Incorporating current students in this capacity can really help soothe the initial anxieties and fears of incoming students!
At our campus the instructors have the most interaction with the students. The instructors are presented in a "meet and greet' type format.
Jennifer,
Wonderful! I especially like the survey opportunity for them to raise issues early on.
Susan Backofen
At the institution where I work, everybody helps with orientation. Admissions, career services, the department heads, and the directors are there and explain the different information to the students.
Student Advising has a huge impact on our students and retention. As a member of Student Advising we go to each class room and introduce ourselves and and what specific programs we all will be working with throughtout the term. We go through all the different services and resources we have to offer the student. We let them know that there are people here to support them if needed. We also hand out a survey that gives the new student a chance to reach out and let us know if they see anything they need help with currently or might in the future. This helps smooth the process from Admissions to Student Advising when they get a face with the name of their new advisor.
Brenda,
Agreed! Whenever we can show them or let them participate in some type of hands-on learning activity it energizes the students.
Susan Backofen
Manuela,
Showing students where and how to access these services is an important orientation step. Great job!
Susan Backofen
Acedemics, lubs, Student Leadership, Guest Chefs
Having the Chef instructors do a demo showcasing what the students will betaught to make durinng thefirst week of school. That is what they are looking forward to, hands on.....
Financial aid is one of the departments that students have to interact with. I literally walked my students through the halls and showed them where some of the departments are located at. I ensured them that the staff is always there to help, sometimes with an appointment only, but since our school is relatively small, there are times available throughout the day. Peeking into some of the offices and a welcoming "hi" from the staff assured the students of this.
Each departmental chairpersons are at the orientation. SOme instructors are invited and even Ambassadors to promote the "ambassador" program or at least for new students to focus on during his or her further studies.
Sometimes the orientations is done while classes are in session--some instructors are unable to attend.
Heather,
What a wonderful, small atmosphere to support students. You have a wonderful opportunity to make a significant impact.
Susan Backofen
Student services actually does most of the orientation for new students. Once they are enrolled, the students go straight to Student Services and schedule orientation were we take them through their online classes bit by bit. Our orientations are great opportunities to establish that we are the friend of the student through casual conversation surrounded by helpful information.
I have a small program- we start 18 students twice a year. They typically come in on a Friday two weeks prior to their start date to meet with their admissions rep who take them on a tour of the whole school. They then meet with me (the Program Director) where I do an orientation of the program. On their first day of class, I do another orientation of the program which includes introducing them to their instructors and taking them on a tour of the school and introducing them to who in each department specifically helps our program.
Our Orientation includes all Departments. Financial Aid, Student Services, Career Services and the Bursar all participate in Orientation.
We each take 5 minutes just to explain what our department does and when/why they would need to see us.
I think it's great that they get to meet each department so they will remember the face, even if they don't remember where your office is!
every dept is represent by a speaker that participates in orientation.
Career Services has a lot of interaction with students. I am not a part of our school's orientation so I do not know how it is incorrporated.
Arthur,
That is important...if the people in the admissions department have the mindset to recruit graduates, it makes a huge difference.
Susan Backofen
I think that the approach of Financial Aid Department and Records Department would help to answer lots of questions and clarify any confusion that the students may have about.
In our institute the Admissions department is responsible for Orientation. The other departments; Financial Aid, Career Services, Administration all interact with the sudents during Orientation but its Admissions, that puts it all together.
They spell out the Do and Don't, the schools policies and procedures, their expectation per quarter, procress reporting, tutoring and a series of other useful information.
Admissions its not just selling the program but retaining the student until graduation and beyond.
