The University of Nevada, Reno began the fall 2024 semester with an eventful opening weekend, welcoming freshmen and transfer students to campus and kicking off the week-long Nevada Freshmen Intensive Transition (NevadaFIT) academic program. The campus is preparing for the official start of classes on Monday, August 26.
Thursday, August 15, was the first day of opening weekend, culminating with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Mackay Stadium on Saturday, August 17. The ceremony included fireworks, performances by the University’s marching band, and a personal welcoming speech by University President Brian Sandoval.
Last fall, the campus had over 19,800 undergraduate, graduate, and medical students, and this year’s enrollment remains about the same, with an increase in out-of-state and out-of-state undergraduate enrollment.
During Welcome Weekend, students checked into the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center for the Digital Wolf Pack Initiative, where each new student received an Apple iPad Air, Apple Pencil Pro, and Logitech Combo Touch keyboard. Many students moved into residence halls, met their residence hall assistants, and received Wolf Cards. The weekend included social activities such as karaoke, movie and game nights, a street festival hosted by the Associated Students of Nevada, ASUN, club meet-and-greets, and parent activities.
After the completion of opening weekend, freshmen students began the mandatory NevadaFIT program. The program is a week-long, one-hour academic boot camp designed to prepare students for the academic demands of attending college. Now in its 11th year, the program is held on campus and freshmen and transfer students are exposed to college presentations, lectures, homework, projects and exams. They connect with peers in their major and build relationships that will grow throughout their college experience. NevadaFIT participants show improvement in both retention and grade point average across all colleges, and the university is one of only 30 universities nationwide that runs similar programs.
Emery Anderson is a junior neuroscientist participating in the College of Science’s ScienceFIT program. The STEM student says she felt intimidated by NevadaFIT at first, partly because she realized how demanding her major can be. Once the program began, however, she quickly adjusted to it.
“It’s challenging, especially my introductory neuroscience course, but I feel really good with everyone in my group because I know we’re all in the same boat,” Anderson said. “It’s also nice to do homework with them after class because we’re all on the same level and can ask each other for help.”
In addition to the courses offered through the NevadaFIT program, students are required to take classes that focus on resources they will need throughout their academic career, including WebCampus, writing, study resources, and clubs. These additional courses serve as electives, last between 30 and 45 minutes, and are taken after the main program is completed for that day.
“The lab tour got me excited about college. We got to see all the research equipment, analyze insects under the microscope, and see how everything works,” Anderson said. “I also went to a study abroad information session and a creative journaling class, and later this week I’m going to a cardio class at the fitness center.”
For more information about NevadaFIT, visit the NevadaFIT website.
