Both Financial Aid and Career Services are very important departments in our school for success of the student. Financial Aid is present to answer any last minute questions or help students to understand what their loans mean. Career Services is present to offer a liftime commitment to assisting students in job searching. Being an online program, career Services also explains what there services 'look like' across the nation and abroad.
We include all departments at orientation. They give an overview of the services they provide, help students with completing paperwork, etc. We also have breakout sessions where students spend time with their program directors so students can ask questions and feel more engaged with their specific programs.
All of the departments including education, financial aid, graduate employment, and admissions play a role during orientation. It's important that the new student be familiar with all of the team members. The new students need to know that we are ALL in this together and want the same results in the end: career and a job. The student also needs to know that they are not alone and that ALL of the departments will do their best to help the student.
Could I ask what you mean by Admissions "takes the student back at the end to graduate them?"
We involve faculty, Career Services, Financial Aid, and Student Affairs (advisement, activities, athletics, learning center, etc.). At the beginning of our orientations we have tables around the room from each department where students can ask questions and take away information. By the time students attend orientation they have already dealt with Admissions, Financial Aid and Student Affairs. The student advisors schedule first week appointments with the students to answer any questions they may have or forgot to ask. Students meet a variety of people who ultimately support their success.
Kay,
Excellent! Is the 'grad prep' in addition to or replacing your orientation?
Susan Backofen
The other two departments at my institution that are involved with the students is our student services and academic affairs departments. Typically the cycle of our program is admissions takes you in and forms the relationship, once enrolled admissions hands the student over to student services with the support of academic affairs. And as of right now admissions takes the student back at the end to graduate them. These three departments try to stay in constant communication with each other to ensure every students is accounted and taken care of.
Our school holds what we call "Grad Prep". Every department is involved in this process. We also have our student Ambassadors there for support and assistance of the new students. Each Program Director will speak to offer what is expected in each program in order to succeed as well as answer questions about the program. Our retention rate is phenomenal and I am proud to be associated with our school as an Instructor.
We have financial aid, department heads, career services director, externship director and the campus director available at orientation. They each have something to contribute and can answer questions as well
We are a small technical school without several departments. The counselors and the instructional staff have the most interaction with the students other than admissions.
David,
This sounds like a great format!
Susan Backofen
All of our departments are involved in Orientation - career Seervices acutally runs the event with admissions providing support - Academics is involved in welcoming all the students - we have student ambassadors who guide the students through the campus - the Director of Education promotes positive attendance and the program directors give them a little peek into the fun ideas they wil be studying.
eddy,
I really like having a graduate attend orientation to speak about their experience and success. It makes a huge difference.
Susan Backofen
Education, financial aid and business manager office are part of our orientation even...we also have a graduate address the students and talk about his or her educational experience. Students are given a tour and a hands on presentation during the tour.
All departments have interaction with the students during orientation but I have Career Services and the Instructors do most of the talking then I bring in Student Services. The students enrolled because they want to start making money quickly to support their family therefore when I introduce Career Services I tell the students to make sure they visit career services at least once a week if not daily. I want Career Services to know the student for who they are and not what they know academically so when an employer calls for placements the department is able to send the right fit student and tell the employer why this student is a good fit for them. It has been working and the employers love it and the students are getting hired immediately.
Lynda ,
You are absolutely correct...having that interaction with the faculty member and seeing their new 'surroundings' is a real benefit.
Susan Backofen
James,
Involving career services in such a practical way at orientation is a great idea!
Susan Backofen
Tracy,
This sounds absolutely wonderful! Such energy and cohesiveness among the faculty and staff makes a huge difference.
Susan Backofen
In orientation they meet for 20 minute intervals with the following: Business Office, Student Services, the Learning Resource Center ( library/Tutoring) Career Services, Academic Advising, Bookstore, and with their Program Specific Faculty Chairs for 1 hour. There is also a scholarship session and financial progress for a 1 hour session as well.
Our evening school orientation is held after most of the staff have left for the day. We incorporate the instructors/Department heads who are available on campus to be part of the orientation. They take the students from their programs, and give them a personal look at what they can expect to learn, classes that are new, and answer any questions the student may have about their programs. It's always nice when a student meets an instructor they will have the following week. It makes it so much easier for them to walk into that classroom.
