UNC Asheville Launches Fusion Pre-Orientation Program;
Freshmen Get a Jump on Their College Careers

While 100 UNC Asheville freshmen and transfer students take on wilderness adventures this week, 14 are tackling the local concrete jungle. And it's new terrain for many.

Freshman Sara Cowan, of Washington, D.C., knew virtually nothing about Asheville and Western North Carolina when she arrived on campus August 12 – but now she does, thanks to Fusion, the new urban alternative to the University's popular Wilderness Experience pre-orientation program.

Cowan and 13 other freshmen and transfer students are taking part in Fusion, which is designed to introduce new students to Western North Carolina and Asheville. Most importantly, Fusion is helping these students forge close bonds with their classmates and the University.

"I was pretty nervous about coming to college," Cowan admitted. "But Fusion has helped me better know my way around campus, meet new friends, settle into my dorm room and become more comfortable in my own skin before classes start."

Fusion, crafted by UNC Asheville's Student Affairs Division, kicked off August 12 and will wrap up August 16. Both the Wilderness Experience and Fusion supplement the traditional new student orientation program, which gets underway on August 17.

Freshman Hannah Barrett, of Washington, D.C., really wanted to participate in a pre-orientation program and said she considered the Wilderness Experience. But in the end, she found Fusion a much better fit for her personality.

"We know how important it is for new students to make connections prior to the start of the semester, but the Wilderness Experience is not the right program for all students," said Bill Haggard, UNC Asheville Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. "Fusion provides a new and different opportunity for students to deeply engage with the University and the local community."

While adjusting to college life, Fusion participants are learning more about the region through the lens of local history and the arts. Students choose from two tracks: "Echoes of the Past" or "Arts Partners." Each day they set out from campus to sample the unique culture heritage of Western North Carolina, including Qualla Boundary, Biltmore House, Folk Art Center, downtown galleries and the Thomas Wolfe House.

It has been great fun for Cowan, who hasn't spent much time in the area. In fact, she said, "I never even heard of Asheville until I started looking at colleges. When I came to visit, I fell in love with the campus and the city."

Transfer student Haley Monley from Fort Payne, Ala. agrees. "Downtown Asheville is absolutely enchanting. And I'm learning something new every day about Asheville and the University. It's great."
Students also appreciate the laid-back atmosphere in which they can ask questions of the Fusion leaders, all who are UNC Asheville upperclassmen. Leaders have fielded questions on a host of topics – from offering tips to living in a dorm to discussing favorite professors.

These important conversations are exactly what Haggard was hoping new students would experience.

"It's early but it's clear that Fusion is a success," he said. "This outstanding collaborative effort of faculty, staff and student leaders is helping get our new students off to the best start possible."

Barrett agreed. She summed up her feelings about her pre-orientation experience by saying, "Fusion makes me realize that my days at UNC Asheville are just going to get better and better."