GREENEVILLE – Excitement filled the campus as incoming students of Tusculum University entered the next phase of preparing to become college students by attending orientation and seeing what awaits them.
New student Charis Rietveld holds a Zeke stress ball as she stands with her family for a photo at Pioneer Quest.
Dr. Amiel Jarstfer, left, speaks with incoming student Jaxson Archer, middle, during Pioneer Quest.
These students joined their families for Pioneer Quest Saturday, June 27, in the Scott M. Niswonger Commons. They heard an inspiring talk from Dr. David Cook, provost and vice president of academic affairs, before meeting with various groups that could support their academic, social and spiritual goals; speaking to faculty members in their planned field of study; reviewing their financial aid plan; and meeting with the Business Office.
Some visited a sample residence hall room and took measurements, with help from their parents, and observed the layout to begin imagining the personal touch they will give their space. These new students showed they are ready for the collegiate experience to begin.
“We have been thrilled to work with these students to discover their interests and goals as they have decided on the best college for them,” said Zack Kassebaum, vice president of enrollment management and financial aid. “These students have made an outstanding choice by selecting Tusculum and will grow as individuals through our active and experiential approach to education in a caring Christian environment that will equip them for their careers. As they complete the process of becoming students, we will continue to stand beside them and help them with whatever guidance they need.”
Student perspectives
Hailey Leonard, a Greeneville resident, who is going to study graphic design, said her interest in Tusculum began when she was in eighth grade.
Braylon Fugate, left, has designs on opening a gym with the entrepreneurship degree he will seek from Tusculum.
Hailey Leonard, left, is one of the incoming local students at Tusculum University.
“I was doing the Tennessee Promise, and we had a field trip here,” she said. “After that field trip, I just absolutely loved this place because it is small and it gives a lot of opportunities to everyone. It gave me a really good impression. You have one-on-one with all of the professors, which gives it a more real feeling and makes you feel connected with everybody. It’s great. Instead of being seen as a number, people will actually care about you.”
She is also impressed about the potential job opportunities she will have in graphic design with the degree she will obtain.
A major in entrepreneurship will be the pursuit of Braylon Fugate, a Kingsport resident, who will also play football for Tusculum.
“I want to open a gym that has swimming pool combinations so you can do water workouts and have an area where you can get a massage or relax and rehabilitate,” he said.
He was also attracted to Tusculum because it is a faith-based university. He said Jesus brought him through a rough time in seventh grade and that a friend brought him back to Bible study. He and his friend became leaders of a Bible study. He said he would not be where he is today if God did not bring him there, so attending a Christian school will help him maintain his same frame of mind.
Kaitlyn Allen will come to Tusculum from Charlotte, North Carolina, and pursue studies in the business administration program. Her primary reason for choosing Tusculum was her ability to play softball at the university, saying she noticed how well everyone in that program works together. But she was also attracted to the region’s natural surroundings. She likes how the buildings on campus are not packed on top of each other, giving her time to walk and soak up the campus.
“I like nature pretty much, and I feel like being in the mountains will be nice for me,” she said. “I feel like going outside and looking at the scenery calms me down. The people seem really nice here, too.”
Incoming student Carter Schofield enjoys the region’s beauty, He comes from Ocala, Florida. He is joined in this photo by fellow new student Landon Sherman.
Kaitlyn Allen, middle, who comes from Charlotte, North Carolina, will be on the additions to the Tusculum family in the fall.
Like Leonard, Allen looks forward to taking classes that do not have large numbers of students in them. She said she likes to be upfront with her professors and ask them as many questions as she can to understand the material.
Another student who will be moving to a new area for college is Carter Schofield, who hails from Ocala, Florida. He will also study business and play football at Tusculum and then eyes a potential career in the construction field. He has already moved onto campus and is taking a summer class starting next week.
He said the football coaching staff played a major role in his decision to come to Tusculum, but he was also interested in living in another state so he could be part of something different. He likes the beauty of this region and found Tusculum attractive because it provides the academic program he wanted to pursue.
“I like the faculty and staff and how helpful they are in achieving my goals,” Schofield said. “I felt like that relationship with them was one that I wanted to pursue and come here to go to college.”
Comments from the administration
Dr. Cook queried the audience to learn the places from which the new students will come and highlighted how Tusculum has students from all over the country and other parts of the world. He told the incoming students that they would be able to rub shoulders with the university’s international students.
He emphasized Tusculum’s Christian roots and the university’s desire to maintain that direction and to pour into students spiritually.
“That’s our heart,” Dr. Cook said. “That’s a big part of our mission. We want to find ways to make sure you are growing in all aspects of your life. We hope that you will growing mentally, physically and spiritually.”
Holly Ratcliff, assistant professor of English, speaks to students in the Humanities Division.
Dr. David Cook addresses incoming students and their families.
Dr. Cook encouraged students to explore the many campus ministries that are available to help students further develop their relationship with the Lord. One of the new ways Tusculum will foster growth in faith is through the placement of dorm chaplains in many of the residence halls. These are older students who will minister to those in the residence halls, check on their welfare, pray for them and offer Bible studies.
Additionally, Tusculum offers students the opportunity to reside in the Discipleship Living-Learning Center, which consists of three university-owned houses – two for males and one for females. In these houses, students are able to take their connection with God to another level by living with others who have a similar mindset under the leadership of an older student who serves as a peer mentor. Students who live in the center qualify for a $2,000 scholarship.
On the academic front, Dr. Cook said the university has invested a lot of energy into hiring faculty who will be excellent in the classroom. He said students will come to know their professors and the faculty members will get to know them because of the smaller class sizes. Tusculum will check on students who miss classes to be sure everything is OK.
“You are on our radar,” Dr. Cook told incoming students. “You are a name, not a number. You’re somebody that we care about deeply, and that’s a part and parcel of our professors and why we hired them. We want them to be good at teaching, but we want them even more to care about their students. You will probably have professors who invite you for coffee or ask you to come to their office to talk to you about your career.”
Dr. Cook also highlighted others who are ready to support students, such as the Center for Academic Success and Tutoring and the Office of Student Affairs. He also referenced Student Support Services, a federal grant program at the university that serves students whose parents do have a bachelor’s degree and who meet income-eligibility requirements. He urged students who qualify to be part of Tusculum’s Honors Program.
Anyone who is interested in becoming a Tusculum student can visit www.tusculum.edu or email admission@tusculum.edu. The university still has openings for the fall semester.