Episode Transcript
Parent Perspectives Podcast Transcript
Season 1, Episode 12: Student Involvement and Get On Board Day
Posted June 23, 2026
[00:00:00] Dana Bekurs: This podcast is produced by members of the University of Alabama Parent Advisory Council and reflects the personal views, experiences, and opinions of the hosts and guests. These views are independent and do not represent, reflect or speak on behalf of the University of Alabama, its administration, faculty, staff, or affiliated organizations. The content shared is for general informational and conversational purposes only. It is not intended to provide academic, medical, legal, financial, or institutional advice. While we aim to share thoughtful and helpful perspectives, we make no guarantees regarding accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Listeners are encouraged to verify information independently and rely on official University of Alabama communications for policies, decisions, and guidance. Listening to this podcast is voluntary and any actions taken based on the content are done at your own discretion and risk.
Welcome to Parent Perspectives. Navigating the University of Alabama experience as a parent can be exciting, overwhelming, and full of questions. And you don't have to do it alone. Parent Perspectives is a podcast by parents, for parents and with parents created to share real conversations, trusted insights, and firsthand experiences from those who've been there. Whether your student is Bama bound, settling into freshman year, or finding their stride on campus, this is your go to source for all things Bama student related. From academics in campus life to traditions and the moments that matter most, we cover what parents want to know honestly and thoughtfully. Tune in and feel confident knowing you're part of a supportive Bama parent community.
[00:01:51] Shafonne Myers: Hello everybody. Welcome to the UA Parent Perspective Podcast. One of the best ways for students to find community, make friends, and discover opportunities on campus is by getting involved. Today we're talking about Get on board day with Dr. Sarah Jenkins and Johnice Robinson from Student Involvement. About one of Alabama's largest involvement events and an important opportunity for students to explore organizations, campus resources and ways to get connected during their first weeks on campus. But before we jump in to Get On Board Day, let's start by learning a little more about you all. Can you briefly introduce yourselves and share your role in supporting student involvement at Alabama?
[00:02:33] Dr. Sarah Jenkins: Yeah.
[00:02:34] Dr. Sarah Jenkins: So hello everybody. My name is Dr. Sarah Jenkins.
I serve as the Assistant Director for Student Leadership Programming in the Office of Student Involvement and I am the primary facilitator for Get On Board Day.
[00:02:45] Johnnice Robinson: Hi, I'm Johnny Robinson. I'm a student worker here and I'm the Student Office Assistant for Student Involvement.
[00:02:51] Shafonne Myers: Great.
Now let's talk a little bit why this event has become such an important part of the student experience.
What makes Get On Board Day such an important first week experience for students who are still trying to find their place on campus?
[00:03:06] Johnnice Robinson: Going to Get On Board A is important Just because you can find a community there, all the organizations be at their table and so you can talk to them, get a feel of it. And it's your first opportunity to also connect with others and discover things that you might not even thought of doing before, but also meeting new people in that process.
[00:03:22] Shafonne Myers: Wow. And I think for many students, the size of the event can feel very exciting, but also a little overwhelming.
What resources do you all provide to help students navigate such a large event?
[00:03:36] Dr. Sarah Jenkins: Yeah, so get on board. Day does cover a lot of ground. So it's totally normal for students to feel a little overwhelmed when they're first trying to find a specific table or a zone.
To make it easier, we do color code each zone and we have it marked with a 10 foot tall air dancer right in the center of the zone. And we also mark the beginnings of each zone with a large balloon, so you can really see when you're transitioning into a different zone.
We also print out maps that show all the different zones and where they're located on the quad that also has a QR code that shows the full list of all the tables, organizations, vendors, departments that are on the quad. And then we also, last year started a digital map where students can download it on their phone to where they can access the map virtually through their phone. And so it's a lot of information and a lot of activity, but we worked really hard to make sure that the layout is easy and easy to navigate throughout the event.
