Students who were less than impressed with their fall semester grades may have been afraid of how their parents might react - but they might not have to face that fear again.
FEAR, an annual conference sponsored by the Office of Minority Student Affairs, will take place Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The conference is designed to provide minority students with strategies to stay in, and graduate from, college.
While the name may sound intimidating, FEAR stands for “False Expectations Appearing Real,” which can often contribute to low minority-student retention rates, said Murray Edwards, senior coordinator for Minority Student Affairs.
“Lots of times, students come into a college environment with expectations that are false,” he said. “They think they’re more prepared than they really are, they think the transition to college will be simple like it was in high school, and they’re expecting not having to work harder to be successful in college.”
Workshops such as “time management,” “healthy lifestyles,” “making successful transitions” and “building healthy relationships” will be offered throughout the daylong conference. Keynote speaker Mario Rivas, associate dean of undergraduate studies, advising and learning services at San Francisco State University, will address conference participants.
Students will also be provided with lunch and a chance to win various prizes, such as cell phones and gift certificates to local stores.
Business marketing senior Deandre Carter said the conference has provided him with essential skills for his college career.
“The information you get from the conference, when applied, will help you to succeed,” said who is Mr. Black MSU. “It put me in contact with people that aided me with my academic and career interests, and it also helped me to stay motivated and interested when times got tough.”
As a minority aide in Holden Hall, Carter plans to encourage his students to attend this year’s conference as well.
Nikki O’Brien, coordinator for African American student affairs, attended FEAR during her years as an MSU student, and also said the conference helped to fine-tune her academic skills.
“It was a reinforcement of why I was here and it helped me to understand the role of academics in my learning experience,” she said.
O’Brien said the conference gives some students a second chance at achieving academic success and others continued motivation to succeed.
She hopes students will utilize the conference to its full potential.
“It’s critical that students attend to get connected with their purpose on this campus: Staying in school, succeeding in school and graduating,” she said.
