Welcome week
Deploying an orientation solution during a pandemic at UNC, Asheville
Wanting to leverage a virtual orientation program for first-year students, UNC Asheville deployed Raftr in the summer of 2020 to both deliver important information to new students and allow them to connect with one another, early.
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User sessions
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Hours logged
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Messages
Institution:
UNC, Asheville initially sought out Raftr to help provide students with a virtual orientation program during the pandemic.
Solution:
Key Features Used:
- 1:1 & Group Messaging
- Resource Hub
- Polls
Blog
Maximize Your Orientation With These 10 Features
Deploying an Orientation Solution
Wanting to leverage a virtual orientation program for first-year students, UNC Asheville deployed Raftr in the summer of 2020 to both deliver important information to new students and allow them to connect with one another, early.
Enter Raftr.
Quick Navigation:
The Task
UNCA was looking for an opportunity to create supplemental programming during the summer while making plans for what the Fall semester was going to look like in regard to COVID-19.
Implementation
Peer-Led Groups
Orientation leaders were established as administrators of their own private channels (which included professional staff oversight) in an effort to bridge the communication gap with first year students.
Campus Information
First year students were also able to easily access helpful, campus-wide information and resources, including: maps, campus dining guides, & more.
Social Experiences
Students created a series of rafts centered around their own interests and affinities, and were able to forge friendships and build a support network, before arriving on campus.
“The possibilities with Raftr are endless! The updates and analytics from Raftr have helped to support the work we are doing in Student Affairs in helping our students connect to each other and the University during the semester. It’s been great to have concrete numbers of how students are engaging with the app.
UNCA has access to so many options and ways to build our community. I feel that I have built good working relationships with the staff on Raftr. As we were creating our platform over the summer and training on how to use Raftr we had individualized attention and still have that to this day. If I have any problems or questions, I can reach out to someone specific and get an immediate response. My experience with Raftr has been personal and seamless. It has been so great, that our Residential Education staff jumped on to Raftr too!”
Sarah Smith,
Director of Transition & Parent Programs
UNC, Asheville