"Welcome! Watch out—it's tough!"
With these words, we welcomed some of our “Erstis”—as first-semester students are affectionately called. The “heavy” part was the bulging, university-green jute bags—a welcome gift and also a bit of promotion for the student organizations and support services that worked together to organize and pack these bags. And as a reward for the numerous orientations and briefings that the freshmen have to endure during orientation week.
Planning for these stylish bags began as early as March 2018. Thanks to the numerous volunteers, the Faculty Student Committees, the Student Council, representatives from “Students Advise Students,” and the help of many staff members at Zittau/Görlitz, around 800 “freshman bags” were packed in August and handed out to first-year students on October 1. Students at the ‘Studienkolleg’ (preparatory college) received their bags as early as September 13.
Among other things, the colorful bags contained a small bottle of “fit,” a pocket calendar, regional honey, and practical items for student life such as a pencil, notepad, and beer. Of course, brochures from the Career Services office and support services—featuring important Contact Persons—were also included and, like the cultural calendar, serve as a guide for the newcomers.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the following for the practical and delicious items:
- BARMER Zittau and Görlitz
- dm drugstores in Zittau and Görlitz
- fit GmbH from Hirschfelde
- the Public Health Department of the Görlitz District
- Haema Blood Donation Service in Görlitz
- Weekview—innovative scheduling from Munich
and we’re thrilled that we were able to count on the support of so many regional companies!
However, since the best materials still need to find their way into the bags and to the freshmen, a big thank you also goes out to all the volunteers—without whom none of the materials would have been picked up, and none of the bags would have been packed and handed out! We hope to be able to put together a similar bag again next year to help make the freshmen’s start to college a little sweeter.
Contact:
Student Council, Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences
Deborah Halang
Phone: 03851/4828238
Email: stura(at)hszg.de