Baron--
This is really excellent to use your alumni. It is a huge benefits to your new students and also keeps your alumni engaged...and likely to continue to make referrals.
Do you have a specific program for working with them?
Susan
Kim--
I like what you've explained here...and it does break up the orientation some. The upside of attending orientation would be to introduce yourself prior so they aren't thinking about that before the first day. Finding out what their faculty will be like is a key source of stress.
Susan
admissions usually introduces students to be to the intructors and a positive greeting is always availible
We have a team who's specific job is to provide orientation to new students. It's a very high energy, dynamic process using motivational talks, team building excercises and individual speeches from the new students themselves.
Again I am an instructor and I feel all departments should be involved with orientation so the students do not feel isolated. You want students to feel welcome and apart of the community from the start.
The departments that interact the most with students would be faculty, academic affairs, and financial aid. I am not sure how my school incorporates these departments in the online orientation, but I thin that they should be incorporated to help with student retention. For example, there should be one person from each department that calls and/or emails the student to school. Also, explain what their job duty is and how they can assist the student. By doing this, it provides the student a point of contact that they are comfortable in contacting.
Financial Aid is the key, in my opinion. They will get the "negative" feedback as much as the Admissions rep will. Financial Aid is introduced to all new starts and each representative gives out their name and office location and offers assistance to all new starts no matter what the need is.
I believe the instructors spend a great deal of time with the students and therefore including them in orientation is vital. One way would be to do a meet and greet with instructors so that students know what to expect from them.
Faculty members provide information regarding qualifications, professional experience, personnal information, which will assist to prepare students to perform well in the competitve job market.
Excellent. You are so correct, financial aid is a group that hears a lot of not-so-pleasant feedback. Lots of rules and regulations which they can do nothing to change, but have to enforce.
Susan
Faculty and advising have a huge impact on students during orientation and in the daily classroom. As faculty, I have an orientation to each course that I teach. During this time, I actually discuss the advisors and when students should contact them.
But after this question, I'll likely ask an advisor to actually attend a Live Chat and discuss what they do.
We are 'all hands on deck' for orientation. The Directors for each department, including Fin Aid, & Placement, along with the School & Program Directors all participate. Admissions is present to greet and escort students and also to assist at the end of orientation with any outstanding issues. We are a small school, and so with all staff present, the incoming class will meet and at least be familiar with, all the persons who will be highly involved with their success.
Finacila Aid has a lot of interaction with the students.Finacial Aid plays a big part.
I really like this idea of getting prior students on board with orientation. It also lends to credibility of the school when students coming in can see some of the success first hand. This will be an idea that I will pass along to my school.
Karen--
It certainly sounds like it is an 'all hands on deck' environment, which I am certain the students appreciate.
Susan
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
Hi Susan
Financial aid has a lot of interaction with student along with guidance office at my collebges today
Thanks
Alana
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.
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
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...?
