<p>I have been asked to give advice on improving a college orientation program, and would like to hear of your experiences with your students' programs. </p>
<p>What elements were included for parents and students. What worked? What didn't work? </p>
<p>What special things were included for honors students and students in different majors? What wasn't included that you wish was? Did it seem worth the effort to attend?</p>
<p>I'll weigh in on this one. DS goes to Boston University and DH, DS and I all felt they ran an excellent orientation program for both students and parents. Honestly, I can't think of anything that didn't work...but here are some of the things that did:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Students and parents had separate activities during the 2 day orientation. DS stayed in the dorm with students and we didn't see him until the departing luncheon. </p></li>
<li><p>Similar info sessions were held (separately) for parents/students but the sessions were specific to the audience. Also having parents in their own session (and kids too, I would imagine) made question asking much more open. We heard about everything from grading policies to health care. The police spoke and so did one of the campus chaplains. It was a full two days for all.</p></li>
<li><p>Students were grouped in small groups by their designated College of Admissions and/or major. DS was in a group of 10 students who were all music majors and this was led by a student who was entering his senior year as a music major.</p></li>
<li><p>At the first day luncheon, parents sat at a table with a faculty representative from THEIR child's college or major. Our table had the assistant dean of the school of music.</p></li>
<li><p>Excellent food. There were beverages, and small snack items available throughout the two days. Nice continental breakfast all days, luncheons, and dinners...VERY nicely presented and done (for $42,000 per year, you would expect that!!).</p></li>
<li><p>Comfortable seating.</p></li>
<li><p>Activities for younger siblings were offered. There was an additional cost. It was for school aged kids....not babysitting....but some activities around the BU campus and nearby Boston.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>It was absolutely worth the effort to attend. The session we were at was right before school started and had most of the international student and west coast families (easier for them to come once than to come for orientation AND to deliver their kiddos). Orientation is mandatory for the kids, but not for the parents. Perhaps it was because some of these "far away" students come alone, but we were surprised there were not more parents there.</p>
<p>Thanks, Thumper for that thoughtful, comprehensive overview.
What kind of info was covered in the sesssions for parents and students. How was the info covered to make it interesting?</p>
<p>college is a whole different scene than HS, and some students are more prepared for the change than others. In particular, students are sometimes bewildered about where to turn for help or guidance at college.</p>
<p>One school I know of gave a presentation explaining various resources and when to use them, but what made it fun and worthwhile is they did a roleplay game in small groups after the talk, with students getting points for right answers. "where would you go if you're having problems with your roomate?" "where would you go if you're struggling in a class?" "where would you go if you are thinking of changing your major?" They ran thru a bunch of scenarios and got the kids in the habit of thinking that there's someone out there who can help them but that the student has to reach out to get it.</p>
<p>This was four years ago, but it's easy to remember because it went so well. Like BU, UCLA also offered sessions for student siblings. First-year orientation lasted three days. Family orientation lasted one day, and that could pose a problem for out-of-state families.</p>
<p>Student orientation focused on introducing the kids to one another and making them feel part of the University. In addition to the usual ice-breaking activities and those focused on learning the ins and outs of the school, events included a scavenger hunt (so they could learn about the various parts of the campus). At the end of the session, S was able to sign up for courses with the assistance of someone from that department. We didn't hear from him the entire time he was on-campus; we took that as a good sign.</p>
<p>Family orientation included:
Presentation on the UCLA Academic Requirements--lots of note-taking by parents
Information fair and workshops--more note-taking
An introduction to the services and educational opportunities available at UCLA--very helpful in learning about available resources
Discussion on student transitional experiences--a wonderful time during which parents shared their thoughts about having kids go off to college. This was memorable for a question by one mother about whether she should still expect her S to check in with her by phone every night at 10 p.m. Parents suggested she have him e-mail her.
