Student services, Part-time employment & Housing departments each give an introduction and explain how they can help the student make a home and afford it while they are in school.
Dagger--
This is sounds excellent! I especially like the orientation packets with pictures and bios of the faculty and staff. Great idea!
Susan
Our institution realizes the impact of having a powerful and dynamic orientation. We start our orientation by planning on the last day of finals for current students we start new student orientation. This gives the new students a sense of what finals will be like as well as interaction with students and instructors. we usually conduct a formal tour of the campus in the start of orientation so the students know where important areas are, like bathrooms, water fountains, exits ect.... The students will be formally greeted by the admissions rep and are taken into a big classroom. From this point they are handed over to the Dean. We always break up orientation into 15-20 minute segments. They students are given a orientation packet with the pictures and bios of the Deans, Program supervisors as well as career services, financial services, the director and registar. Each group has time set up for organized activity as well to sign off on papers and a short question and answer format. Several factors are put into play such as having students write and answer questions pretaining to their career choice. By the end of orientation, the student have an understanding of what, who, when, where, and why to understanding the school and the policy and guidelines. At the end of each orientation, we give each student an opportunity to grade orientation with questions like, What was good/ bad about the orientation and ways to improve the structure of the orientation itself to be more student orientated and user friendly.
In our campus all departments are involved in this process,too. The Admissions Department greets the students. Usually, they know this personnel because the admission process is the first step they have to follow to be enrrolled in the school.
After being greeted they go to the classrooms (at the same time they start getting familiar with this area of the school). A book bag whith the School's logo is given to them. Usually it contains pens, rulers, and others supplies. They are asked to carry their books in that bag while they are in the school.
After that, the School Campus Director is introduced, then the Programs directors.
The "Core" Program Director offeres information about this initial period, which is general for all of them. The Academic/Registry department offeres a lot of information regarding their attendance, grading system used, GPA, etc. Also the FA department offeres a lot of information. Most of the time is spent with these two departments.
The Students Services department closes the orientation with information about this department. Usually, it is a surprise to know that you will be helped to find a job once you graduate.
A 20 minutes breake is offered in the middle of the orientation. Refreshments are served in the cafeteria.
This orientation is held two weeks before the classes start. Supposly, the students have to have their ID's and parking permits by this day, but if they haven't taken their pictures etc, it is a good moment to do it. So the library personnel is ready to help all of them.
Currently we do not have any activities to get the students moving around. I would like to hear about what other schools do regarding this and how it effects the amount of time the orientation takes.
Monica--
Do you have some interactive activities that students do to get them up and moving around?
Susan
Our students are greeted by the receptionist at orientation. They then meet with the Admissions Coordinator to receive a folder with their payment plan included in it along with some paperwork they need to fill out and turn in, and a school pen. Then they go to a classroom and the director speaks to them before bringing in the rest of the staff and faculty and introducing us. After eveyone is introduced Admissions speaks to the students, then FA, then Student Services. We then give them a 10 minute break and when they return the Head supervisor speaks to them about the different lab projects and procedures they will be encoutering. Throughout orientation students are encouraged to ask questions and if they haven't taken a tour of the facility yet, they are able to do so once orientation is over. Most students however, do the tour before enrolling in the program.
Awesome to include all departments and the introduction of student ambassadors as well! I image that while the student abassadors are moving them around campus they have excellent opportunities to answer questions. Do you have a specific training program for your ambassadors? What other types of activities do they do for you?
Admissions is about the only department not included as part of orientation. Student Services, Financial Aid, Administration (president and dean), Career Services, Library, Learning Success Center, and Academics (academic advisors) all take part in orientation. The last group to meet with the students is the academic advisors. Students are grouped by academic department, meet with their advisor, get their class schedule, and get their textbooks. Advisors can answer any specific questions the students may have and introduce themselves to the students.
Student Ambassadors also take part in orientation as guides. Students are divided into three groups and move to different parts of campus for different sections of orientation. This helps them feel comfortable moving around campus. Plus it keeps them from getting bored sitting in one location/room.
Isn't it?! How wonderful to have students actually 'do' something related to their program during orientation....kind of a jump start on their education. As you've noted, I'm sure students leave very excited to come back the first day!
Susan
What a great idea! I love it. It must really get the students excited about starting school.
C.
Tony--
You are right, having the students move around is a double-edged sword. It does get them familiar with the location of every office. On the other hand, it also lends itself to having them 'get lost' and/or walk out the door. Perhaps if you broke them in to groups that did this together you would also accomplish a couple other objectives like getting them to interact with each other.
Susan
Faith--
What a great idea to have your Career Services group coordinate the orientation. I don't believe I have heard of anyone doing that before and it makes tons of sense! That is, afterall, why the students are there. Good for you!
Susan
We have all departments involved in our orientation/registration. The student cycle through each deparment's table and have a signature sheet (similar to a scavenger hunt) that ensures that they meet with each dept. and fill out necessary paperwork.
I think a change I am hoping to implement is that the student actually go to the various deparment's offices following a map. However, this presents several logistical issues.
Everyone at the college is involved in our orientation process. The students are greeted as soon as they enter the door by the admissions team. They receive a name tag, business cards for their program, and a pen. Then, they are walked up to the orientation area. The financial aid team and academic team mingle with the students before the orientation begins. The Director of Career Services facilitates the orientation. We want to get the students focused on preparing for a career as soon as possible and this is a good start to the process. The President, the Associate Campus Director, and the Academic Dean are also brief speakers at the orientation. Most of the students' time is spent with their Program Director during break out sessions and activities.
Julius--
Excellent idea! This is a great way to get students excited about their program right away and begin to develop a feel for the classroom. I'm assuming they also go over program requirements (e.g. attendance, etc.) during this time?
Susan
Our Program Directors and faculty are heavily involved in orientation. Break out sessions are developed so that students are connected immediately with their programs. For examples; Massage Director gives a mini class session of massage techiques which includes a student massage demonstration.
Joanne--
Absolutely true on all accounts, especially the peer interaction. It adds a great deal of credibility--they EXPECT employees to say good things. It means much more if it comes from other students.
Susan
The team approach in orientation is necessary because the new students are introduce to key people in the administration and also some of the faculty if possible. I feel every member of the team give a difference perspective on the school environment. I also think it a great idea to have current students involve in the team approach. Peer to peer discussion about the school is very valuable and students always relate to their peers.
All--
Bret's observation regarding keeping the picture board up-to-date is extremely important--for all informational things you have distributed or displayed. It simply adds to the frustration students are feeling when they are in need of interacting with someone.
It doesn't hurt to change it up once in awhile as well. Rearrange the pictures, put up a new background, etc. Students will stop and look at it with 'new eyes' even though the same material is there.
Susan
