involvement events has allowed me to meet people from different backgrounds while also helping me work on my communication skills,” Ramos-Garcia said.
Averett’s Student Involvement Team is not lost on the benefits they provide to students through the many events they host.
“Students can gain knowledge of the University while being able to engage with students and staff in different settings. It allows students to get out their shell and experience what Averett has to offer from the Student Involvement side,” Dearing said.
On top of this, the Student Involvement Team knows that they need to use certain strategies that will leave an impact and also increase involvement as a whole.
“As student participation has decreased since COVID-19, the Student Involvement Team uses strategies such as surveys, outreach, and social media to see what students want,” Dearing said. “Students will participate in campus events that they want too, we ensure to promote heavy on all events. We also reach out to different departments to help spread the word about events.”
Students who are involved and are participating in campus events long to see other students do the same. By talking to students who are invested in campus events and life, more students will be pushed to do the same.
“Advice I would give students would be to not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone and to try new things,” Ramos-Garcia said. “Not only is it a great way to meet new people but it also helps create a sense of belonging.”
Averett University and the Student Involvement Team offers so many opportunities for students to get involved in campus life. As the semester starts to reach its end, it isn’t too late for students to seize the day and engage with the campus and their peers. A great way for students to learn more about upcoming events is by following the student involvement Instagram page (@averettstudentinvolvement) and by keeping up with events through Cougar Connection.
