New Student Orientation
Accreditation Self-Study: Standard III
Submitted by Judy Gage
Mission
New Student Orientation serves to facilitate the successful transition of new students into North
Seattle Community College by providing a supportive and welcoming environment to introduce
them to college resources, programs, policies and procedures, educational planning and degree
options, and by providing individual advising to enable students to connect with staff and to
understand requirements, responsibilities and opportunities as they begin their academic program
at NSCC. Orientation supports the strategic directions of NSCC of fostering student success,
developing a realistic student enrollment base that is sustainable, and ensuring that diversity as a
value permeates the culture of the institution.
What We Do
Provide information and support to new students in a variety of formats
When new students apply to NSCC in person or via the website,
http://www.northseattle.edu/enroll/, they receive information via e-mail, by mail, in person or via
the NSCC website regarding the steps for enrollment, and new student orientation is an
important part of the process. In response to a diversity of student needs, i.e., students who work
full time or need flexible scheduling, or students who are planning to enroll in one of the specific
programs at the college, NSCC has developed a variety of formats over the years for providing
orientation information to new students, including:
General New Student Orientation
Students may sign up for a New Student Orientation via the NSCC website at:
http://www.northseattle.edu/enroll/advise/orientation.htm, via phone or in person through the
Advising Center, or they may attend without a reservation. Sessions are approximately 90
minutes and take place at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. on alternate weeks to accommodate varying student
schedules. 20-22 orientation sessions are held throughout the academic year prior to each
quarter, with four sessions held prior to winter, spring and summer quarters, and the remainder
during the summer for fall quarter registration.
Students pursuing college transfer degrees and professional-technical degrees or certificates are
invited to attend these sessions, which are developed and coordinated by the Advising Center
and are co-facilitated by a faculty counselor, the Director of Entry Services and by advising
staff. All students are provided with a comprehensive packet of materials, that includes
information on resources, services, policies and procedures, programs, classes, schedule, etc.
Advisors collect and unofficially evaluate transcripts from students transferring from other
colleges. During the opening segment of the session a counselor or SDS staff presents
information about academic, personal and career counseling resources. Via a PowerPoint
presentation, the students are then provided with general information about the college, the
availability of services, programs and referral sources, academic progress and policies and
procedures, registration, the class schedule, important deadlines and accessing online services.
The remainder of the orientation presentation focuses specifically on students pursuing college
transfer degrees. Professional-technical students receive individual advising in the Advising
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Center. Advisors present information about educational planning, the college transfer process
and resources to assist students in this process, choosing a major and prerequisite planning,
benefits of transfer degrees, testing, developmental math and English, the specifics of the AA,
AS and AB degrees and tips for success. Students then meet individually with an advisor, who
will assist them in choosing classes for their first quarter and make sure they are ready to
register. At the end of the orientation, students are asked to evaluate the session and are given the
opportunity to participate in a campus tour.
Alternative formats for general New Student Orientation
Based on feedback from student and staff, multiple new student orientation modalities have been
made available during various quarters to students, including:
Online Orientation
An online orientation was developed and implemented by the Advising Center in 2004-5 to
accommodate students who are unable to attend a campus orientation, or who would prefer this
mode as a convenient way to gather important information. This online orientation can be
accessed as part of the enrollment process on the NSCC website at:
http://www.northseattle.edu/enroll/orient/ and it covers the same essential information covered
in the New Student Orientation, about “Getting Started,” services and resources, choosing a
degree and major, transfer and professional-technical programs, registration, choosing classes,
tips for success, etc. This orientation provides links to important features on the NSCC website
and several review quizzes to help students retain information.
Student Success Information Fairs/Welcome Back Barbecues/Spring Fest
Representatives of student services, student programs and clubs and academic departments
staffed these information and resource fairs. They were implemented as part of an ongoing effort
to provide students with multiple opportunities to gather information, ask questions and connect
on a personal level with NSCC staff, faculty and administrators.
