Assistant Director of Orientation and Blugold Welcome
Hello and welcome to your virtual orientation experience! My name is Taylor Zeimet and I oversee Orientation and Blugold Welcome programs here at UW-Eau Claire. I’m thrilled to welcome you as incoming Blugolds to Wisconsin’s most beautiful campus (you'll hear that a lot - because it's true!)
Being a new student at UW-Eau Claire offers an experience unlike any other, and I hope you take advantage of your time here to establish lasting connections with staff, faculty, and students across campus. Even if you are joining us from afar, there are plenty of ways to get involved virtually and engage with your Blugold community in a meaningful way.
While I know that you'll be receiving a TON of information in the coming weeks, I wanted to make special mention of our Navigate app. Through this app, you can view your class schedule, schedule appointments with your advisor, find information on campus resources, connect with others in the same classes to form study groups, find alerts and to-dos that mark action steps you need to take, and the list goes on. Make sure to download it early and stay connected! We want to help you navigate this journey successfully.
Review the content in this virtual program ahead of your first term, and don't hesitate to reach out with questions. We look forward to seeing you become an integral part of our campus community, and I wish you the best of luck at UWEC!
Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management
Welcome to UWEC! I have one of the greatest jobs on campus, and that's helping students. The Enrollment Management Division encompasses many areas (Admissions, Orientation, Housing, etc.), but I can tell you that regardless of the department you're working with, support is one of the things we at UWEC do exceptionally well - we help students! My career has been about student success, so I am going to share with you my words of wisdom that I have learned in the past 30 years: Connected students + engaged students = successful students!
As a Blugold, you will be gaining one of the best undergraduate educations in the UW system - one that offers flexibility to explore and the confidence to graduate in a time that makes sense for you. You'll establish credit with future employers with your participation in high impact practices - whether that's undergraduate research with one of our amazing faculty members, an internship where you learn practical hands-on training and leadership development, or perhaps a semester in Scotland, Germany, or Australia for study abroad. Between these opportunities and our partnerships with the Eau Claire community, we are proud to offer you an amazing experience as a student and future alum to this campus!
Okay, so advice. Be sure and start looking at student organizations and clubs that you could join, and when you're on campus, attend programs and events to put yourself out there. If you're interested, find a part-time job on campus that offers you the ability to get connected AND make some money. I will also say that it's normal to 'not feel normal' for a bit as you make the transition to campus, and that is okay. If you are joining us virtually, that transition can be an even tougher battle, but I will assure you that we have the staff and the resources to help support you in any way that we can. Don't be afraid to reach out to one of our dedicated staff, faculty, or fellow Blugolds to seek that help early.
My final word of advice is to check your UWEC email daily! It's how we communicate all important updates and deadlines and help keep you connected in the ways we know you wish to be. I can’t say it enough…it’s an exciting time to be a Blugold and we are thrilled to have you!
