Length of Orientation Program
We currently hold orientation in a large classroom. The President, Executive Director, and Director of Education speak. Other staff members are introduced as they direct arriving students through the hallways toward the session.
I'm very interested in the idea of dividing the new students into groups and having them visit the various departments. However, this method seems complicated to organize.
Does anyone currently doing this have advice on planning and timing the concurrent sessions? What is the typical length of an orientation when done in this manner?
Sharon--
In working with schools who have this model, the length of orientation doesn't seem to run significantly longer. Depending on what departments they have them 'visit' and what is accomplished (some schools use this for a dual purpose of orientation and registering for classes) the length can go from 90 minutes to a couple hours.
Having each department develop a written handout outlining the key points in their department is key. Students (like the rest of us) will only retain so much spoken information. As they visit each department, an introduction to the services, employees and providing them with the written information is appropriate. The primary goal is to get them up and moving, familiarize them with the facilities and services and introduce them to support people.
Susan
Susan
I am very excited about the idea of having a written handout from each department. It would be a great reference tool for new students. We currently give out a list of names and job titles in their packets--how inadequate that seems now!!
I can see how having a handout from the different departments would better help them understand the role each plays. It would also more clearly identify to whom they can go for help with their various concerns.
Sharon
Our students seem overwhelmed with all the info provided at orientation. We have them return to the Academic Advisor for a one-on-one in a week when their head has cleared and new questions have surfaced. Keeping the students motivated is the key to keeping them. Let's believe in them as much as they believe in us!
AMEN! Follow up is key and yes, with very few exceptions we overwhelm them with all the rules, policies and information WE think they need. Often we forget the issues that are most important to the student. We also make some very bad assumptions that inadvertently send the message that we question their ability to succeed. That is never anyone's intent, but sometimes the way things are worded, stated or non-verbal actions leave that impression.
Susan
After we do an initial discussion with the Campus President, Academic Dean, etc. we have our Program Directors take their own new students into a program specific classroom for some "hands on" activities as well as departmental orientation with faculty. It seems to work very well. New students enjoy getting a taste of what it will be like to work in their chosen fields.
good I wonted to say that
We typically do orientation in small groups as our weekly enrollments permit. The students are provided with group orientation via power point presentation,,introduced to the faculty,given a tour of learning resource center and then partake in question/answer session. This allows for a smoother transition and permits the student to feel more at ease in the training environment. This will take from 1-2 hours, the instructors are introduced during break period.
We currently have our orientation divided into 2 major components.
The first component is meant to deliver information *all* students need to know. The Director, the Registrar, the Dean, Associate Dean, and Career Services all speak to the new students. The Chair of each department is introduced. When they are done, we have a drawing for prizes ranging from flash drives to school gear.
Once door prizes are passes out, the Chair's come to collect their students and spend about 20 minutes with their new students getting to know them, setting expectations, encouraging them, and letting them know their door is always open if they encounter any obstacles they need assistance with.
..and food, there is always food. It takes about 2 hours +/-. The length seems about right for our campus.
We are actually in the midst of revamping our orientation. We have found that students feel overwhelmed by the information prvided to them in its current format, so we've decided to make it a bit lighter and more people friendly by making it more proactive.
Tryng not to spend too much time on one particular topic in the orientation is key to keeping students focused.
Ryan-
Absolutely. There is so much important information to provide to our students, but sometimes we completely overload them with all the details.
You will read in these discussion boards how some institutions break up their orientations in to multiple meetings and/or hold a 'post' orientation of some sort after classes begin to review the information. Both are excellent ideas!
Susan
This is very similar to ours, with the exception of stopping stations. Our students have tickets with FA, Business Office, Registrar and Scrubs. We divide them into four groups and each group must visit each stopping station. Its time consuming and the students tended to get irratated at the long lines. We somewhat solved this by taking half our students to meet with program chairs and the other half on the stopping station tour. Afterwards, they switch. It covers all the bases, but its still a work in progress!
I like it! This nice quote for Orientation Program "Kepping the students motivated is the key to keeping them"
