This fall, SF State is planning on improving the college experience by introducing a new unit within student affairs strictly revolving around student life.

The mission is to strengthen school spirit and a sense of community by providing more social events, which will hopefully compel students to remain personally invested in the University.

"Our goal is to find out how we can best serve our population," said Associate Dean of Students and Director of LEAD (Leadership, Engagement, Action, Development) Joseph Greenwell. "As a team we look at student life to strengthen what is currently being done."

Welcome Days, a week of events held for incoming freshmen and transfer students, was part of the effort.

This was the fourth year Welcome Days was available to incoming students.

By providing a talent show, hypnotist show, movie night in the quad and easy access to information on campus resources, the events aimed at getting students excited about the year to come.

"It's overwhelming to come to a new place," said freshman Imani Carino. "Welcome Days made it all pretty relaxed."

Although Welcome Days being over, efforts to get students involved do not end there.

A 38-person committee was created this past spring to assess what students want to see happen on campus.

Collaboration is key for things to get done on a larger scale, according to Greenwell.

"Our goal is to no longer have a separation between residential life and the campus community," Greenwell said. "We need to look at the campus as a complete community."

Mary Ann Begley, the new director of residential life at SF State, said that it is important to have residential and commuter students feel engaged and involved.

"Being a newcomer to SF State, I noticed that our students are really eager to get involved so we want to give them the opportunity for that to happen," Begley said.

Both Greenwell and Begley believe that retention rates should increase if more opportunities are available for students to get involved.

"Student life is a key player in retention and graduation rates," said Greenwell said. "My hope is that students will get involved and enjoy their time here both in and outside of the classroom."