An even larger gap occurs for students after their freshman year. As students begin to move off campus, they seem to lose touch with University, becoming less involved as they progress through their years at CU-Boulder. This gap is widening as students access technology and have even less reason to come to the campus except when attending classes. Our informal survey also revealed that students could indeed identify other schools that do a better job of helping students to connect with the institution. It appears that students at such schools as Ohio State and Oklahoma University take pride in their schools by wearing school apparel, for example.
Many schools also have strong sports teams in which students take pride.
In other words, many of our students are not here because of what the institution has to offer, but the opportunities of the surrounding areas. Campus tours should include visible signs of school pride, such as tour guides who wear CU shirts. Tour guides can act as initial points of contact and set the tone for a campus climate of school spirit and welcoming into the campus community. At the summer orientation sessions, all staff would wear CU apparel. Also, students would be directed through the Heritage Center.