Having a clear goal is always ideal when planning events, even if it is just a small one (i.e. I want to have a conversation with at least 5 students to connect with them). Knowing your campus is always key as well, that way you can plan a day and time that fits when most students will have time to attend your event.
These events generally:
- include interactive activities for students to participate in with their friends
- create opportunities to meet new people (i.e. laser tag, mechanical bull, photo booth, and more)
As you can see, the balance of strengthening existing friendships and fostering new ones is important.
So far, the most successful events at my school have been activities such as hosting a concert outside, and annual events such as our “Up All Night” and Homecoming dance party. Another event I found exceptional as a student was called “Vegas Night”. This event had such a fun atmosphere as my peers learned how to play the various games and win tickets “gamble” for prizes. This event was so successful last year that when it was brought back the time of the event was extended and even more activities were provided. The students enjoyed coming out to an evening event and just having fun with people. It was a great “dance floor” event because it created an awesome amount of student engagement and helped them feel a connection to their campus.
This post was written by Ann Marie Witkowski, a student at Fairmont State University. She’s a Communications major, and a Student Activities Special Events Assistant.
