UH Staff Council will host Spring Welcome the first two days of the Spring 2012 semester, Tuesday-Wednesday, January 17-18. Volunteers are needed, and you can sign up online.

Modeled on the successful Cougar First Impressions event held at the beginning of each Fall semester, the goal of Spring Welcome 2012 is to serve new and returning students with volunteers providing maps and directions, answering questions, and making students feel welcome with a warm smile. A great welcome can have a lasting effect, ultimately impacting student retention.

Although most new students enter UH in the Fall, an expected 2500 transfer students new to UH will begin in Spring 2012, along with about 200 freshmen entirely new to the college experience.

Volunteers welcoming new and returning students will be stationed at six campus locations during four two-hour shifts each day, 8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.:

• 8-10 a.m.
• 10 a.m. - noon
• Noon - 2 p.m.
• 2-4 p.m.

Spring Welcome 2012 locations are:

• PGH Breezeway
• Between Technology Annex & Social Work
• UC South (Facing Hilton)
• Sandy in Defined Space
• Fleming @ Entrance 14 Drive
• UC North Near Power Plant

See the Spring Welcome 2012 map for all locations.

Staff members and others interested in volunteering can sign up online with preferred shift times and locations. To ensure adequate coverage at all locations and times, you may be asked to work at a different location. Preferences will be honored to the extent possible, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Volunteers are encouraged to view the online Spring Welcome training.

Volunteers who have signed up can see their shift and table assignments in the Schedule by Table and Schedule by Volunteer Name (updated 1/13/2012).

We greatly appreciate the service of all volunteers, and you will receive a voucher for a cup of coffee or hot tea courtesy of Auxiliary Services for volunteering.

A Volunteer Appreciation Reception and Debriefing will be held Monday, January 23, 1:30-3 p.m., in 106T MD Anderson Library. All volunteers taking part in Spring Welcome 2012 are invited to enjoy refreshments and give us your feedback about the event.

Staff Council is grateful to the Division of Administration & Finance, the Department of Chemistry, and other campus departments for their support of this event. Your department can support Spring Welcome 2012 by encouraging staff participation and by donating limited practical supplies (pens, notepads, etc.) to be given to students at the tables. Donations would be needed by Friday, January 13.

For questions regarding Spring Welcome 2012 and how you can help, please contact Andy Moon at andy@uh.edu or 832-842-4782, or Troy Christensen at tchristensen@uh.edu or 713-743-8223.