The process and set-up may have looked and felt a little different last fall, but the goal of Threshold 2020 was the same as ever: Welcoming new students to North Park’s campus and helping them settle in.
Under tents that were set up on Christiana Avenue in front of Sohlberg Hall, new students were greeted by current students, faculty, and staff following socially distant protocols. Student arrivals were spaced out throughout the week, as opposed to a weekend, to avoid large gatherings, and temperature checks were administered before anyone was allowed on campus.
New in 2020: Students checking in stopped to pick up a “goodie” bag containing a thermometer, hand sanitizer, and a Viking-blue, NPU-branded face mask, along with their student ID.
In addition, most in-person social gatherings were canceled in favor of virtual events, including a scavenger hunt, bingo and trivia games, and Netflix watch parties. The main ice-breaker event was held in person on the football field, with students gathering in small groups to meet fellow classmates, all while wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
The welcome week was capped off with an outdoor CollegeLife service, held on the campus green in front of the Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life.