Orientation Coordinating Committee Goals and Charge for 2008 As we work toward improving the experiences of new students at the University of Northern Iowa, we will meet to raise awareness about the orientation and transition­related programming currently offered by departments across campus. The following goals summarize a charge for this coordinating group from Associate Provost Beverly Kopper in the Division of Academic Affairs and Vice President Terry Hogan in the Division of Student Affairs. 1) Develop a master calendar of programs and events designed to provide orientation to students that take place during the week before classes begin, and into the first week of classes each semester. Refer to the master calendar at the end of this document. 2) Identify potential conflicts, redundancies, opportunities for collaboration, and subsequent possibilities for cost reduction in the existing calendar of events By talking through our individual programming calendars, we were able to identify points at which subgroups of students were participating in separate events with similar goals. For example, international orientation, Jump Start orientation, and the Welcome Week committee were all planning events meant to acquaint new students with the Cedar Falls community and to allow time for shopping. Through our discussions, we were able to adjust programming calendars so that all of our students could attend a larger event with the same purpose. Other redundancies were identified, but not addressed for the 2008­2009 academic year. For example, Jump Start orientation and Springboard dive­in days both offer sessions that focus on academic success, money management, technology issues, and student involvement. Lyn and Juanita talked about how it would make sense to work together on these sessions, although we didn’t follow through on making that happen this year. 3) Identify two to three key events during opening week that lend themselves to collaboration across programs. All group members commit to actively promoting and building these events into schedules for individual subgroups of students. We identified four events that all of our students could attend during opening week. Everyone on the committee agreed to have student leaders walk their new students to each of the events. These student leaders included sorority recruitment counselors, Jump Start Pathfinders, Resident Assistants, and international orientation leaders. The events were as follows: Thursday, August 21: Panther Picnic from 7:00 – 9:30 on the south lawn of the McLeod Center. We offered a free barbeque for new students (meal plans had not yet started for on­campus residents), outdoor games coordinated by WRC staff, inflatable games, and a DJ. Approximately 900 students attended the event. A small number returned at 9:30 p.m. for a movie inside the McLeod Center.
· We decided to offer the Thursday event for two reasons. First, since roughly half of new resident students have moved in by the end of the day on Thursday, we wanted to offer them a place to gather, eat, and interact. Second, this allowed an opportunity to bring together students who were already here in a variety of subgroups (international
orientation, Jump Start, sorority recruitment, marching band students, and students who just moved into the residence halls that day). Friday, August 22 Hypnotist Brian Imbus in the GPBAC at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., with an ice cream social before each show. Roughly 800 students attended each show. Saturday, August 23 Panthers on Main in downtown Cedar Falls from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Buses ran continuously between the GBPAC and Main Street, and two student volunteers led a bike caravan from the WRC. Highlights included free food and drinks (provided by Community Main Street), a scavenger hunt through downtown businesses, words of welcome from NISG Vice President Clarence Lobdell, Athletic Director Troy Dannen, and Mayor Jon Crews, performances by the UNI spirit squad, poster signing with the UNI women’s soccer team, and a DJ.
· Upon reviewing results from our new student survey, sent out six weeks after the start of last fall semester, we noticed a number of students commenting on how they would have liked to learn more about the Cedar Falls community. This event allowed an opportunity for new students to get acquainted with downtown Cedar Falls, to talk with Main Street merchants, and to mix with community members. Comedian Hal Sparks at the GBPAC. Roughly 1300 people attended the comedy show. 4) Enhance the participation and involvement of academic affairs departments in any new and existing orientation­related programs. We expanded the number of faculty members involved in the Learning Partnership session during summer orientation. This allowed faculty to talk with students in smaller groups about issues related to the academic adjustment, rather than delivering a lecture style presentation. During transfer orientation programs, Bev Kopper and Mike Licari spoke to all new students at the opening session on behalf of Academic Affairs. Other extended orientation programs, including Dive­in Days out of the Department of Residence and Jump Start, highlighted academic affairs in their programming. Our efforts across programs could have been coordinated more effectively. We are now aware of the types of academic sessions being offered in each orientation program, and the next step might involve collaborating with Bev Kopper to develop a list of learning outcomes that are most important for all of our students to achieve. Based on those outcomes, we could determine who (faculty, academic advisors, academic support staff) could most effectively participate in each orientation program. 5) Inventory current assessment efforts related to orientation activities. All of the orientation­related programs represented by members of this committee carry out some type of program evaluation. These satisfaction surveys are delivered primarily in paper/pencil format. I have attached some of these surveys to this report.