Lectures and discussions with University staff and faculty--very inspirational to hear from S's prospective professors
A campus tour and tour of a residence hall facility--great for those who didn't have a tour beforehand</p>
<p>Because it's a state school, there were a lot of parents (and siblings) in attendance. The question I got asked the most was why I was sending S across the country when there were so many good schools closer to home. Oh, well. I'm glad that I attended and look forward to D's orientation next month.</p>
<p>Thumper's description of BU's orientation sounded a lot like the USC off-campus event we attended in Dallas several years ago. Son was also able to take placement exams and sign-up for courses.</p>
<p>Make sure that parents know about housing, how to contact someone in case of an emergency, FERPA (USC presented waivers for students to sign if they wished), housing, financial aid, how to pay tuition, campus credit union or banks, and campus medical facilities and how students access them.</p>
<p>The BU orientation sounded almost exactly like Denison's June-O. Parents had seminars on first year adjustment, academic requirements/scheduling, health, residence life, and lots of opportunity for question/answer, AND lots of chance to interact with the other parents (which was fun). All seminars had food/coffee etc. There was a faculty/parent reception the first night. Actually, the schedule was pretty rigorous and we were beat! </p>
<p>Kids' seminars were separate from parents. They did all their schedules and pre-tests, in addition to seminars on various topics. They were with a student advisor and a faculty advisor (in groups of about 6) the whole weekend. In one of their sessions on adjusting to first year they split up the boys and girls - which I thought was a great idea. They played games in the dorms late into the night.</p>
<p>I don't know if other schools have this - but here's something I loved. Denison admissions sends the students a three ring binder once they commit. In there is a ton of information, all easily indexed. Forms that need to be returned are blue (everything else is on white paper) and they even provide the mailing labels for each form. All due dates are clear. It is just nice to get everything at once, and have an organized way to keep track of it all.</p>
<p>Like Thumper, I attended a BU orientation and thought it was extremely well-done. Sessions included financial aid, campus safety, dining services, student employment. </p>
<p>Boring sessions: parents get hand-out, administrator reads the entire hand-out as it appears on a screen. (Financial aid, learning resources.)</p>
<p>Fun sessions: campus security director dumps a shopping bag full of fake ID cards on a table to show how many he's confiscated; student program assistants perform scenarios to illustrate homesickness, roommate differences, academic problems.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>What kind of info was covered in the sesssions for parents and students. How was the info covered to make it interesting?>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>The speakers were excellent and in my opinion, that is the most significant thing that makes presentations good. These speakers interjected humor, actual experiences, policies, and q/a opportunities well. Topics covered (and we thought all were important...I'm sure I'll forget some as it was two years ago): grading policy, privacy policy, health services, housing, food, drug/alcohol, crime, recreation, academic counseling, student support services (academic and psychological), computer use, security (this was particularly important as this is an urban campus), extracurricular activities, sports, city services as they relate to the campus (police, public transportation, even Fenway park). It was excellent...they must have that bag of fake ID cards at EVERY orientation session!! I should add that we were told that the students had the same topics presented to them...but from the student perspective. My son never really commented on the orientation much...but said the campus policeman who did the security/drug/alcohol presentation was OUTSTANDING.</p>
<p>If you don't mind, I'll answer for both undergrad (UG) and law school (LS).</p>
<p>What elements were included for parents and students?
