The ROPES program has three goals:

To help first year students make friends.
ROPES give students the chance to meet other peers in addition those in their orientation group as well as faculty members and upper-class students.

To strengthen students leadership and team work skills.
The COPE course, which is part of the ROPES program, challenges students both individually and as a team. The challenge activities help students develop in the areas of leadership, problem solving, communication, self-esteem, trust, decision making and teamwork.

To help students establish a firm basis for college success.
One of the keys to succeeding in college is the ability to adjust to change. ROPES is designed to help students adjust by providing them with the opportunity to meet their peers as well as faculty and returning students. Participating in ROPES also gives students a better feel for what college life is like and an opportunity to ask faculty and upper-class students any questions they may have.

COPE COURSE
One of the main components of the ROPES program is the COPE (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience) course. The COPE course is a “challenge by choice” course, meaning participants choose which activities in which they wish to participate. Students work in teams to accomplish COPE course challenge activities. Some activities are individual challenges that require team members to spot and encourage, others require extensive team effort. Here are descriptions of some of the COPE course challenge activities. VIEW A VIDEO

Artesian Beams: The goal of this activity is for team members to traverse a trail of posts set at varying distances from one anther. Once the team has laid down the first post, team members may not touch the ground. If anyone does touch the ground, the entire team must begin the challenge again.

The Wall: For this activity, the entire team must climb over the wall and down the other side. Team members who haven’t already climbed the wall may help other team members. Once at the top, two team members are allowed to help the rest of the team. All others who have climbed the wall successfully may only help in spotting the next climber. VIEW A VIDEO

Spider Web: Participants must pass all team members through the “spider web,” a web of rope with varying sized holes, without touching the ropes. The same hole may not be used twice, and participants may not go over, under, or around the web.