House Calls is here to help

As students settle into their lives on campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has programming in place to support its first-year students.

House Calls is an Enrollment Management and Student Affairs initiative created to help ease the transition for students experiencing challenges or having questions about life on campus. On Tuesday, Sept. 10, volunteers from the UTC campus will knock on dorm doors and connect with the first-year students to say “Hi” and engage in conversation.

Volunteers range from staff members to faculty to upper-level administrators who want to promote connections across the UTC campus.

Assistant Director of Residence Education Sabrina Sims is eager for students to experience the changes made to a “new-and-improved” House Calls program. Last year, volunteers conducted house calls during the day when many students were attending class or busy at work. This year, though, the residence life staff have pushed back door-to-door knocking until the evening when most students are in their dorms.

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House Calls 2024 will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 10, with a training session from 5-6 p.m. Dinner will be provided in the West Campus Multipurpose Room.

To volunteer, please register here before Monday, Sept. 9. Reach out to Sabrina Sims if your plans change or if you have questions.

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Sims said that it’s essential to know what issues students may be facing to reach and help as many students as possible.

Washing machines break, roommates can be challenging and the showers may leak, “and that’s what the volunteers want to know,” Sims said. “Alright, well, let’s figure that out, and let’s provide you the best way to go about that.”

Jason Harville, assistant director of academic initiatives, can speak about both sides of the House Calls experience. Harville served as a resident assistant during the first iteration of House Calls in 2008.

“I think there is value and that connection during that first couple of weeks,” Harville said. “For me as an RA, it was getting to walk around with our associate vice chancellors and vice chancellors and seeing these people come into the halls and knock on doors and get to build those relationships.”

Sims and Harville were both quick to mention how important the first six weeks are for students living on campus. Studies have shown that a student’s first six weeks of school are often the most important in determining the student’s academic career. Helping students feel welcomed and supported is vital for their future at UTC.

Sims said the program is rewarding for both students and staff as both parties look to build connections. The staff brings information and goodie bags, hoping they can help the young students in any way.

“My favorite part is when we’re not talking about a resource, they’re just talking about something good that they’ve done so far, how their classes are going or what they’ve already done,” Sims said. “I really like it when they talk about the programs that we put on or their RA … that means these people are doing their jobs, and that the things that we put in place are working. That always is very rewarding, but also it is rewarding when we’re able to solve issues.”

Students should take advantage of this program, she said, because the opportunity to connect or solve problems will not always be knocking at the door. Thanks to these house calls, students can make mentors or find opportunities because staff and volunteers want to connect with students.

Last year, House Calls had approximately 50 volunteers knocking on doors. This year, the staff hopes to get that number up to 75. The more volunteers, the more efficiently staff can connect and help students.

“Any faculty and staff that want to help, the more, the better, because that way they get a longer time to chat with students,” Harville said.

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