Share Your Heart
Share Your Heart is for departments, offices, clubs, and organizations that are looking to make a difference through their programming, by creating meaningful opportunities for student connection.
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Every department, club, and organization has the opportunity to help students feel more connected to the SHU community. Through Pioneers Together, campus partners are encouraged to create intentional programming that helps students meet new people, build friendships, discover shared interests, and develop a stronger sense of belonging.
Meaningful connections begin with intentional experiences. A shared activity, a conversation with someone new, or the discovery of a common interest can be the first step toward a lasting relationship. Pioneers Together challenges campus partners to go beyond simply hosting events and create opportunities for students to actively engage with one another. Each program should intentionally teach and facilitate connections by helping students practice conversation skills, build confidence, and learn how to form meaningful relationships that extend beyond the event and can be added to their connection toolbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Share Your Heart is the programming component of Pioneers Together, an initiative focused on helping every Pioneer build meaningful connection and develop a stronger sense of belonging at SHU. Through intentional programming, campus partners are invited to create opportunities for students to meet new people, build friendships, discover common interests, and develop the skills and confidence needed to form meaningful relationships.
Campus departments, offices, clubs, and organizations are encouraged to participate. Any department, club, office, or organization, can submit a program for consideration, provided the event aligns with the goals and expectations of Pioneers Together and prioritizes meaningful student interaction.
Every Pioneers Together program must prioritize connection by creating intentional opportunities for students to engage with one another and develop the skills needed to build meaningful relationships. Programs should go beyond simply bringing students into the same space and actively teach and facilitate connection through activities that encourage introductions, conversation, sharing interests, and discovering common ground. Each program should help students practice at least one connection skill that they can carry with them beyond the event. The goal is to help students build their own connection toolbox, giving them the confidence and practical skills to meet new people, form friendships, and create a stronger sense of belonging within the SHU community. Offices are expected to thoughtfully design their programs around these goals and ensure that students have opportunities to actively practice connecting with others.
While Pioneers Together is an initiative led by First-Year Programs and Student Involvement, participating offices and departments are responsible for managing the logistics of their individual programs. This includes booking event spaces, ordering supplies and materials, coordinating catering, and arranging any additional resources needed to host the event. The Office of First-Year Programs will provide guidance on connection-focused programming and review submissions to ensure they align with the goals of Pioneers Together, while each participating office is responsible for planning and executing its program.
Yes! Food, giveaways, and crafts can complement your program, but they cannot be the primary focus. The central activity must encourage students to interact, start conversations, and connect with people they may not already know. Consider how these elements can support the connection experience rather than serve as the sole reason to attend. Please note: the departments will be responsible for purchasing their own supplies and catering.
Every element of the program, from the room setup to the activity itself, should help students practice connection skills and build the confidence to form meaningful relationships beyond the event.
Event spaces should be intentionally designed to encourage interaction and make connecting with others feel natural and approachable. Whenever possible, use circular tables, small-group seating, shared activity stations, and layouts that allow students to face one another and engage in conversation. Activities should provide clear opportunities for participation and be designed to help students feel comfortable getting involved, even if they attend alone.
Campus partners and event facilitators play an active role in fostering connection. This includes welcoming students, facilitating activities, encouraging conversation, and helping students meet one another and discover common interests.
For a more in-depth guide to planning and facilitating connection-focused programs, please contact Carmela Cogliano, Assistant Director of Student Transitions and Engagement, at coglianoc@sacredheart.edu.
Approved Pioneers Together programs will appear on the Pioneers Together page on SHU Engage, allowing students to discover opportunities to meet new people, explore shared interests, and build connections across campus.
Campus partners are encouraged to reach out for support when developing connection-focused programming. If you have an event idea but need help incorporating meaningful interaction, the Pioneers Together team is available to brainstorm activities, discuss connection focused programming and identify ways to meet the initiative's expectations. Email coglianc@sacredheart.edu to schedule a meeting.
Program Submission & Approval Process
Develop Your Program Idea
Start by thinking about how your program can help students connect with one another. Consider what students will do during the event, how the activity will encourage interaction, and what opportunities students will have to meet someone new or discover common interests. Your program should be designed around one important question: How are we creating an opportunity for students to connect?
Submit a Pioneers Together Program Submission Form
Once you have developed your program idea, complete the Pioneers Together Program Submission Form on SHU Engage. Be sure to include all requested event details, along with an explanation of how your program will encourage meaningful connections among students. Your submission will be reviewed by First-Year Programs and Student Involvement to ensure it aligns with the goals and guidelines of Pioneers Together.
Review Feedback & Receive Approval
After your submission has been reviewed, you will be notified of its status. If your program meets the Pioneers Together guidelines, it will be approved via email. If changes are needed, you will receive feedback and suggestions to help strengthen the connection-focused elements of your event. Programs that do not meet the guidelines will not be approved as submitted. Once approved begin finalizing event logistics.
Fill Out the Marketing Form
Once your program is approved, you will be asked to complete a marketing form with your event details and promotional information. First-Year Programs will use this information to create an advertisement for your program and share it with the intended Pioneers Together audience. This may include students who are looking to build connections and become more engaged in the SHU community. Please ensure that all event details are accurate and finalized before submitting the form so your program can be effectively promoted.
Host Your Program & Create Connections
It is the expectation of Pioneers Together that Departmental staff, advisors, and student leaders are active participants in the program. Welcome students as they arrive, help introduce them to others, and encourage everyone to get involved in the activity. Remember, the goal is not simply to host an event. It is to create an experience where students can build their connection toolbox, meet new people, and feel like they belong at SHU.
Need Help Getting Started?
The Pioneers Together team is happy to help you brainstorm ideas, adapt to an existing program, or develop an activity centered on connection and belonging. Email coglianc@sacredheart.edu to schedule a meeting and learn how your department, office, club, or organization can get involved.
Together, we can create opportunities for every Pioneer to feel like they belong!