[00:04:33] Shafonne Myers: Well, I think that's always good because once students arrive, it's like they discover there's so much there. There are hundreds of opportunities to explore. But then knowing where everything is is so helpful. What kinds of organizations will students meet? And how can parents encourage their student to explore groups outside their comfort zone?
[00:04:53] Johnnice Robinson: You'll meet all types of organizations. Whatever you think of, we probably have it here on campus. So anything from like club sports, hockey, your interest, hobbies like reading, knitting, video games, ac. So there's a lot to choose from. But if you're ever nervous about it, you can also follow them on social media. Like a lot of them post on Instagram so you can get a feel of what all they do there. So. And also to their events. Because if you go and you meet people there, you're like, oh, I actually want to join this organization. You feel comfortable to go and join and find a community there.
[00:05:23] Shafonne Myers: And I know for, even for my daughter's sake, she went and that's how she found the sorority that she's in. So I know Many freshmen attend for the first time without knowing exactly what to expect. What tips would you give to a freshman who's attending? Get on board day for the first time.
[00:05:39] Johnnice Robinson: First log into my source, go through all the orgs, see what all we have, see which ones you're interested in.
If you have any questions, go ahead and write them all out there. Find them on social media because a lot of them post their information for you on board day there. So you have all that set. So when you go, you know exactly what orders you want to go. Talk to me, introduce yourself. And also there is a lot of items that they give out. So have a bag like clear your book bag out. Maybe get you a little clear bag or whatever. Just put all the items that you get from like the org vendors that are there and departments as well.
[00:06:11] Shafonne Myers: I love that because like knowing that you're getting all that swag and all that stuff, that can be such a good tip for people knowing. And I know as a parent myself, we often worry about students who are just naturally shy, are hesitant to jump into new situations. What would you say to parents who students do feel shy, are overwhelmed about attending a large involvement fair?
And also I know that you all have an involvement quiz that can help students find organizations that match their interests. I love to know a little bit about that too.
[00:06:41] Johnnice Robinson: So yes, we do have the involvement quiz. It's on our student involvement website. The students can just go take the quiz. It's going to ask some questions based off their interests or hobbies and they'll generate a list of like 20 orgs for them that's personalized so it aligns with all they do so they don't feel like it's overwhelming with all the 650 organizations, they know which ones. Yeah, yeah, it is a lot. But that quiz does really narrow it down for you to give you those org that aligns with what you love to do.
[00:07:10] Shafonne Myers: Wow. 650. That's crazy. Like, but that's so good to know that there's so much out there. So Johnice, I have a question for you. What would you say to parents whose student feel shy are overwhelmed about attending a large involvement fair?
[00:07:26] Johnnice Robinson: I would say always go like a roommate or somebody that you make close friends with at first. You know, if you are scared, you see everybody want to walk away and just go to like one table just to get like a feel of it just to see if it's something that you can do. And also going through my source and checking out all the organizations so you can at least go to, like, one or two tables. Just put your face out there to see if it's something that you would want to do and don't feel nervous about it. Everybody is probably nervous as well, but it's a community. We got each other.
[00:07:55] Shafonne Myers: And I think the other part is it's like once you go to those one or two, it kind of gets easier, and then that makes you want to go to some of the other ones. But it is. It's getting that one or two out of the way. But once you do, then you'll kind of want to go to other ones. Great advice.
One thing many parents may not realize is that Get On Board Day isn't only about student organizations. How does Get On Board Day introduce students to campus resources that parents often worry their students won't know how to find?
[00:08:25] Dr. Sarah Jenkins: Yeah, Get On Board Day isn't really just about student organizations. Our campus departments do play a huge role in the event as well. And each year, dozens of departments join us so students can meet the staff behind these resources, learn how to access their services, and, yes, even pick up
[00:08:40] Shafonne Myers: some swag along the way.
[00:08:41] Dr. Sarah Jenkins: Last year, over 60 departments joined us, from the learning commons, which is home to tutoring and academic coaching, to university programs, which is the department that hosts over 100 student events each year. And having these departments that Get On Board Day really helps students make meaningful connections early and understand the full range of support that's available to them on campus.
