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Printer-Friendly ModeAnnual orientation program welcomes students
August 25, 2006 —
A nationally recognized motivational speaker, a session on academic essentials, and a collage of University departments and resources will highlight "Fresh Start 06," the second annual orientation program for incoming freshmen.
The event will kick off today with nine time National Speaker of the Year David Coleman. Coleman's presentation will consist of two parts, the first of which will be a series of icebreakers aimed at "making a community out of colleagues." The second part of his program will include his take on the twenty most important things a freshman needs to know.
"The Transition to College: Academic Essentials" is a three part program beginning at 12:30 p.m. focusing on course expectations, academic integrity, and academic support.
Funded by a grant, the program is coordinated by sociology instructor Brian Thomas who says the program is designed to help students become acclimated with university life.
"There are rules for how you are supposed to act (in college)," Thomas says, "and this is what we're trying to get across. We're trying to teach people what the university culture is like."
The first part of the program will touch on course expectations and will be led by several faculty members. Residential Life Director Merry Jo Brandimore says that having students make contact with faculty members outside of the typical classroom pressures is important.
"A student feeling a sense of comfort in talking to a faculty member or saying they know or have met a faculty member is really pretty important in terms of their persistence in college," she says.
The academic integrity session will be lead by the Student Association. Last year, SA addressed a number of academic integrity issues in addition to drafting a student-written honor code.
"We're targeting freshmen and incoming transfers," says SA President Andy Suszek. "The idea is if we target that group every year, four or five years from now, everyone will know about it."
The third session will look at options for academic support and teach students about the resources on campus and how to use them.
While such things as the Writing Center and Math Resource Center will be introduced, Thomas says the entire program also pays attention to the fact that many of the students themselves are a valuable resource.
"One of your best resources at a university is your fellow students," he says. "I think knowing other students that are also engaged in the university is a key element of academic success."
To give new students access to these student resources, each orientation group will have one or two current students dubbed "Fresh Crew" that will serve as group leaders and mentors over the two days of orientation.
Brandimore estimates almost 160 students volunteered to be "Fresh Crew" members and that she hopes they can make the new students feel at home.
"That's our goal," she says. "To make sure (the freshmen) feel welcome and that they made a good choice in coming to SVSU."
Tomorrow, "The Amazing SVSU Race" highlights a list of events that also includes series on diversity at SVSU and transitioning from college to career, as well as a peer theatre which aims to bring to life real college issues.
"The Amazing SVSU Race" will take place in the Ryder Center East Arena and will feature a collage of University departments and resources. Students will be given the opportunity to go from table to table, gain information, and complete an activity.
There will also be optional entertainment programs each evening. The University Residence Association (URA) is sponsoring a Casino Night beginning at 9 p.m. tonight while tomorrow will feature a Recreation Expo and comedians David Rowe and Horace "HB" Sanders.