How Do I Country? Overview Future Actions FHSU Background References Ricardo Zamora Student Director for Transition Experience Fort Hays State University r_zamora.se@fhsu.edu Haydee Reyes Tiger Impact Student Director Fort Hays State University hpreyesr@mail.fhsu.edu How Do I Country? Overview Future Actions FHSU had previously brought headphone disco, comedians, etc. as evening entertainment during Tiger Impact Welcome Weekend, but this last Fall the Tiger Impact Team ventured into something new. A new activity was incorporated into to Tiger Impact 2016: a country dance. This lead to a lot of thinking in regards to what the FHSU Orientation and Transition team was doing to help incoming students from Metropolitan areas transition to going to attending an institution in a western town of Kansas with a population of 20, 000 people. There are some ways in which you can help urban students who attend your university transition to living in small town. Emerge students in activities common for your town. Hays, KS is known for swing dancing and two-stepping, by having a country dance as an option for students days after arriving on campus this allowed for urban students to be exposed to it in contained and safe environment. Focus on what you have rather than what you don’t. Let the “gems” (family owned restaurants and boutiques) in your town be known. These could even possibly be alternatives to “Targets” and “Chipotles.” Living in a small town offers opportunities that students would not get living in a big city. In Hays, during the first couple weeks, the farm on campus offers hay rides. FHSU Background Fort Hays State University, founded in 1902 as the Western Branch of Kansas State Normal school, is located in Hays, KS out in western Kansas. The institution was originally located where Fort Hays, a military outpost once stood. This is primarily a small rural farming community with a lot of land surrounding the city. In a city of 20,000 people there is lack of big-chain restaurants and stores which can be off-putting for students from urban communities where they have a vast number of shopping and dining options. Food and Shopping Options (in Hays, KS): Big Creek Crossing Mall: Buckle Famous Footwear JCPenney Maurices Payless Shoe Source Rue 21 Chain-Restaurants: Kentucky Fried Chicken Domino’s Pizza Ihop Taco Bell McDonalds Wendy’s Sonic Burger king References Bruner, B.L., Moock, K., & Nightingale, M. (2016, November). Orientation, transition & retention at rural-serving institutions. Educational session presented at the meeting of NODA: Association for Orientation, Transition & Retention in Higher Education, Indianapolis IN. Photo Credits: Bob Duffy Freshmen Thoughts In regards to the Country Dance, two class of 2020 Freshmen shared their thoughts: “I really enjoyed it, I never had done anything like it. I had no idea how to two-step or swing dance! I’m glad I went, it definitely helped me get a feel for what Hays, KS was like!” –Juana Lira (Wichita, KS) “I am as city as it gets. I was really nervous coming to Hays because of how small it was, but I went to the dance and I loved it. It was unique and really fun! It definitley helped me be as ease about transitioning to a smaller city.” –Kai Walker (Kansas City, KS)