The instructors are the most influential. We have an introduction class orientation for our students that lays out the whole program. We usually have a few of our instructors show up for it, especially the ones that are teaching the intro class. Students connect. Everyone wins.
The faculty. We have a meet the faculty portion of the orientation. Each member does a brief biography including qualifications and experience, but they also focus on how they are honored by the trust and hopes that the new students place in them to prepare them for their new career. We also have specific members of the team greet them in the orientation room and engage them in discussions about their interests in joining the school as well as what interests them in joining the profession we will be training them for. There is both formal and informal engagement with the new students. We have a small campus and are able to include all departments in the orientation. But to keep it reasonably brief, we extend "orientation" into the first week of classes. This includes extensive IT, Library, LMS, and the online components of their education. Essentially we do not leave them on their own. Students who accomplish the tasks associated with the preparation are released and the student that need more support are able to get the attention they need to feel capable of being successful in the new and "alien" environment. we are still refining this process. Each time it gets better. This course is also helping, i.e. we are going to add not only an active student in orientation but also adding a couple of photos to display of some of the students at graduation and on campus doing fun in class activities.
The topic I need to understand more is how to get that hand-off from Admissisons to Academics. Often the student hangs-on to the Enrollment personnel as their contact for everything. While relationship-building this way is understood, by doing this the student isn't making it to the right place at times. Anyone have effective ideas on having Admissions hand-off to Academics?
james,
The extended orientation is an excellent format; allowing students to more gradually grasp the resources available.
Susan Backofen
Cheryl ,
Well, ideally there is a 'joint' relationship built from application through drop and add where the admissions person along with their retention/advisor are working with the new student. That makes for an easier transition once classes start to work with the person they will be dealing with during their education.
Susan Backofen
Every department interacts with the students - the Education Dept, the Registrar, the Retention Office, the Accounting Dept, the Book Store, the Career Services Office, and the Financial Aid Office. Each give a short presentation at Orientation - and we all engage the students in discussions both as a group and individually. Sometimes students are hesitant to ask a question in public but are more comfortable in private.
The Most interation with Students at Orientation are the Campus Director, The Director of Education, the Retention Officer, the Career Services Rep, and the Financial Aid Director.
Each student then moves around the campus with their Program Director and Instructors.
Career services play a big role in our orientation. This gives the new students an idea of what to expect and what kind of jobs can be available to them. Telling them success stories about past students and better yet have some successful alumni present helps the new students
As an instructor I don't know what info the students receive in orientation. That is done by my director (I think). We do show a video to all students where a representative of each department shares their role and gives an overall rundown of how that department is beneficial to the student.
My team will definitely try and incorporate more departments into orientation.
At the moment we have our practicum placement department give a brief introduction on the first day. We also have students sign up for a one-on-one consultation time with Financial Aid.
Our faculty participates in our student orientation. We are divided into groups and meet with students to cover general housekeeping items,general information regarding their first day of class and answer any burning questions that they may have. We then escort them to pick up their uniforms or to the appropriate office to complete any remaining items.
Because our program is so large and we have different start dates than other programs on campus, our orientation is held separately from the normal college orientation. However, this allows us to customize our orientation a bit more. We have the Dean come and speak to the students and then the faculty spends a lot of time talking to the students about our experience and how we can help them to succeed. Finally, our program director takes them through the programatic expectations and college resources.
Robin,
This sounds great--I especially like that the faculty spends so much time with the incoming students.
Susan Backofen
Student service department and graduation department are the two departments that have most interaction with students. The graduation department assist graduate students with finding a job. Student service department, on the other hand, provides services such as transportation, day care, etc. We have representative from both department attend our new students orientations. Students will be informed of all the services they could get from both departments.
It’s very important to introduce each department and to explain the students responsibilities for interacting with each department.
1) Education department –explain how things work, accreditations, program expectations, attendance policy, grades, schedules and to whom students should see for various issues.
2) Career Service-explain how things work in this department, how to get prepare for that important part of your experience at this school; how to apply for help in finding initial employment and the expectations of the employers.
I work at a technicial school and sometimes prospective students will be brought around the school and shown the different classrooms, labs, etc. I will always answer any questions they might have if they are brought over to the area that I am teaching in.
We have a representative from Career Services come by and teach a one-hour segment on resume writing and discuss general tips on interviewing.
i believe it is better for the students to understand to be Chief they have to work hard to get the out come of the Chief..
Students services have a lot of interaction with the students and I help out by giving them job leads.
Financial dept. interact with students a lot, at the begining anyway. The instructors themselves need to attend and get involved at orientation. Introduction, past experience and history of performance at institution on behalf of instructor needs to be communicated with students.
reception, as well as the learning resource center - with both you include them in Orientation by having them introduce themselves and explain what they do
