2016 SSW Summary

Seminole Sensation Week 2016 Seminole Sensation Week (SSWeek) is the annual “welcome program” at Florida State University that is planned and implemented by the Oglesby Union. SSWeek is held a week prior to the beginning of the fall semester as an alternative to high risk entertainment. While attending a series of events, students are able to learn about the many ways to get involved on campus, form an attachment to the university, as well as meet many students who share their interests. SSWeek is co-sponsored by Academic and Student Affairs. Seminole Sensation Week 2016 events were held Wednesday August 24th through Wednesday, August 31st The Oglesby Union Student Activities Center (SAC) provides leadership in the planning, marketing, and hosting of the events. Campus Partners that made Seminole Sensation Week 2016 possible include the Art Center, Askew Student Life Center/Cinema, Crenshaw Lanes, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Oglesby Union, Office of the Provost, Alumni Association, Aramark, Campus Recreation, Career Center, Center for Global Engagement, Center for Health Advocacy & Wellness, Center for Leadership and Social Change, , FSU Luau, FSU Police Department, Garnet & Gold Scholar Society, International Programs, New Student and Family Programs, Student Government Association, Sustainable Campus, University Counseling Center, University Health Services, University Housing/IRHC, University Libraries, University Relations, and Wellness Center/Healthy Noles.

Longitudinal Attendance Figures Event 2012 SSWeek (5 days) 2013 SSWeek (5 days) 2014 SSWeek (5 days) 2015 SSWeek (7 days) 2016 SSWeek (7 days)

Total Attendance 37654 51,141* 43,634** 43,699** 43,545***

* The total attendance is the sum of the estimated number of participants at all daily SSWeek events including Convocation/ BBQ T-shirt Pick-up, Last Call Before Fall Concert, New Student Convocation, the President’s Backyard BBQ, and Involvement Fair. The BBQ T-shirt Pick-up and the President’s Backyard BBQ were not included in 2012 data. * *The total attendance is the sum of the estimated number of participants at all daily SSWeek events including Last Call Before Fall Concert, New Student Convocation, the President’s Backyard BBQ, and Involvement Fair. The BBQ T-shirt Pick-up was not included in 2014 data as it replicates Convocation numbers. ***The total attendance is the sum of the estimated number of participants at all daily SSWeek events including Convocation, Last Call Before Fall Concert, New Student Convocation, the President’s Welcome, Experience Tallahassee Festival, Ask a ‘Nole, First Day Photos, and Involvement Fair. The Involvement Fair had count from each of the three sections (Green, Courtyard, Ballrooms).

SSWeek 2016 Events Large Events Bowling and Billiards Speed Friending - sponsored by FSULuau Movie: Captain America: Civil War Zorb Balls and Criss Cross Track Karaoke - sponsored by Inter-Residence Hall Council Late Night Pancakes - sponsored by FSULuau and the Center for Global Engagement Local Show Hypnotist Doug Thompson Last Call Before Fall Concert featuring Earl Sweatshirt Comedian: Brandon Wardell Experience Tallahassee Midnight movie New Student Convocation and President’s Welcome FSU Luau Glow in the Dark Cardio Party

Attendance 735 140 775 194 493 2300 238 766 3000 651 2000 590 6000 4000 75

The Oglesby Union Education, Assessment, and Research Office collaborated with the Student Activities Center to assess and evaluate SSWeek activities. The SSWeek volunteers and Education, Assessment, and Research team administered evaluation surveys throughout the week.

Date 08/26/16 08/30/16

Event Friday Night Bites Involvement Fair

Attendance 332 9,966

Surveyed 182 223

General Survey Highlights The General Survey was administered on August on 24, 25, and 26 at various Seminole Sensation Events that were held at the Union Courtyard and the SLC. There were 533 general survey responses.  The majority of the general survey respondents were female (65%), freshman (40%) that resided on-campus (57%). This was consistent with the data compiled over the past five years.  The top three ethnicities surveyors identified themselves as were White/ Caucasian (64%), Hispanic/ Latino (14%), and African-American/ Black (11%)  Friends/ word-of-mouth (29%), flyers/ posters in residence halls (12%), and Facebook (9%) ranked highest in ways students heard about SSWeek activities and events (Students were allowed to choose more than on method).  The majority of respondents attended because they were interested in enjoying the events (26%), meeting new people and socializing (25%), and were hungry/ wanted free food (24%) Friday Night Bites Survey Highlights The Friday Night Bites survey was conducted on Friday, August 26, 2016 and 182 people completed the survey. A total of 332 people attended this FNB. Response rate was 55%.  The majority of Friday Night Bites Survey respondents were freshman (59%), female (53%), Caucasian/ White (44%), who lived on-campus (61%).  The majority of the respondents attended the event because they were either hungry or wanted free food (48%)  The majority of respondents (79%) enjoyed the entertainment.  The majority of respondents, (44%) thought the food was of average quality while (30%) thought it was above average.  Most respondents believed that attending Friday Night Bites on campus might have reduced student drinking of alcoholic beverages that evening with (45%) of respondents stating maybe and (29%) of respondents stating yes.  94% of respondents said they would attend Friday Night Bites again.

