 |
Summer 2003 Volume 6 Number 3 |
Home » MSC Today Magazine » Summer 2003 » Student Life
|
Student Life at the Warner Robins Campus Takes on a Whole New Meaning
Fall classes have not yet begun at Macon State College’s new Warner Robins Campus, but the Student Affairs staff already has scheduled events through the middle of next spring. From career expos to an international festival to health screenings to special lectures, Macon State students attending classes in Warner Robins will have a chance to enjoy a “real campus” experience. The Warner Robins Campus is more than triple the size of the approximately 12,000-square-foot Warner Robins Center (which closes at the end of the summer term when faculty, staff and students move to the new location on Watson Boulevard), and Lynn McCraney intends to take full advantage of the extra space. “I equate the additional space with additional opportunities for Student Life-sponsored activities at the new campus,” said McCraney, a 1987 graduate of Macon State who is now the College’s dean of students. Within days of the official opening of the Warner Robins Campus on Aug. 4 (with classes beginning Aug. 19), the Office of Student Life will host a New Student Orientation, and later in the month there will be a two-day Grand Opening Festival, again hosted by the Student Life staff. “We will be on hand to welcome students to the new Warner Robins Campus,” McCraney said. “We will have food, prizes, music and lots of give-aways.” The Student Life Program, which falls under Macon State’s Office of Student Affairs, is designed to complement the College’s academic curriculum and provide support and leadership training for students. MSC Student Life programs, publications, organizations, service learning projects and special events are funded by the $44 per term activity fee paid by students enrolled for four or more semester hours. “Student Life has been sponsoring activities at the Warner Robins Center since it opened in 1991,” McCraney said. “In fact, this past academic year, there were more than 40 separate events for our students taking classes in Warner Robins. They had health screenings, Movie Madness Days featuring popcorn and sodas, ice cream socials, international food sampling as part of our annual International Festival and novelty attractions such as Funny Fotos and Wax Hands.” Currently, there are more than 25 active student organizations at Macon State. While a Warner Robins Campus-based student organization has yet to emerge, McCraney said several students have approached her about forming a Macon State College chapter of Houston County Habitat for Humanity. Several years ago, the Student Government Association added a senatorial position for the Macon State College center in Warner Robins.
“We hope that students attending classes at our new Warner Robins Campus will be interested in forming student clubs and organizations, and we stand ready to help,” McCraney said. “We also hope that students in our four-year programs will organize chapters of major-related organizations, such as the MSC Chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals, the MSC Association of Nursing Students and Phi Beta Lambda for business majors.” McCraney said Student Life Program Coordinator Lisa Goodwin will oversee Student Life functions at the Warner Robins Campus. “We are thrilled at the prospect of having student organizations in Houston County for the first time,” McCraney said. “As we continue to offer students more choices of academic majors, the clubs and organizations associated with those majors will flourish. “Additionally, there is space available for club meetings and events and staff dedicated to assisting interested students and faculty with the establishment and support of these organizations. For the first time, MSC students in Houston County have a chance to be part of a real college campus, and we will make sure that ‘real campus’ experience includes Student Life opportunities.” To learn more, call the MSC Student Life office at 471-2710. |