UG - nothing really for parents except for a quick intro to the school - then again, my parents just dropped me off and left. :)
Students - lots of stuff - matriculation, candle ceremony (so we can put a light on the hill - this is done again right before commencement), meeting with advisor and peer leaders, registration, etc.</p>
<p>LS - nothing for parents. Students - waaay too much stuff for three days. We had homework due on the first day of class, but could not buy our books until orientation. First day was jam-packed from 8 am until midnight, when we were all drooling on ourselves. Too much stuff - down time can be a good thing. Moving is tiring. There was a dean's welcome, introduction of faculty, picnic, registration (for health insurance, vehicle parking, photo, filling out a survey, etc etc), discussion about summer reading, class photo on lawn, mandatory movie, introduction to the honour code, and a bunch of other things that I forget. </p>
<p>What worked? What didn't work?</p>
<p>UG- meeting advisor & peer leaders in small groups; very little to do on the first day besides moving in and getting our keys. </p>
<p>LS - I did like all of the opportunities to mingle - picnics, BBQs, etc. First day of orientation, though, was too full. When you are coming in from out-of-state a few days prior, you need time to settle in, and a 16-hour day is just too much.</p>
<p>What special things were included for honors students and students in different majors? What wasn't included that you wish was? Did it seem worth the effort to attend?</p>
<p>UG & LS - nothing for certain students. I did feel as it was worthwhile to attend. UG was not full enough - there was very little to do after the first day or so. A lot of students said that they would have liked to have mixers or parties - little get-togethers so you can start to meet your classmates. LS - as I said, the only feeling I have from that orientation is that it was too much. Glad for the information that we got, but it would have been done well if spread out over about five or six days (esp. because we had homework to do and, as older students, we have apts to set up, not dorm rooms). </p>
<p>UG suggestions: it's always good to have some sort of online way to meet people before starting school. Aside from that... moving help is a great way to meet people - you could have those who are volunteering to help meet in a certain place. Smaller activities (BBQs, cook-outs, softball, etc) for a dorm or similarly-sized group would be fun. Sports are always good - although not enough girls participate. </p>
<p>Whatever you do, space out informational sessions (nothing against them!) with more "fun" sessions - because no one wants to be inside of a classroom on an 80-degree day when they just moved to college.</p>
<p>I'm a bit hazy on the details, but remember feeling both reassured and excited for my daughter after the parent orientation at a mid-sized public school (W&M) four years ago. The parents' program was brief (just a day, including the move-in "experience"), while the student orientation was an intense 4-day period that instilled an appreciable sense of enthusiasm and confidence in the incoming freshman - or did for my d and her friends, at least.</p>
<p>The most successful aspect was the bonding encouraged by the upperclass student orientation aides for her dorm. The smallest on campus, with comically small rooms, it was an overflow honors dorm (more Monroe Scholars than expected enrolled that year), so there was 1 floor each of Monroe girls and guys, and a third floor of non-Monroe guys. It proved to be a very tight mix of kids; everyone hung out on the 3rd floor, and a large bunch of these kids have continued to be very close friends. I credit the orientation program with forming a cohesive hall instead of allowing the housing challenges to segregate the students. The aides worked hard to make certain that every kid felt an important part of the group.</p>
<p>Activities for students included an excellent mix of academic and social orientation: meetings with advisors and deans, but also comedy performances, music and dancing, in-depth tours, games, even an intro to Colonial Williamsburg. The only aspect of parent orientation I remember well was a huge 2-hour assembly for parents and students - we sat separately and I could see my d across the arena, already gabbing and laughing with kids she had just met. The speakers discussed issues of mutual interest to parents and kids (campus security, grade deflation, etc.), then the kids were sent on their way and the parents remained to hear a special message from the president.</p>
<p>This guy (Timothy Sullivan, now retired) was a brilliant speaker and somehow knew exactly what to say to assuage our fears, instill our confidence and (for me at least) feel better - even positive - about letting our kids go. Without that address, I'd have been an emotional wreck; instead, I was only a little more neurotic than usual when saying goodbye, and I replayed parts of his speech many times in my head during my d's first weeks at school.</p>
<p>At Howard, there is an optional package that freshmen can buy. It is called the campus Pals packet. With your packet, you get a pass to a theme park, some local event tickets, and the opportunity to go on a week of trips with the other freshman who purchase the pals package. It is really a lot of fun and a great opportunity to meet new friends at the University.</p>