Involvement Fair Survey Highlights The Involvement Fair survey was conducted on Tuesday, August 30, 2016; 305 student organizations and campus departments participated. Student attendance was estimated at 9,966. During the Involvement Fair in the Union, surveys pertaining to the Involvement Fair were administered by SOAR Board students and a total of 223 responses were received.  Most students who completed the survey were freshmen (48%), female (66%), resided on-campus (50%), and were not members of a recognized student organization (73%).  The respondents came to the event to learn about campus activities (28%), to enjoy the event (24%), and to eat free food (25%).  The majority of students surveyed said that they found an RSO they would like to join (76%) and (45%) did not attend the SAC Open House.

Online Survey Students were also asked to take an online survey to give general feedback on their experiences with SSWeek 2016.

The online survey responses were recorded in the weeks after SSWeek and there was a sum of 870 responses started with 632 surveys completed (73% completion rate). Below are some of the highlights from the online survey:  The respondents that attended SSWeek activities and completed the survey, 98% of them enjoyed SSWeek overall.  The majority of the respondents were freshman (58%), female (74%), Caucasian (60%), who resided oncampus (64%).  Classification Breakdown: Freshman (58%), sophomore (13%), junior (13%), senior (6%), graduate (7%), transfer (1%), and other (1%).  Ethnicity Breakdown: African American/ Black (13%), American Indian/ Native Alaskan (2%), Asian/ Pacific Islander (7%), Caucasian/ White (60%), Hispanic/ Latino (15%), Mixed (11%), and Other (5%).  Wednesday was the day most respondents moved into their residence hall or campus apartment (60%).  There were a total of 408 housing respondents. The residence hall that most respondents lived in was Smith Hall (15%).  Friends/word of mouth (55%) and the flyers (41%) were the two most common ways that respondents heard about SSWeek (Respondents were allowed to select more than one method).  The top three reasons respondents chose to attend SSWeek because they were (84%) hungry or wanted free food, (81%) wanted to enjoy the event, or (70%)wanted to meet new people and socialize (Respondents were allowed to select multiple reasons).  The percentage of respondents that thought that student participation in SSWeek reduced student drinking of alcoholic beverages was 33% who stated yes and 46% who stated maybe.  Less than one-third of respondents (21%) admitted that they had consumed alcohol since arriving at FSU. Below is more detailed information from the survey respondents. o Of all respondents (21%), 4% used a fake ID to get into a bar, and of those, 28% were freshman o Of all respondents, (21%), 36% are freshmen, 15% are sophomores, 16% are juniors, and 14% are seniors consumed any amount of alcohol. o Of all respondents, (21%), 70% of females and 30% of males consumed any amount of alcohol. o When asked if student participation in SSWeek on campus reduced student drinking, 77% of freshman responded with yes or maybe (45%).  The FSU S.A.F.E and/or Night Nole Bus had been used by 45% of respondents upon their arrival at FSU.  Almost all of the respondents, 91%, did not begin fall 2016 Panhellenic Greek Recruitment.  1% of respondents indicated that they would not return to SSWeek activities next year.  The events that most respondents attended were the FSU Luau (49%) and Sno-Cones & Games on Union Green (43%). Other events and activities that most respondents attended were the Late Night Pancakes (40%), New Student Convocation (34%), and Involvement Fair & Seminole Showcase (33%).  When asked which event was the respondent’s favorite, the most common responses were Last Call Before Fall, the Hypnotist, Taste of Tallahassee, Involvement Fair, and the Mentalist.  On the survey, students suggested more events held at a variety of times including daytime events, more opportunities to socialize, more publicity for events via e-mail or social media, providing a map for each event, and reduction of long lines.