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Six-Week Challenge helps first-year students find their way at Eastern

Published on September 17, 2025

A student’s first six weeks of college are critical in deciding whether that student will stay enrolled, according to housing staff at Eastern. To address this, Eastern's Six-Week Challenge helps first-year students at the beginning of their college careers to engage with their new community and learn about the different support offices and resources available to them. A wide range of events are offered during these weeks, such as residence hall socials, community service projects, and informational workshops on all the academic and personal resources Eastern has to offer. The Six-Week Challenge also takes students on trips off campus. Trips so far include Westfarms Mall, The Big E, and a movie theatre to watch “The Conjuring.” Upcoming trips include outings to Homberg Orchards for apple picking on Sept. 21, Salem, MA, on Sept. 28, and Nightmare Acres Haunt in South Windsor on Oct. 5. Aside from trips, the series also provides first-year students with instructional events where they can learn about the variety of resources on campus. Residence Life Coordinator for Housing and Residential Life Alexander Corey shared that their recurring educational program, “Workshops on Wednesdays” (WOW), was especially added to the Six-Week Challenge to “push the resources and knowledge students need so they can carry them on beyond the six weeks.” Topics that were discussed during these sessions include academics, financial resources, wellness tips, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Corey shared that the workshops changed from a lecture-style session to a trivia game to make the discussion more interactive, and that there are gift card prizes for each session. Corey mentioned that there is also a prize for the first-year students in each hall who attend the most events and an overall winner for the Six-Week Challenge, who will receive a $200 Amazon gift card. Individual winners for each hall will get a $100 gift card each. In order to be eligible for these prizes, students must attend the required events. The six required events for the fall 2025 semester are: Culture Fest on Sept. 2nd, 6-8pm, Student Center - 2nd Floor Involvement Fair on Sept. 3rd, 5-7pm, Student Center Patio Priority Points & You! on Sept. 8th, 6-7pm, Student Center Theatre Warrior Cup Spelling Bee on Sept. 11th, 8-9pm, Student Center Theatre Hall Director Night on Sept. 29th, 7-9pm, Respective First-Year Halls Attend at least 1 W.o.W. Trivia Series Session For more on the Six-Week Challenge, see the event calendar.
Among the Six-Week Challenge trips is an apple-picking outing at Holmberg Orchards in Gales Ferry on Sept. 21. Photo courtesy of ShutterStock.

The first semester of college can feel overwhelming, but it can also be a time of discovery. At Eastern Connecticut State University, the Six-Week Challenge is helping first-year students explore their new community, connect with classmates, and take advantage of the resources designed to support them.

During the opening weeks of the fall semester, Housing and Residential Life staff host a wide variety of events — from residence hall socials and cultural celebrations to community service projects and academic workshops. Students also get the chance to explore beyond campus with trips to places such as Holmberg Orchards for apple picking, Salem, MA, and Nightmare Acres in South Windsor.

Residence Life Coordinator Alexander Corey said the goal is to give students both a sense of belonging and the tools they need to succeed. “The Six-Week Challenge is about introducing students to resources early on so they can carry that knowledge with them throughout their time at Eastern,” Corey said.

One key component is “Workshops on Wednesdays” (WOW), a weekly series that covers topics like academic support, financial resources, wellness strategies, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. The workshops, once held in a lecture format, have been reimagined as interactive trivia sessions, complete with gift card prizes to keep students engaged.

In addition to WOW, students are encouraged to attend a series of required events to be eligible for prizes. The six required events for the fall 2025 semester are:

  • Culture Fest – Sept. 2, 6–8 p.m., Student Center 2nd Floor
  • Involvement Fair – Sept. 3, 5–7 p.m., Student Center Patio
  • Priority Points & You! – Sept. 8, 6–7 p.m., Student Center Theatre
  • Warrior Cup Spelling Bee – Sept. 11, 8–9 p.m., Student Center Theatre
  • Hall Director Night – Sept. 29, 7–9 p.m., First-Year Residence Halls
  • At least one WOW Trivia Series Session

Students who participate in the most events have the chance to win prizes, including $100 gift cards for individual hall winners and a $200 Amazon gift card for the overall challenge winner.

While the prizes add excitement, Corey emphasized that the Six-Week Challenge is really about building habits that last. “It’s not just about the six weeks,” he said. “It’s about helping students find their place, explore new opportunities, and feel confident that they have support here.”

With a full calendar of activities and a community behind them, Eastern’s newest students are encouraged to follow their curiosity, build connections, and take their first steps toward achieving their dreams.

For more on the Six-Week Challenge, see the event calendar. 

Topics: Campus Life