<p>I can say very little about the orientation program because like Frazzled1, our experience (at Brandeis) was that parents were not included.<br>
During freshman move-in day there were tables all over the place where questions could be asked, and students hanging around to help the physical move-ins go quickly. At around 4 o'clock, after a day of lugging stuff into dorms and mad shopping, all students and parents were asked to come to the gym. When we got there, students went in one direction and would up seated on the gym floor, parents went another direction and wound up in the stands. At the end of this effective separation, we were given a short time to say good-byes, and then the students were sent off to a barbecue (we managed to circumvent the official good-bye by dropping by later that evening) However, there was nothing planned for parents after that, and we were asked to clear out. </p>
<p>There then followed a three-day orientation which included information sessions for students and lots of social activities, after which classes began. Throughout this, RAs were constantly grabbing groups from their dorms and going off to do something as a group.</p>
<p>As far as I could tell, it was a fine orientation period. We parents had a chance to get more information during Parents Weekend, a couple of months later, by which time our kids were getting quite well into the life there.</p>
<p>At U. Chicago, first years show up a week earlier than other students. They have a whole week of orientation activities, including trips, testing, advising, class selection etc., with plenty of free time for socializing, meeting faculty etc. </p>
<p>U. Chicago did a very nice job of separating the parents from their kids. On the first day, after a full gathering in Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, with requisite speeches, including a really funny one about being where "fun goes to die...", a processional left the chapel for the main quad. At a particular gate, O aides skillfully sorted parents and family from first years. The latter went through the gate, the former turned right to a reception. They rightly view the process as partly one of separating kids from their parents, and are quite clear regarding this in orientation materials. They strongly encourage parents to depart that first day - or at least go sightseeing.</p>
<p>For students of different majors, U. of C. had key faculty representatives available for meetings. I shoudl add that the reps were not slouches. For Bio Sci, the contact person was the head of the Collegiate Undergrad Program, a full prof who also happens to be the head of the MD/PhD program,f or example.</p>
<p>What could be done better? Perhaps more suggestions regarding how parents can best take advantage of what is a long trip for some. Perhaps more sightseeing information, for example. Or better lodging help. It always amazes me how few Unis arrange for preferential rates at local hotels, especially rates that are actually a savings.</p>
<p>Northstarmom:</p>
<p>Swarthmore did a few things that I thought were pretty effective, especially in establishing the fact right up front that parents need to let go.</p>
<p>First, they schedule parent tours immediately after "move-in", i.e. late morning. This is specifically designed to get the Moms out of the dorm rooms and let the roommates figure things out for themselves. Students go off to get their keys, ID cards, etc. Parents go on group tours, mostly of the support offices -- a session with security, health services, psych services, career counseling, Deans Office, etc. I think this tour was worthwhile for two reasons: it gave me a very good feeling for the people and knowlegde in the back of mind should the need arise to encourage son or daughter to use the support resources.</p>
<p>Lunch was a combined parent/student affair in the dining hall.</p>
<p>After lunch, parents and students were again separated. Parents went to one auditorium for two Q&A welcome sessions -- one with a panel of students, one with the Dean and President. Students went to a different auditorium for the same two sessions.</p>
<p>These afternoon sessions were concluded with a combined reception following which parents were "invited to leave".</p>
<hr>
<p>As far as students go, I really don't know what took place during the four days of orientation. As parents, we were never given the schedule, so what I know is gleaned from conversations with daughter.</p>
<p>I do know one event that is somewhat unique and clearly left an impression on D because she got misty-eyed when she saw it portrayed on a DVD. Swarthmore begins the four-years with an event called "First Collection". This is an assembly of all incoming first-year students in the outdoor ampitheater, with welcome speeches from the President and the Dean along with a Collection Speech by a Faculty member. This event is concluded with a candle-lighting ceremony where each student lights the candle of the student next to them, followed by all 360 kids dispersing back to their dorms with their lighted candles. I don't think this sort of thing would work at most places, but the combination of the setting and the candle-ceremony clearly has a bonding effect that is apparently quite moving.</p>
