The Cougar Climb path is a program that provides a structured guide to university involvement for first-year Kean students. Students fulfill badges by participating in various on-campus experiences, with prizes awarded to those who successfully complete it. This year, for the very first time, the initiative includes upperclassmen in their own badge-fulfilling quests to allow students to continue their journey in making the most of their time on campus.
On Monday, September 28, the university hosted a Bingo & Bowls to kick off the Cougar Climb experience for students. From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., freshmen and upperclassmen explored tables detailing information about the program, filling out bingo cards to receive fresh açaí bowls. Tables featured signs showcasing the prize for completing each badge, where specialists explained what students had to do to fulfill requirements to enter.
"This program was super successful across our first-year students, and we felt as though it was something that could be expanded upon to serve more of the Kean University students here," said Kaitlyn Miles, Assistant Director for Student Involvement at the Center for Leadership and Service and one of the professional staff responsible for the program. "The upperclassman experience is going to build upon what we have as a foundation for the first-year students."
While the first-year path is made up of six badges that include steps such as visiting campus facilities and centers for the first time, the upperclassmen path has seven and includes more advanced requirements, such as applying for a job on the Handshake platform or attending leadership development events. "Instead of learning about the resources we have, they are going to engage with those resources and take advantage of the involvement opportunities we have in different ways," said Miles.
Students can access their individual path information by signing into Cougar Link, where they will find a link titled 'Path' if they click on their profile in the upper right corner of the page. Once there, they will be able to view the task requirements, upload proof of completion for each task, and track the badge completion rates as they work to fulfill the steps throughout the year. The deadline for the program is April 11, 2027.
Chetana Bidesi is a junior majoring in Biomedicine from Edison, NJ. Having already benefited from Cougar Climb as a freshman, she's excited for the opportunity to participate again as an upperclassman. "Once you join college, you're just like, 'What do I do? How do I stay involved on campus?'" she said. "So the freshman part [of Cougar Climb] helps in the beginning years of your college career, and then the upperclassman [part] helps in still being involved on campus while also getting your job done, like uploading your resume."
Epherata Dawit is also a junior from Edison, studying Business Management with a minor in Marketing. Unlike Bidesi, she did not participate in Cougar Climb in her time as a first-year student but feels she can now benefit from the experience. "I feel like that's good now that we have an opportunity," she said. "For those who have missed it, we can now do it this year."
As part of the program, first-year students can complete the Academic Engagement, Career Development, Civic Engagement, Global & Cultural Awareness, Heath & Wellness, and Social Engagement badges. Example tasks include creating a LinkedIn profile, registering to vote, and visiting the Fitness Center. Prizes for completing a badge include a post it notebook, mug, cooler bag, journal, tumbler, and t-shirt, with special prizes awarded to those who complete all six badges. First place will win an iPad Pro and 500 flex dollars, and 2nd and 3rd will be awarded 300 and 100 flex dollars, respectively.
Upperclassmen complete the same six badges as freshmen, with a Leadership Development badge added to reflect their academic and professional advancement. Example tasks include attending a Homecoming Week event, applying for graduation, and attending a President's Distinguished Lecture Series event. Prizes for badge completion include a Smart TV, JBL speaker, Apple watch, Bose headphones, PlayStation 5, and MacBook, reflecting the greater difficulty in tasks.
Students can pick up their prizes during the Cougar Climb Completion Celebration organized every spring. Last year's grand prize winner, Adja Tandjigora, received her iPad and flex dollars at the celebration. A Speech Language Hearing Sciences major from Plainfield, NJ, Tandjigora recalled feeling disbelief when learning of her achievement. "I was so sure the winner wouldn't be me," she recalled.
Besides her winnings, she also credited Cougar Climb for helping her transition into Kean. "It was comforting, knowing that I would usually be surrounded by other freshmen. I also really enjoyed being able to help my peers figure out what they needed to do to complete certain badges."
Alexander Osma is a senior studying Exercise Science from Edison, NJ. He recalled, "When I first came here, I was like, this is too much. What am I supposed to do? But then I met every person here that specializes in academic, career development, and they helped me in more ways than I didn't think were possible."
In his last semester, Osma is hoping to participate in Cougar Climb not for the prizes, but just to make the most of his time left on campus. "I feel like it really gives students something to strive for," he said. "It gives them that motivation to go, okay, I have something to look forward to. I'm gonna keep doing these things during my college years so that, you know, I can build my career and stuff like that."
Isabella Huang, a freshman majoring in IT in Cybersecurity from Rockaway, NJ, is hoping to use the program to get more involved on campus. "I think it's good because then you can get acclimated into the school instead of just going to class or going back to your dorm and just doing nothing," she reflected.
Fellow freshman Polina Nhek, a Business Marketing & Management major and international student from Cambodia, agreed. "It's a new environment for us, so it's a good way for us to get out of our comfort zone and experience new things and get involved," she said.
For more information on the Cougar Climb initiative, students can contact the Center for Leadership and Service by emailing cougarclimb@kean.edu, or by visiting MSC room 215/219 in Union and the Gilligan Student Union Building room 111 in Jersey City.
