In my opinion instructors at orientation should be a must. I don't think any group on campus will have as much interaction as the instructors. Having the instructors available to the new students is a great way of making informal introductions, getting to know a face you might have in the future. think about the students point of view if he has a good experience at orientation with an instructor how is he gonna feel when he walks into that room for class and finds that instructor.. tension out the door!!!
Our Dean of Students talks for one hour or so regarding attendance, success skills, study habits, goal focus. Our Director of Education speaks but I'm not sure about what. Our College Director leads the ice-breaker. Financial Aid talks with them about how to repay their loans and manage their personal finances during school. She also speaks with them regarding their credit and talks with them about the importance of taking this time to work on your credit rating since most employers are checking credit scores as a means to evaluate applicant integrity and ability to focus on their job if hired. She lets them know she is available for one-on-one credit counseling and budgeting. One of our business instructors spends two hours of using her humor to introduce them to their student accounts and get them familiar with using a computer, analyzing potentially unreliable sights, fixing all their initial computer login problems and introducing them to the IT department Director. Our Admissions staff actually has the least amount of interaction with the students on orientation day.
We have the students greeted by the Campus Director and ADmission Reps. when they arrive at the campus. The Campus Director does the "welcome". We then have two of our top instructors conduct the Orientation. During the Orientation, all staff are introduced at some point. Mid way through Orientation, the CD walks students through the policies and procedures, then the Orientation is turned back over to the instructors. We supply the students with a pizza lunch so they leave on a happy note!
We provide each student with a welcome packet and goody bag that has a school tee shirt, pencils, pens, and highlighters.
Our 4 main departments each present during orientation. The Director of Admissions starts things off by telling a inspiring story and facilitating an ice breaker activity. Our Campus Director then gets up and speaks and guides them through some necessary paperwork that has to be completed. Then Financial Aid Director, the Director of Education, and the Career Services director each speaks for a few minutes. During each presentation, the students are called upon for interaction and given prizes for their responses. We take breaks in between presentations to play some type of interactive game as well so that they aren't just sitting there listening to us talk at them.
Student Ambassadors can do a great job--students tend to open up to them in ways they are not comfortable with faculty and staff.
An Ambassador program can also be a great way to get current students actively involved in retention (and recruiting...they will likely go out and tell others!) Make the program special for them as well through training, activities and recognition.
Excellent! Having the program managers discuss their programs and outline the great things happening reinforces that the students made a great decision.
I like the idea of utilizing Student Ambassadors during orientation because this offers a different and needed perspective which can help new students to feel like they made a good decision to join the school and their particular program.
We have representatives from all of the departments involved during orientation. Our school has the program managers introduce themselves and talk about what is new and exciting within the program, and what the students can expect. This helps the students to see that each program is well managed and each program manager is an important resource that they now have access to as students.
At our orientation we have an education, FA and Career services section. We also address externship and have a representative avaiable to assist with paperwork or questions regarding medical clearance. A team approach is very necessary and a great way to make the initial introduction to students
Admissions has ice breakers to encourage student interaction
Byron--
Is the format of the orientation primarily presentations by these areas? Do you include an opportunity for the students to interact?
Susan
Student Services, Financial Aid, and of course the Instructional staff. There are speakers from all of the departments during the orientation.
All departments are represented at orientation; however, the department that has the most interaction with the students is Career Services. The student's ultimate goal is to get a job in the field in which they are being trained and we want to keep them focused on the "prize." At the orientation, the Director of Career Services takes the students through a 2-part fun activity that helps them understand the role of planning and direction in achieving the goal.
Kevin--
Many prior students in this course have contributed some awesome ideas...certainly a great start to revamping your orientation.
Susan
We sure don't at this time have any packets for the students. Our orientation needs some revamping and these are great ideas to start with. I like the engaging students more instead of having a list of speakers as we do now. The students are so bored and some even fall asleep or leave because it's too long and they have to get to work!
We will be doing some changes soon!
Kevin Asberry
Mynelle--
Wow! This is awesome...especially the involvement of alumni, Board members and active participation of the deans. Excellent!
Susan
All departments are involved in orientation. Members of the alumni association greet the students at the door, present them with a welcome bag and escort them to the orinetation area. Because we are a small college, the President of the school is there to greet and welcome the students. All deans of the divisions are present to mingle with the students and answer questions or just make the students feel welcome. Even members of the Board of Trustees are invited to meet and talk with the new students. The support programs have tables set-up to distribute information on what services are available.
That's great. The more individuals they meet, the higher the opportunity for them to relate to someone who can help keep them in school. Is the format interactive at all?
Susan
We currently involve all staff in the orientation process. From the administrative assistant to the placement officer, we attempt to familiarize the incoming student with all of the school personnel they will come in contact with and what areas of responsibility each is assigned.
John--
Great! Does you have them meet with other offices such as financial aid/tutoring, etc.?
