We have financial aid come in and go over paper work and answer any questions the new students have. We also have the safety manager and lead instructor come in and talk about their role with the company.
Troy--
WOW! 12 hours a day, that's a lot of interaction time. However do you stay 'up' for all those classes?
Susan
We have the Director from each of our departments participate in orientations, along with our Ambassadors. At the end of orientations, the new students are given another tour of the school by their Program Director. The orientation also offers and Q & A to students to ask any questions they may have prior to starting their first day. They are also given the business cards of all the Directors for future inquiries if needed.
along with admissions, student services, fin aide and our accounting department. I personally am an instructor in a classroom 12 hours a day so have a tough time being involved in our orientation
Each of our administrative departments are involved in Orientation. We have the directors from the Financial, Academic, and Clinical departments, as well as our Executive Director. As we are a very small trade school, each department consists only of a director. Each member of the administration has a segment of the orientation activities. We try to mix it up so new students get not only the information they need, but an increasing familiarity and comfort with everyone. And we also try to mix sitting and listening with physical activities. The one thing we need to add to orientation is a segment with a faculty member and one with an upper classman. That was a very valuable suggestion from this course!
Carmen--
It certainly sounds like you take a personal interest in each student and make them feel at home. I especially like listing their names on a board at the entrance. Nice touch!
Susan
Stephen--
It certainly sounds like your whole team is actively involved. I especially like that the student services and financial aid staff are also visible the first day of classes. Often we forget about that as we are so busy processing paperwork. Great job!
Susan
Each of our design groups meet with their new students and have them participate in a fun project similar to what they will encounter in the classroom.
At our campus on orientation day, we greet new students at the school lobby wuith a friendly hand shake and call them by their names.Then at the orientation room they recieve an information package, pencils and a flower.Students become very motivated with the speech of our job placement department.Other important part of the orientation day is that we write the names of new students on a board by the school entrance.
Student services and financial aid appear
at the registration orientation and
usually send representatives to the first
day of class to be sure everyone knows who
to see and where to find them for any questions
on an administerative level.
Jeffrey--
Career Services does play an extremely important part for the reasons you've noted above. Also, keeping students focused on the outcomes (employment) is a huge retention point as well. They enroll with us because they want to prepare for a career. Often, however, 'life' gets in the way and they become overwhelmed or discouraged. Keeping the end in mind for them is helpful.
Susan
Chris--
That is certainly the goal...sounds like you have a great plan. Do you have specific tactics you use to accomplish this?
Susan
Dolly--
Small campuses have their benefits and drawbacks. You have stated one of the challenges in that having every department represented is difficult.
I do like your idea of 'exchanging' the speakers to give a quick overview of their department then allowing someone else to come in and do the same. That allows everyone to introduce themselves to the new students and still have adequate coverage.
Susan
We have a New Student Orientation that students attend prior to the start of their classes. During the NSO, the students meet representative of each department where they explain what each department is all about and how they can assist them throughout the course of the year. I feel the Career Services Dept. plays a large role in communication because they assist in the placement of not only current students, but with
graduates as well.
Our approach is to provide the student with all the support they need from begining to end.
Having all departments represent at one time would be difficult at my school simply because we are a small campus. I would, however, like to see an approach of setting aside time at the beginning of orientation to tag team in orientation. What I mean by that is a very informal "Meet & Greet" whereby all departments are represented, but the exposure is just a simple exchange of vital information from each department, a welcome, and then the representative takes off for the next dept person to step in. This would give students a face and more info than what they could find out in the student handbook, but would allow orientation be a less overwhelming experience for everyone. This too would facilitate the freeing up of all parties because not just one person would be responsible for the whole time. Any feedback...?
Madeline--
Your program sounds great...putting a face with particular departments and functions is important. Also, explaining what types of tasks each department does is helpful to students.
Do you include any faculty in your orientation?
Susan
Other than Admissions we have the Financial Aid, Registrar and Job Placement department. They are all part of our orientation process, by introducing themselves the day of orientation and informing the students of each department's functions. Our main objectives are to provide the students with excellence.
Hi Susan
Financial aid has a lot of interaction with student along with guidance office at my collebges today
Thanks
Alana
Enrique--
They certainly do! In fact, Financial Aid probably knows more about the students' obstacles and challenges than anyone else. They can play a key role in student retention by providing access to resources beyond paying tuition.
Susan
