|
Yes, we’re almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and students still aren’t back on Pensacola State College campuses in large numbers.
But the College is doing it all it can to keep students engaged in campus life and connected to their fellow students, advisors and faculty.
Those efforts include monthly (safe and socially-distanced) movie nights at the Pensacola campus and numerous virtual outreach efforts including trivia contests, messages of encouragement, club information and updates, online tutorials, club promotion and more.
“It’s been difficult to keep students engaged and involved since the pandemic, so we’re trying to reach them on every platform possible,’’ said Abigail Bott Roberts, interim coordinator of Student Engagement and Leadership. “We have our clubs that are still active, so we’re trying to keep students engaged through those little pockets. One thing we’ve heard from students is that they feel alone, and we’re working to make sure they can still have some sort of connection.”
Each Friday, the office of Student Engagement and Leadership sends out an email to students and faculty noting the activities, almost always online, for the upcoming week. Notable events next week include a “Curious Question” get-together at noon, Feb. 16, on Instagram; a “Star Wars” movie bracket poll at noon Feb. 17 on Instagram and a “Star Wars” Virtual Trivia Night at 6 p.m. on Zoom.
To participate in the social media events, follow @pscpirateslife on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and PSC Student Activities on YouTube.
One venture the Student Engagement and Leadership office is promoting is the Emerging Leaders Program. Students who want to become leaders and are interested in leadership programs are encouraged to join the six-week program.
Applications for the Spring term are now being accepted. Applications can be filled out online here.
PSC has also been holding a monthly “Movie On the Lawn” series where feature films are shown on a large screen set up near the track at the Pensacola campus. On Feb. 19, the 2019 hit film “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” will be shown. There is no charge, but masks must be worn, and social distancing must be maintained. The film begins at 7:30 p.m. but beginning at 6:30 p.m., PSC clubs and organization members will set up around the track with information about the College’s 23 active clubs.
Tonie Anderson-Steele, an advisor to the PSC African American Student Association, said keeping clubs afloat and active during the pandemic has been a tough task.
“We’ve been meeting virtually, but it’s just not the same,’’ she said. “So we’re trying to stay in continuous contact with our students through emails and social media. I hope we get some more people are interested in what we’re doing.”
--Troy Moon
| 
