New Student Orientations are offered in a variety of formats to accommodate diverse student needs (e.g., work schedules, distance from campus, accessibility) and to achieve institutional efficiency. Most colleges offer both face-to-face and online orientations. NSO can be mandatory or voluntary. Some college offer NSO sessions with a specific focus such as career focused or program specific orientations. Other colleges offer NSO sessions for targeted student audiences such as adult, transfer, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), single parent, or minority populations. Some colleges extend pre-semester orientations with welcome week activities and year-long approaches designed to support student success. Semester long student success courses are classified under NSO (Bourdon & Carducci, 2002). NSO in community colleges commonly include information about personal and social support services, academic support, information resources, and campus offices.
Bourdon, C. M., & Carducci, R. (2002). What works in the community colleges: A synthesis of the literature on best practices. California University, Graduate School of Education. CA:Los Angeles. p.34-35.
Bourdon, C. M., & Carducci, R. (2002). What works in the community colleges: A synthesis of the literature on best practices. California University, Graduate School of Education. CA:Los Angeles. p.34-35.
Face-to-face NSO
The most prevalent type of NSO is face-to-face sessions preceding students’ first semester. These vary in duration from an hour to half-day event. NSO covers topics that are crucial to students’ successful navigation of college. Topics generally covered include campus tours, financial aid, time and stress management, goal-setting, studying skills, student activities, online college resources, terminology (bursar, registrar) and test-taking strategies. Presentations by faculty, administration and key departments may be included (Bourdon & Carducci, 2002). |
Online NSO
Most colleges offer an online version of the NSO to accommodate needs of diverse schedules and students living out of state or to conserve institutional resources (Tighe, 2006). Some colleges opt to place online various components of orientation such as a financial aid overview or an introduction to the library. There are two types of freshman NSO. One type covers the processes of registration and admission, the other type covers student success strategies after the student enrolls (Bilides, 2006). Several years ago, North Harris Montgomery Community College District offered online orientations for dual credit, transfer and high school graduates. Quizzes covered the content: degree planning, admissions, testing, and registration. The program won the “National Council on Student Development’s Exemplary Practice Award, and was third place winner of the Terry O’Banion Shared Journey Award” (Bilides, 2006, para.7). However, some college online NSO have significantly (22%) lower fall to spring student retention rate than the face-to-face version (Ohio, 2013). |
Career focused orientations
Cumberland County College partnered the academic and student affairs departments to offer students optional career focused orientation sessions initially in the fields of health and criminal justice. Later orientations included information on course requirements for majors and career path information for all students (Fried-Goodnight, 2009). The goal of the career focused orientation was to engage students early in the process as they first met faculty and other students, selected classes, and began to see themselves as part of the institution (Fried-Goodnight, 2009). Cumberland County College offers distance learning and Blackboard orientations, special orientations for disability support students and summer brush-up courses. |
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Adventure orientations
Central Oregon Community College offered several adventure themed student orientation opportunities. After completing a more traditional orientation process, students went hiking, rafting, lava tube exploring or toured local art galleries. Students had the option of paying a small fee for an overnight adventure. The active orientations allowed students to develop a sense of community. Students who formed bonds with other students or with someone from the institution after attending adventure orientations developed a stronger sense of community and connection to the college (Oregon, 2007). |
Program orientations
In order for students to be successful in specific programs of study, colleges such as Ivy Tech Community College offer orientations to students entering nursing, accounting, paramedic, and emergency medical technician programs. John Chalfin, program chair for Ivy Tech Kokomo Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician, holds face-to-face orientation sessions for students and family members. Chalfin (personal communication, February 25, 2014) indicated the sessions cover behaviors students should model and the program requirements such as immunizations, background checks, and a physical. During the half-day session, students receive a handbook, review the program philosophy, purpose, standards, and affective domain expectations (integrity, empathy, self-confidence, team work and diplomacy). Before leaving, students sign a number of forms including a form regarding professional conduct. Chalfin said “We concentrate on how their professionalism contributes to their grade and the degree of commitment it takes to become a Paramedic, along with the commitment of family and/or significant others” (personal communication, February 25, 2014). Accounting Program Johnson Community College Ivy Tech Nursing program |
Special population orientations
Washtenaw Community College in addition to NSO for traditional age students, offers face-to-face orientations for several special student populations including adult students over age 22, students starting later in the term, ESOL, F-1 Visa International students, and students attending an off-campus learning centers. Washtenaw also holds NSO sessions for parents to assist them with students’ transition to college and provides them with a monthly newsletter. Unlike many online community college NSO, the online NSO at Washtenaw is available to potential students, parents, and the general public. Outlined on the log-in screen is exactly what will be covered in the NSO (Washtenaw, 2014). Washtenaw has a special page for parents and families with answers to almost any question a parent or family member might have. Document that helps parents understand the differences between high school and college.
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