Incoming AACC students will receive a Riverhawk-themed welcome packet from the college once admitted, beginning this semester.

The project, put into place by AACC’s Public Relations and Marketing department, will introduce newly enrolled students to the lifestyle of the campus.

Upon unfolding the packet, students will be greeted with a Riverhawk magnet. The envelope features a graphic of AACC’s mascot, Swoop, and a congratulatory message for becoming a Riverhawk student. The packet also will include 10 steps for getting started at the college.

In the packet, AACC informs students how to apply for financial aid, as well as how to pay for college.

The packet also includes information on scholarships, meeting with an adviser, and how to get a student ID card.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay addresses a personal letter to each student in the packet. In it, she writes how the students are joining 21,000 other credit students and thanks them for choosing AACC.

AACC’s public relations and marketing team convened focus groups of students, who told them what they felt the packet should include.

Focus group members from the Student Government Association and the Campus Activities Board suggested a map of the main campus and a brief tutorial on how to access Canvas, the college’s online learning platform.

“We use [those groups] as a sounding board,” Baum said. “If we have some sort of question, we would propose it to them.”

Baum said AACC has a rolling admissions process, meaning the college receives applicants throughout the year. The welcome packets, once finalized, will begin to go out to incoming students in time for the fall semester.

Registration for fall courses begins in April and classes will start in August.

AACC students can register online or on campus.