This past May, SWAU celebrated its 130th class of graduates, and this past week, SWAU welcomed its next class of incoming freshmen. August 14th marked the beginning of CORE week, a five day experience curated by SWAU to assist the freshmen transition to university. 
For those who are wondering, CORE is an acronym for Character, Opportunity, Respect, and Eternity, and those themes were evident throughout the week. On the first few days, students participated in various team-building activities, breakout sessions with success coaches, roundtable talks, and even an outing to Fort Worth. The freshmen were also able to experience a taste of spiritual life here at SWAU, with vespers Friday night, Elevate Church Service, and SWAY Vespers later in the evening for a more casual worship experience. 
When talking to Rahneeka Hazelton, Vice President for Enrollment here at SWAU, she raved about the benefits of the week's experience. "The meaning of CORE is seen in every team building activity the students participate in", she said. "The best part of this week is that it coincides with a course they will all take in the fall called first-year experience, which will continue to help them with the tools needed to navigate through their first semester in college." 
With school gearing up, the goal is that our freshmen know how to use every resource for success at their disposal. During the week, students were introduced to their advisors and staff members in different departments on campus. They learned how to use Canvas and access Self-Service; they were guided through the registration and financial aid processes as well. The transition from high school to college can be tricky and can be difficult for students far from home, but with the CORE experience, students are eased into their first year. It's important that all of our students, especially our incoming freshmen, know that we're a family and there are people and tools in place to ensure your success at SWAU.