When working with new students, we actually split up their orientation. We invite all of them to an evening orientation prior to their first day (a week before) and introduce ourselves as the "A-Team" and present ourselves as a support system for all of our students. We share our backgrounds and what makes us unqiue as staff members so students start becoming comfortable with us. We are also sure to invite new students' family members to this evening orientation as well. We always include graduate success stories and invite employers in to discuss the success they've had with our graduates. By presenting ourselves as a community - a community that cares - I find that our students feel much more at ease when the first day of school arrives because they already know who we are.
Jennifer,
This sounds like a wonderful format. Kudos!
Susan Backofen
Jack ,
This is a great idea! I love that you have a feedback loop in place and also include current students.
Susan Backofen
I allow my club officers meet with new students and we have a survey they hand out to gather information about the student. My club also has off campus activities that help adress new student fear
Peer group activities work to make them aware they are not alone.
I utilize a student handbook so the student knows what to expect with their experience.
Our orientations are attended by several staff members from each of our departments on campus, faculty, leadership, current students and/or alum. After the initial welcome and registration, we have tables set up as stations for financial assistance, student services material, uniforms, school supplies/books, and a welcome folder containing guidelines, resources, and instructions. My role as the Student Services Coordinator at the orientation table is to handout student schedules, Student Services specific informational handouts and request our candidates to complete an emergency contact information form for their student files, an optional demographic survey used for statistical information, and answer any questions to put their minds at ease.
Students are seated in an intimate group setting and introduced to the faculty and staff present. Each employee introduced gives a short bio along with a welcome message. Afterwards a few administrators, including myself will indivually elaborate on their roles and services available for students. I encourage students to become familiar with their student catalog, read from cover to cover and keep it handy to refer back to during their Massage Therapy Program. I highlight the benefits to be gained as a result by their understanding of the industry, faculty, leadership, curriculum requirements, and familiarity with keys for their success which the student catalogs entails. I suggest various study strategies. I touch on how important attending all of their classes is for them to gain the most during their student life. I stress that I am available around the clock via various means of communication to guides and assist them in any manner. If I cannot personally handle their request, I will see that I direct them to or call in the proper person for the job in a timely manner.
After the administrators give brief descriptions of how they serve our students, ice breaker games and activities are conducted to allow the students an opportunity to get to know each other better. Our campus director and student volunteers will then lead the students in other program related topics, activities, and hands-on demonstrations for the duration of the event.
Katherine,
Sounds like a great format. Reinforcing the support services is critical.
Susan Backofen
Nancy,
It certinaly sounds like you have a solid plan to setting the appropriate expectations, outlining support that is available and addressing concerns. The pebble exercise puts these fears and concerns out there in an tangible way.
Susan Backofen
Bonnie,
This sounds like a great format!
Susan Backofen
Stacey,
Interesting exercise! I would guess there are a lot of pebbles in the middle at the end!
Susan Backofen
To aleviate student's fears, I have my students tell a little about themselves and to share their expectations .. I also tell them that my office is always open to them regarding any questions or concerns. Rita Knowles
During orientation we work to make students comfortable with themselves and each other by interacting with each other, with faculty and staff. While we have to review certain school policies, we do so in an encouraging and supportive way. We ask them what goals they have while attending the school and encourage them to utilize all of the resources we have for them, including study skills workshops, free tutorial sessions with instructors and additional tutorial help.
We follow up through the student services department by being accessible for them and responding quickly to their fears, questions and needs.
At our institution's orientation we are realistic about painting a picture of how much time homework, traveling to and from school and being in the classroom will take. We include a chart of days/hours in the week and ask them to take a look at it and use it as a guideline for planning their other life activites around the time committment being in school requires. We also tell them, and we feel this is somethig they can feel proud about, that their science courses can be used as transferable credit to other institutions of higher learning should they decide to continue their education post graduate. We inform them of our tutoring and mentor programs and of our "make up sessions" where they can receive free tutoring help. To help them realize they are not alone with just about any fear or concern they have we do a little "pond in the pebble" exercise. They take a small bunch of decorative stones, we invite them to close their eyes and allow any fear, concern, hope or dream they have about being in school to come to their awareness. They open their eyes, name their fear, hope or concern and toss their stone in the center of the room (they are seated in a circle). Anyone who shares a similar hope, fear, concern tosses theirs in after. This is a concrete and specific naming of fears, etc... When a fellow new student tosses their stone in we can all see no one is alone. It helps develop a feeling of camaraderie and common ground right from the beginning. It also gives the facilitator time to address how the student services department or other department in the institution can help them.
There is a discussion in the beginning of orientation where everyone (including faculty and staff) talks a little bit about themselves and why they chose to go into Massage Therapy.
We go over "a day in the life of a student" (includes what to wear and what not to wear etc) and ensure them that we are here to help them and want to see them succeed. We make sure that they know that everyone here is approachable and not to be afraid to ask for help.
We do a scavanger hunt activity that allows them to know the campus and where staff members are located (it is a very small campus on 1 floor).
I like your idea of asking questions about policies & procedures and giving out prizes at the end. This portion of our Orientation seems a bit "dry" to me. This idea would certainly add a little fun to the session.
Our institution uses "ice-breaker" exercises to relate the students to each other. One of these includes having the group sit in a circle. Students identify a hope, fear and/or plan for the future. As each student states an example of one of these, they throw a small pebble into the center of the circle. Any other student who has the same hope/fear/plan also throws a pebble into the center. This allows students to feel a connection to others in the group who they have truly just met a couple of hours prior.
Tracy,
Showing them it is 'do-able' does help to address some of their fears. And make it fun, I am sure, is a huge help as well!
Susan Backofen
Jeff,
Excellent! It is so important to acknowledge the other factors they are balancing and help them learn how to juggle all the priorities. It is something they have to do on the job as well.
Susan Backofen
Our orientation is a pretty basic lay out of the program. We're a 2 year technical (medical) program and we tell them how intense it is. I don't do a whole lot to ease them of their fears but I very much tell them how "do-able" the program is. I have a very lighted sense of humor and they see that from day 1...so that helps ease them (I think).
