At our college, the career services team as well as the student ambassadors play a major role in the orientation process. We have found that these two teams bring a nice balance to the event because it points new students to other students going through the process, or who have gone through the process, as well as the people who will point the students to the reason why they are there in the first place, their future careers!
Its not just admissions department who is involved in the orientatino proccess,other departments also came together as a team.The other daparments that are involved are finacial aid, carrer services,library,advisers,and administrators such as the dean.
It is truely a team effort that is used to welcome and introduce students to the college.
Luz--
Using external sources, as you do with the financial aid information, is an excellent way to add credibility.
Susan
Indeed, student ambassadors present at orientation would definitely help to ease the tension of a new beginning. Students are able to see a tangible picture of where they are going, and are able to develop helpful associations with other students at the outset. It would also be helpful to organize a "mingle" of sorts, where students are able to interact and speak with current students in a social atmosphere.
We Le Cordon Bleu have a great sistem were we all pich in on orientation from admission to faculty.
In our university departments that do the work of entering students is the academic and admissions, this is because while the information is handled in a clear, precise and accurate for our prospects, we may give a better service our aspiring students.
Sometimes we need to involve people in the Dean's office, but it is not usual. We also use external information, such as the Financial Aid office or department of education so that students can visually feel the information that is offered is 100% real.
Marc--
This sounds great! Keeping Career Services involved from start to finish also keeps the end goal (a job) in site.
Susan
The education department and the career services office are all involved in orientation. Several of the faculty members are involved in each new student orientation; they are available to answer any questions the students may have and to help establish the student’s comfort level. The Career Services Department is involved with the students from before their first day of school. As a career college, our student’s ability to turn the skills and knowledge acquired at our school into employment success is a primary concern for the students and the school alike, so Career Services is involved from before orientation and throughout their time at school.
The Team instructor should have a good introduction to the student have an idea who are the most personnel that they will spend their time during this journey.
Is it important that they includes all of the key personnel, to go to.
If the need help in any of the problem/question come arise during their journey.
Finalcial aid and career services (job placement). I think that having these 2 departments during the orientation process, will help the new student body to clear any doubts about payments, loans to take, etc.In some cases could be a frightening topic for some of the students. Career services (job placement)will give to the students a positive view of the next step after finishing school.
Student ambassadors should give a tour of the campus. A lot of students get lost at the beginning. Involving student ambassadors give beginning student a sense of belonging.
Everything starts with admissions representatives, then students make a tour in the facilities, see the kitchens, active students and Chefs. They get really exited when they can see this.
We have a group of instructors and students that are ambassadors that participate in this orientation sessions.
Representatives from all departments attend orientation.Each department introduces themselves and gives a short overview of what they have to offer and where to go to find them.
Marcelo--
This sounds great. Could you tell me a little more about it? Are these for prospective students only? Do they get to sit in on an actual class or are they open forums only?
Susan
Patrick--
Sounds great! Really like that you inclue demonstrations and, of course, goodies :)
Susan
Financial Aid, Student Services, Resource Center, and Employement Services are all part of our orientation process to allow the stucents to become familiar with these people and to help them feel at home, including approachability for open lines of communication and support.
Our academic department coordinates with admissions "class days". This open interaction between the new student and the Instructor allows to answer questions directly and from the source. This experience is very beneficial for the new student.
All departments are a part of the orientation of new students and they are limited to short introductions of themselves and briefly outline the services they offer.
We also have students go from one department to the next for needed materials and location familiarity as a part of the orientaion prossess, this is purposeful and respectfully done so not to put out the student, but to invite them into the fold, this is also semi-guided by student ambassador's in order to help the process along in a timely manner.
The Education department, meaning the instructors, directors, registrars, etc. They are involved by being the greeters. They answer questions, help issue their uniforms, talk to them about when they were going through school, etc.
We make sure we tell them about the value of their education, the expectations, and answer any questions they have.
Other than the Admissions department, the faculty have the most interaction with students during orientation. They are assigned various roles to engage students in learning about the school’s culture, operation and expectations.
