In previous years, students were returning to DePaul for autumn quarter after spending their summers working and having fun with friends and family. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, summer, and now fall quarter, has been different. Both returning and new students have had to adjust to schedules in which they are spending the majority of their class time in front of computer screens. They are engaging with their professors, other students, faculty and staff remotely, which is something that many students are not used to, regardless of their experiences with online courses at the end of their academic term in the spring. So how does DePaul promote a sense of community amongst students in an online environment, where everyone is spread out across the US and even the world?
Follow Veep Gene, the vice president for Student Affairs, for consistent posts on activities, events, opportunities and more virtual offerings from DePaul! Veep Gene shares information on all kinds of opportunities for students to get in touch with each other online: Welcome Week events including Blue Thursday, Get to Know DePaul, Dinner with Your Classmates, virtual Photo Booths, as well as events throughout the quarter like Wellness Wednesdays, Virtual Bon Appetit, Trivia and so much more!
Whether you are a parent or a student, @VeepGene is a great way to keep yourself in the loop with everything going on at DePaul! Your student can also visit the Digital Engagement Network (DEN) to learn about remote engagement opportunities. If they’re not sure how to get involved, the Office of Student Involvement (OSI) can help point them in the right direction. Have your student fill out the Involvement Calculator form (link), and OSI will make some personalized suggestions for your student!