<p>Here's an example of a recent "First Collection" speech by a faculty member:</p>
<p>Of course, the matching bookend to the four-years is a "Last Collection" and the gradutation ceremony which are also held in the ampitheater.</p>
<p>I wonder about the move to separate parents from students asap, given the number of threads discussing what to buy when on campus (and not before), including bulky and heavy items that are too cumbersome to ship and can only be purchased at some stores that are not within walking distance. For ex, when we dropped my S at his LAC, we realized we'd forgotten to bring his pillow and other sundry items.<br>
I don't recall that orientation as particularly memorable, but I'm sure my S was glad H (and car) were around to take him to the mall and buy what he needed and had forgotten to pack.</p>
<p>marite,</p>
<p>When U of C separated the students, they did not banish us from the campus. Some of us hung around and took our kids shopping the next day after they settled in. </p>
<p>In some ways, it reminded me of summer camp - get the parents out of the picture to get on with the activities that develop independence. And I gotta tell you, in some families, the parents were sooo in charge during move in.</p>
<p>Since S's LAC was only a couple of hours away by car, I was glad to have all the purchases done in one day so we could head back home asap rather than spend another day locallyand have to put up at a hotel. I felt that S had the rest of the week to get settled in and bond with other freshmen. We actually left the campus at around 4 or 5pm after a reception for parents and students.</p>
<p>I'm in agreement with Marite here. Most of us are grownups and don't need to be hinted at. we know we'll need to leave,and that's fine, but there is often stuff that can be helped with, and an hour or two is not going to change the college experience. My D, for instance, had snafus getting her computer hooked up to the main system at both colleges she went to; having dad around long enough to sort out the problem was just useful. Believe me, I was more than ready to go when we finally did, but her character was not compromised by the help and the buying of forgotten stuff. </p>
<p>I think the concept that parents need to be separated because otherwise the doofuses cant figure it out is a just a wee bit condescending (I'm not saying you implied that,newmassdad, but the idea is ubiquitous these days)--at the college I work at, we wouldn't take that tack (in fact, we need to work to get the parents more involved there--there are worse things than parental interest!)</p>
<p>frazzled (D lived in Taliaferro? that's where I lived last year, <em>grumbles about small rooms</em> lol) already covered W&M, but I'll offer my prospective as well (that of a student).</p>
<p>It was really really structured. Basically we had a schedule from 9 to 9. Moved in on Friday, and Classes started the next Wednesday. So basically there was Friday evening, and then Sat/Sun/Mon with it relaxing on Tuesday. There were all kinds of assembly like things, introductions to the school, etc. The only assembly I actually remember was the one about race where they had people of different races on stage and then someone went to each of them and asked them questions (to the tall black guy: hey, want to go play basketball, to the asian guy: can you help me with my math homework, then we can get some rice or something?, etc). I found that amusing. There was an honor code assembly too.</p>
<p>We had 2 upperclass (mine were jr/sr) OAs (orientation aides) and they basically took us everywhere. We did everything as a hall (or, 2nd + 3rd floors of my dorm, combined were 21 kids), so we got to know each other well. Had the library tour. They took us to the bookstore to show us how the school books were arranged etc. They took us to the buildings to sign up for times to meet with our advisors, and then there was time built in to meet with your advisor, which I thought was really good, specifically organizing the meetings.</p>
<p>Intro to Colonial Williamsburg / Merchant Square was a plus.</p>
<p>Parents were in and out all day until roughly dinner time / end of move in time.</p>
<p>I thought it was good, but I would have liked some more free time. Basically we had like no time to explore the campus outside of where we were going for some organized activity.</p>
<p>We had these things called "mixers" where you got together with another hall and played stupid games (like red rover etc). I give those a poor rating. I realize they are trying to get you to know more people, but I don't think they worked very well.</p>
<p>Then there was the time I was walking back from signing up for my advisor meeting with ~3 other people from my dorm who were in the same building, and it was thunderstorming, and we went by the building where all the assemblies were being held, and some guy (in charge of the Orientation Aides level authority wise) made us come inside. He said we couldn't go back to the dorm so "we wouldn't get hurt." ... I was like, do you not let anyone walk to classes when it's raining either????</p>
<p>so...
less mixers
more free time
"orientation aide" idea was good
time for advisor meetings = good</p>