From Destination Arizona to Bear Down Week, U of A provides support for new students

First-year students arrive at the University of Arizona with a mix of excitement and uncertainty about the road ahead. As these students reach the six-week mark in their crucial first semester – a time when homesickness and intensifying coursework can weigh on them – offices across campus are working together to make students feel supported, connected and ready to succeed in a large university environment.

Destination Arizona

Students are welcomed with Destination Arizona, a two-day on-campus transition experience.

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"Destination Arizona was created to give students a chance to meet one another, build community and learn how to navigate a large institution before classes begin," said Kristina Wong Davis, vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions. "We partner across campus – academic units, Student Affairs, advising, housing, the Dean of Students Office – because students are trying to put together all the pieces as they arrive."

Launched after the COVID-19 pandemic to restore in-person, community-building orientation, the program continues as an opportunity for students to build friendships and learn the culture and expectations of the university.

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This year's Destination Arizona included a session called "What is College, and What the Heck Did I Get Myself Into?" where students learned the basics of university life, from new terms and acronyms to the roles of staff and faculty and important dates and deadlines. The program also featured resource fairs, academic unit welcoming events, social mixers and sessions for Spanish-speaking and Indigenous students and their families.

For senior Adriana Grijalva, the journey to becoming student body president with the Associated Students of the University of Arizona "all started at McKale," where Destination Arizona kicks off.

"Destination Arizona and orientation made college feel welcoming," Grijalva said. "As an undecided student, it opened my eyes to the many majors and opportunities available here."

Now her experience has come full circle. Grijalva has been a featured speaker at the last two events, advising students to be comfortable asking questions and encouraging them to join clubs and organizations.

Bear Down Week

Mid-semester can be a crossroads for some first-year students, as stress can build up.

"Six weeks is when midterms start, coursework intensifies and students may realize college is tougher than they expected," said Amanda Kraus, vice president for student affairs. "We created Bear Down Week as a chance to check in, remind them of resources and help them connect with our campus community."

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Grijalva remembers that feeling, saying Bear Down Week comes exactly when students need extra support.

"That six-week mark is tough," she said. "Even though I’m from Tucson, I remember feeling overwhelmed with midterms, essays and projects. Bear Down Week puts a name and purpose to what we’ve been working on — showing that we're here to support students outside of academics too."

The inaugural Bear Down Week runs Oct. 6-10 and includes a full slate of student events such as self-care opportunities, social events, workshops and shows.

"The Bear Down Fall Festival will be the marquee event, with tents, giveaways and lots of opportunities for connection," Kraus said. "We scheduled it to coincide with Family Weekend, so parents and families can see what their students have access to."

Strategic support

Destination Arizona and Bear Down Week connect with the university's strategic imperatives.

"This work aligns with our 'success for every student' imperative," Kraus said. "From Destination Arizona to Bear Down Week, we want the student experience to feel seamless."

The university's support system touches every point of a student's Wildcat journey, Wong Davis said.

"Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every student who comes to the U of A crosses the stage at graduation," she said.

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How to help

With so many employees in student-facing positions, from faculty and advisors to library, recreation and housing staff, there are countless opportunities for connection every day.

"Every faculty or staff interaction matters," Wong Davis said. "Even transfer students are in transition their first semester here. Being mindful of that helps students feel supported throughout their journey."

Kraus outlined several ways faculty and staff can make a difference:

• Acknowledge the mid-semester stress that many students experience.
• Normalize the challenges of transitioning to a large university environment.
• Offer flexibility and periodic check-ins.
• Know and share resources, such as Counseling and Psych Services, Campus Recreation, and the Disability Resource Center.

"Faculty are often the people students turn to when they're overwhelmed," Kraus said. "Even a simple check-in – 'How's everyone doing at mid-semester?' – can make a difference."

Measuring success

Wong Davis said the student support initiatives complement a broader enrollment strategy focused on recruiting students who truly see themselves at the U of A and choose it intentionally, which helps build a stronger sense of pride and belonging across campus. She said success will be measured over the next five or six years through improved retention and graduation rates, reduced time-to-degree, lower debt, strong career and graduate outcomes and student satisfaction.

Ultimately, Wong Davis' vision stretches beyond the numbers. She wants every student to have the same support she had as an undergraduate at the U of A.

"This is home for me," she said. "The U of A gave me the support I needed as a student, and I want us to always be the kind of institution that steps up to help students succeed."