September 29, 2021
Together, We Thrive... The Power of Community

Everywhere you go on campus, there’s people. This seems like a fairly obvious statement to make and one that does not have to be further explained, but seeing people was a rare occurrence last year. I lived on campus in the Rowan Boulevard Apartments and could easily go days without seeing another soul. I was so grateful to be at school and still feel that sense of belonging, but it was nothing like the vibrant in-person experience I had as a freshman. When I did get the chance to leave my apartment, the streets were quiet and empty. Due to uncontrollable circumstances, Rowan was just not the Rowan that I know and so deeply love.

Fortunately, the sense of community that I so adore about Rowan has come back in full force and is flourishing in every aspect of student life. I see students smiling, even
through their masks, and making new connections. I encounter diverse events
occurring all over campus every time I walk to class. Treasured events like
Family Weekend and Homecoming have been restored to a level of interaction that
simply was not possible last year. I’m meeting new friends, bonding with
professors, and making memories that could not exist remotely. Rowan did an
incredible job transitioning to an online environment and keeping students
engaged, but being in-person is an enriching, fulfilling experience and one
that I have longed for since the pandemic began. The community here at Rowan is
like no other, and I am overjoyed to be fully immersed in it once again.

-Emily Lowe, '23
Member of University Well-Being Committee
A Note from the Editors

As fall has officially begun, we hope you have found a sense of belonging in our university community. Although the indoor masking mandate continues, as individuals lets continue to be patient, empathetic, and kind. With our goal of creating and maintaining thriving and well spaces, join us in discussing opportunities and action items as a Rowan Thrive Activator! If you have questions about Rowan Thrive email rowanthrive@rowan.edu.
COMMUNITY
Friday, 10/1: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Recreation Center

Your blood donation will SAVE 3 LIVES. Be a Hero. Donor Eligibility Appointments are Preferred. Sign up online at www.redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code: Rowan.

Earn 1 hour of Volunteer Service Credit for donating! Organizations interested in volunteering at the blood drive or tabling events should email Sasmita or Noelle. 
Tuesday, 10/5: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
RSVP to attend Student Center 144 or
Register to access virtually

Join the Office of Social Justice, Inclusion, and Conflict Resolution as we share insights from our focus groups and surveys to chart the course of our future.The event will also include an open forum and Q&A to ensure that faculty, staff, and students have the opportunity to share their hopes for the future of Social Justice at Rowan.

#RowanVotes is an initiative of the Rowan University campus community to increase voter registration, participation, and education. The goal is to have 100% of eligible students registered to vote and 100% participation in the election.  Click here for a voting guide.

Rowan will host NJ's second Gubernatorial Debate between Phil Murphy and Jack Ciattarelli on Tuesday, 10/12 at 8pm at Pfleeger Concert Hall.
PURPOSE
Monday, 10/4: 12 - 2 p.m.
Chamberlain Student Center

Stop by the Office of Winter and Summer Sessions table and treat yo' self to a sweet treat in celebration of Winter Session registration opening on October 5th! *While Supplies Lasts. The winter session is a great way to catch up or get ahead of degree requirements and it may even help you improve your overall GPA! 
Thursday, 10/7: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Increase your visibility and network with employers who are interested in obtaining information about you and to promote their organization's career opportunities. This is a career fair inclusive to all majors at Rowan University and is a great opportunity for you to get an internship, part-time or full-time position in the field. Use this guide for a virtual career fair overview.
Monday, 10/11: 2-4:30 p.m. Memorial Circle

Celebrate National Coming Out Day! SJICR has a week-long program highlighting and celebrating LGBTQIA+ people including their accomplishments while recognizing the issues folks still face and highlighting how our campus is diversifying what it means to be a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
PHYSICAL
Wednesday, 9/29: 3 - 6 p.m.
Recreation Center

Join Campus Recreation to celebrate the grand opening of the gym courts. We know students and faculty/staff members have been patiently waiting to use the courts to play pickup basketball, shoot around, volleyball, pickleball, badminton, and futsal. Intramural sports and sport clubs are excited to use the space also. The event will feature contests, giveaways, and pretzels on the way out of the facility. Indoor masking is required for all gym activities 
Weekly Thursdays 12:15 p.m.
Rec Center Group Exercise Room

This class will be 30 minutes of high intensity interval training (HIIT) followed by 15 minutes of core strengthening and stretching exercises. The HIIT portion of class will alternate between AMRAP exercises (As Many As Possible), EMOM exercises (Every Minute on the Minute) and intervals. Every exercise will have options for all fitness levels. Join us! All group fitness classes are free for students and Rec Center members, but spots are limited!  
From the Rowan Blog
by Natalie DePersia

Dorm eating can be difficult. The refrigerators that come in your room can only hold a little bit of space between two roommates, and there is no access to cooking in dorm rooms. Despite the adjustment from home living to dorm living, there are many ways to seek out healthy food options and to get the daily nutrients your body needs.
Read more to find tips to hydrate and eat healthier.
EMOTIONAL

Togetherall - Enter student email to access
Students have access to a powerful mental health, 24/7 support resource that’s available at no cost – anytime and anywhere they have an internet connection. All interactions through Togetherall are anonymous and supervised by licensed mental health practitioners. This platform gives students an opportunity to connect anonymously with others experiencing similar challenges, while having a safety net of live clinicians monitoring the community in case there’s a need for crisis intervention.

A Better You App - A phone app that helps prioritize personal wellness, where users set wellness goals, log progress and the app provides encouragement if users fall behind. Users may also earn gift cards and rewards for hitting wellness milestones. This is free to use for the first 1,000 Rowan students and/or faculty and staff. Download on the Apple store or Google play store.
Tuesday, 10/12: 12:30 p.m. via Webex

How have working parents coped with COVID-19? Join us for a discussion of the gender dynamics involved with meeting the demands of home and work during the pandemic with Dr. Kristen Shockley, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Georgia. Dr. Shockely is an Associate Editor of both the Journal of Business and Psychology and the Journal of Applied Psychology.
FINANCIAL
Free Condom Friday is held each Friday during the fall and spring semesters from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the Wellness Center. This allows Rowan students to take a bag of five external latex condoms and information on how to use them. HCI respects the right for all people to have safe, consensual, and enjoyable sex - whatever that means for them. Communicate with your partner on boundaries, STI/STD protection, and pregnancy prevention. And communicate what you like! If you need supplies before then, please stop by.
SOCIAL
Rowan Homecoming 10/18 - 10/24

Join us for our long-awaited Homecoming celebration—and this year, we’re traveling back in time.

Alumni, students, faculty, staff and the community are invited Back to the ’90s as we commemorate age-old traditions alongside creation of the new. Student team registration is now open!
“The Strive to Thrive newsletter intends to bring you well-being ideas, tips, events, information and ways to connect through all dimensions of well-being (physical, social, emotional, purpose, community, and financial). We hope that this layout reminds you of all of the many ways to nourish, attend to, and elevate your well-being and the well-being of those around you.”
Strive to Thrive is a newsletter for the Rowan University community. Visit rowan.edu/thrive or contact rowanthrive@rowan.edu for more information.