How Montclair’s Welcome Week Helps New Students Belong and Thrive

With a bullhorn in hand, student leader Allen Macaraeg was ready to lead Orientation programming for first-year students at Montclair State University. He knew exactly how they felt, recalling his own uncertainty navigating campus life just a year ago. “My job is to make that leap from the past to the present a little less intimidating,” he says.

Welcome Week invited Montclair’s biggest and most diverse incoming class to fully immerse themselves in the college experience. Under clear skies, Montclair’s signature red took over the campus as most of the 4,548 first-year students – as well as 800 new students at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University – enjoyed carnival rides, dancing, club introductions, and more.

“Belonging” has emerged as a key focus at Montclair, where the Office of Student Belonging and Center for Student Involvement orchestrated special programs aimed at fostering a supportive, inclusive campus where these new students feel valued and connected.

Wherever students are coming from – whether freshmen or transfers – our goal is to give them a warm, welcoming experience and ensure they know how to find their place at Montclair,” says Allen Macaraeg, a sophomore double major in Communications and Media Studies and Public and Professional Writing.

The efforts of the aptly named Office of Student Belonging – which supports Orientation programs, first-generation initiatives, international students, and military veterans – go a long way in improving retention, academic achievement and overall student well-being, says Director Jonnine DeLoatch.

“Everything we do is intentional in helping students affirm that Montclair was the right choice, that they can be successful, and to also start to think about how they can develop their potential,” DeLoatch says.

What Does It Mean to Belong?

“The philosophy is that we need to make sure that students feel grounded here,” DeLoatch says.

Recently, students were asked, “What does belonging mean to you and how do you know that you belong?” Some of the words they use:

• I feel safe.
• I feel like this is a home away from home.
• I feel like I can connect to somebody.
• I feel like somebody will look for me if I’m lost.

Sadifa Anjum, a senior Chemistry major, shares that she finds Montclair to be a welcoming community. “I see a lot of Muslims walking around, and it makes me feel like I belong,” she says. This sense of belonging has helped her embrace her culture and religion more fully. “When you’re isolated, you want to fit in, but you realize you can’t because you’re a little different. At Montclair, once you see that not everyone’s the same, you feel it’s okay not to fit in. You find your clique and your people.”

Belonging also extends to Bloomfield College of Montclair State University. The integration was easily seen at the carnival as students and mascots from both schools, Deacon the Bear and Rocky, shared the experience.

Personalized orientation experiences at both Montclair and Bloomfield help set the foundation for student belonging.

Soaring on Red Hawk Day

“When I first came to Montclair two years ago, I was terrified of how I was going to adjust and make friends. But just from how welcoming the orientation leaders were to the fun events happening, I was able to branch out fast,” recalls Matthew Mcdonald, a junior majoring in Public Relations and Social Media.

The Red Hawk Day carnival is a signature event, with about 3,600 students on September 3 riding the Ferris Wheel and flying into the semester on a giant slide.

Other highlights include a tropical bash attended by 1,400 students, an intro to Greek Life, craft activities at Campus Recreation, a Student Involvement Fair, and quieter activities like cookies and coloring organized by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

‘Ask Me’ Team Offers Help 

Where’s University Hall? Where’s the ID card office? Where exactly can I park? Where’s a refillable water station?

“Someone even asked for a sewing machine,” says Assistant Director of Student Involvement Casey Coleman. On the first day of class, 1,000 questions in all were asked of Coleman and his “Ask Me” volunteers spread across campus.

“We know that, in these first few days, our students are just looking for reassurance — a familiar face and a sense of connection,” Coleman says. The Ask Me Booths have been a long-standing pillar of Welcome Week. “Since 2005, we’ve answered 73,336 questions. It’s a service that we’ll continue to provide because we know that simply knowing there’s someone there to answer you can make you feel like you belong.”

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