[00:09:02] Shafonne Myers: And I think I really like how you said make meaningful connections early because I think that kind of allows a student to realize, hey, I. I'm not lost. I don't have anyone. I do have connection. I do have people in the early is good, because I know as a parent, when we see our child kind of going down that road of, oh, they're not happy, or they haven't found that connection. If you can get them early, it allows them to kind of jump in and feel connected so that we know that they're good. And I think that's a huge part of things.
I think this kind of leads perfectly in to some of the final questions that I really want to talk about and emphasize. Other than student organizations, what else can students discover at Get On Board Day? And I think the thing we've kind of talked about some resources, but let's talk maybe some community partners, some different campus departments, because I think from a parent, we can really sell it to a student with not just the student organizations, but, hey, you can find out about some of these other resources. Too.
[00:10:05] Dr. Sarah Jenkins: Absolutely. So for many of our students, Tuscaloosa is a brand new place, and they have. They may not really know everything that the city has to offer.
So the one reason we love partnering with our incredible local businesses and community organizations is to really help them kind of get familiar with what the city has to offer. Get On Board Day really does give them a chance to showcase what they.
What they do by joining us right on the quad. And all of our community partners are grouped together in the area we call Vendor Rush.
And we are genuinely grateful for every business that chooses to spend a Thursday afternoon in the Alabama humidity just to meet our students. So they get a lot out of it. So much. And so do we.
Last year, we welcomed nearly 100 vendors from national brands like Adobe and Good Molecules to hometown favorites like Turbo Coffee and Northridge Fitness.
And their presence really does add so much energy to the event and help students feel even more connected to the Tuscaloosa community. And another fun fact is a lot of them are actually UA alums, so a lot of them are coming back as vendors. I get On Board Day where they were students not too long ago.
[00:11:13] Shafonne Myers: And I think I want to also mention, as being a parent that's out of state and we're California out of state, like clear across on the other side of the country. It's good because when our daughter went, it was one of those ones like, we saw stuff when we came from Bama bound, we saw stuff when we came to move in, but it was actually so much other things going on that the fact that get on Board day is the day where your student can be there and be there's nothing else going on. This is just time for them to meet people, get used to community, meet some local vendors. That's great. And I know my daughter, she loved it and really found a lot of her resources and just got to know the area by some of the local people there. So I appreciate that for sure.
As we wrap up, let's leave families with one final thought. But if you could give every incoming student one piece of advice before attending get on Board Day, what would it be?
[00:12:09] Dr. Sarah Jenkins: I would say go in with an open mind and get there early.
[00:12:15] Shafonne Myers: That's a good one. Because if we're talking swag and we're talking that we're going to be getting things, you know, the earlier the better. And then also if we're talking about 650 vendors, you got to go early so you can get through everything. So, yes, that's a good one. I love that. I love that.
Johnny, is there anything you want to add?
[00:12:34] Johnnice Robinson: Bring some good walking shoes, be prepared and always say yes, join anything at that point just to get a feel of everything in the community.
[00:12:43] Shafonne Myers: I love the walking shoes because even for myself coming from Bama bound, I was like, oh, it's a lot of walking. So I'm sure with 650 vendors, that's a lot of walking. And then I think the part of it is is just knowing that there's so much out there and being in one place where they all are, that's such a great thing. I don't have to go find them. They're all here. They're all here willing to help. So I think that's such a great thing to know. And I thank both of you all for joining us today and sharing how Get On Board Day helps students build connection, discover opportunities across campus and to our listeners, remember that getting involved is one of the fastest ways for students students to find community, build confidence and make a large campus feel much smaller.
[00:13:32] Dana Bekurs: Thanks for tuning in today for the latest episode of Parent Perspectives, brought to you by the University of Alabama Parent Advisory Council. Check out all our podcasts on voices.ua.edu. You can learn more about the Parent Advisory Council, Parent Perspective and UA Parent and Family Programs on the UA Parent and Family Programs website at parents.sl.ua.edu.