Beginning in fall semester 2008, I offered an online “new student survey” six weeks into the fall semester that asked outcomes­based questions relating to orientation programs and the adjustment process for new students. The survey questions and results are attached to this report. 6) Provide a written report summarizing the points listed above. During our last committee meeting in August 2008, we talked through some of the perceived strengths and weaknesses of orientation­related programs as they currently exist on our campus. Strengths noted by committee members include: ­ Population­specific orientation programs allow us to highlight resources that are most relevant to certain populations, and to provide “personalized experiences” in the form of attention to specific needs by group ­ Programs designed to promote bonding within groups (e.g., underrepresented students, international students) help students feel more comfortable moving beyond those groups once other students arrive on campus ­ All programs currently involve faculty and staff from departments across campus to present sessions and to get acquainted with new students Weaknesses noted by committee members include: ­ Image of each group staying with their own – we could be encouraging more interaction between groups ­ No community service opportunities ­ Difficulty finding the right timing and balance for allowing within­group bonding, and also encouraging students to move beyond their comfort groups ­ Challenges finding temporary housing for new international students who arrive early ­ Could be providing more information for parents (e.g., parent information booths, sessions) ­ Families could benefit from extended Gilchrist Hall hours during opening days Committee Members: Mike Bobeldyk, Maucker Union Connie Hansen, Alumni Relations Kristi Marchesani, Admissions/International Programs Michele Peck, Academic Advising Lyn Redington, Department of Residence Lydia Roberts, Center for Multicultural Education (replacement TBA) Paul Sapp, Admissions Susie Schwieger, Graduate College Jessie Stinson, Greek Life Erin Wheat, Campus Activities Kristin Woods, VPESS Juanita Wright, Financial Aid/Jump Start
Orientation Coordinating Committee Master Calendar, Fall 2008 Wednesday, August 20 8:00 am – 12:00 pm Jump Start student activities presentation and student involvement fair 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Springboard: students move in to residence hall rooms 10:20 am – 12:00 pm International Orientation e­bill and money management session 12:00 – 4:30 pm International Orientation shopping trip 1:30 – 5:00 pm Jump Start Taking Care of Business (financial aid, student ID cards, banking, computing, parking permits, student employment, bookstore) 3:00 pm Sorority Recruitment and parents meeting 5:00 pm Springboard: Pizza and pop delivered to Hagemann, Noehren, Campbell, Bender, and Dancer for Springboard participants 6:00 – 8:30 pm Jump Start Variety Show dress rehearsal 6:30 pm Springboard: RA­initiated “get acquainted” activities for the evening Thursday, August 21 8:00 am – 12:00 pm Jump Start Keys to Academic Success 8:00 am – 12:00 pm International Orientation registration for undergraduate freshmen and transfer students 9:00 – 11:30 am Springboard: Rotating sessions on How to Get Great Grades, Cybersmarts in College, Money Matters, and Get Engaged in Campus Life – located in Curris Business Building 1:30 – 5:00 pm Jump Start Staying Safe on Campus, Residence Life, off­campus living, and Compass assessment 1:30 – 2:30 pm International Orientation session on how to find a campus job 2:30 pm International Orientation session and student panel on culture shock 3:00 pm Sorority Recruitment and parents meeting 5:15 pm International Orientation group dinner in Piazza
7:00 – 9:30 pm Welcome Week Panther Picnic at UNI Sports Complex (free food for the first 1000 students, inflatable games, DJ) * Pathfinders will be required to take their Jump Start groups to this event 9:30 pm Welcome Week Movie inside McLeod Center – Drillbit Taylor – concessions available during the movie 7:00 pm International Orientation Country and Culture Celebration in the CME (international students share talents, talk about their countries and cultures, wear traditional clothing, etc.) Friday, August 22 8:00 – 3:30 pm Final Orientation for new freshmen, transfer students, and families – Lang Hall and Maucker Union 8:00 am – 12:00 pm Jump Start Lifestyle Changes (relationships, intimacy, etc) 9:00 am & 10:30 am International Orientation library tours 11:30 am International Orientation lunch with professionals from the University community 1:00 – 3:00 pm International Orientation sessions on UNI email and electronic resources, health insurance, and student health clinic resources 1:30 – 2:00 Jump Start resources presentation 2:00 – 2:45 Jump Start student panel 2:45 – 3:00 Jump Start program evaluation 3:00 pm Sorority Recruitment parents meeting 3:15 pm International Orientation catch up session for late arrivers 3:00 Jump Start Variety Show, program adjournment, and social with returning participants 4:30 – 8:45 pm Sorority Recruitment 6:00 pm International Orientation pizza party and fun night at the WRC 8:00 pm Welcome Week Hypnotist: Brian Imbus (ice cream social prior to event) 10:00 pm Welcome Week Hypnotist: Brian Imbus (ice cream social prior to event)
Saturday, August 23 8:00 am – 12:00 pm Sorority Recruitment 9:00 am International Orientation Household Item and Furniture Giveaway 11:00 am – 2:00 pm Welcome Week Panthers on Main – downtown Cedar Falls
· International Orientation students will attend from 11:00 – 12:30, then leave by bus for the water park 12:30 pm International Orientation Water Park Trip 4:00 – 9:00 pm Sorority Recruitment 9:30 pm Welcome Week Comedy Show: Hal Sparks from VH1 Sunday, August 24 All Day: Residence Hall/House Activities 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Sorority Recruitment
· sorority students will go to 3:00 Just Sex program 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm: SAVE Forum Actors: Just Sex Program 4:30 – 10:00 pm Sorority Recruitment (Jessie will encourage/facilitate students leaving chapter bid events to attend house meetings) 6:00 pm International Orientation Welcome Reception for New and Returning International Students in the GBPAC (includes light refreshments, entertainment, traditional country roll call) * open to anyone Evening: Residence Halls: House Meetings First Week of Classes: Welcome Week activities listed at www.uni.edu/welcome week Graduate Student Orientation scheduled for Thursday, August 28 from 3:00 – 4:30 pm