HDC 101, Orientation to College Success
This format was developed and implemented as a link with a developmental English class and as
stand alone one- and two-credit class. This class, taught by a counselor, assists new students in
their adjustment to community college. It includes goal-setting, self-motivation skills, identifying
college resources, personal development and general study hints. A transfer advisor presents
information on educational planning. The Counseling Center has compiled data to show that
students who enroll in this class are more likely to enroll for subsequent quarters.
Departmental/Program Orientations
Specific program and departmental orientations provide information specific to their programs as
well as general information about student services, campus resources, policies and procedures,
academic progress, registration, etc. Some of the programs and departments include:
Worker Retraining
Worker Retraining orientations are held weekly. In addition to general campus information, the
presentation discusses eligibility for the program and the steps required for approval to enter the
program, tuition and other financial assistance, Employment Security Department and
Department of Social and Health Services guidelines, policies and procedures, NSCC
technical/professional programs, and services such as Career Services, internships, and Disability
Services.
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International Student Programs
International Student orientations are held quarterly, with two separate orientations provided for
new international students. Due to the large number of students who start in the fall quarter,
students can choose from one of two orientations to attend prior to the start of the quarter, with a
follow-up orientation provided the second or third week of the quarter. Items specific to
international students covered at the pre-quarter orientation (International students eligible to
start college or pre-college classes, and NSIE) include: essential immigration requirements for
college level and ESL students, health insurance, international student quarterly activities, peer
to peer dialogue, new students questions, campus tour in the form of a scavenger hunt,
professional advisor presentation for college level students, and registration. The follow-up
orientation deals with: expanding on the essential immigration requirements, cultural adjustment,
goals, expectations of living in the U.S, how to make American friends, academic success,
library orientation, beyond academics - extra curricular activities, volunteering, student clubs,
what to do in Seattle, resources, etc., Career Services, on-campus employment, safety issues:
including personal safety to sexual assault and sexual harassment issues, and dialogue to answer
student questions.
ESL, GED and ABE
All new students (students who have not previously attended any ESL, ABE, or GED classes at
North) are required to come to an orientation session. Orientations are separate for ESL and
ABE/GED; generally there are six sessions for ESL and six for ABE/GED held each quarter.
For the ESL orientation sessions, students are given a required CASAS pretest to get a base line,
so their educational gains can be tracked as they move through the ESL program. Students
arrange their schedules, are registered, and are taken to the Photo ID. The ABE/GED students do
not take placement tests through the testing center, so students are given two placement tests
during the orientation before they register. All students are given important campus information.
Running Start
New Running Start students are required to attend a Running Start Orientation. These sessions,
facilitated by the Running Start advisor, are held fall, winter and spring quarter. Information
provided includes: history of Running Start, expectations, grading, transferring credits,
registering, changing class schedules, dropping courses, college resources and tips for college
success. Faculty, student programs staff and students also speak at the orientations.
Other Programs/Departments
There are other specific program and departmental orientations, such as those for students
attending Health Medical professional technical programs, Career Link Academy and those
involved in student athletics and Parent Education programs. Orientations for students receiving
financial aid and work-study are held prior to the beginning of each fall quarter.
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Evolution of General New Student Orientation
2000-2002:
New Student Advising and Registration Sessions
Advisors facilitated multiple sessions a week, held at 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. and on some
Fridays at 9:00 a.m. Different sessions were held for those students pursuing College Transfer
degrees who were new to college and for those who were transferring from another college.
Separate sessions/presentations were also offered for PT students pursuing degrees in Business,
Electronics and Engineering Technologies, and Information Technology.
2002-2004:
New Student Sessions
Due to decreasing numbers of professional-technical students and in order to use resources more
efficiently and encourage greater attendance, sessions for professional-technical and college
transfer students were combined for the introductory segment, and the number of overall sessions
was reduced. Break out advising sessions were implemented for the professional-technical and
Associate of Science students. Advisors identified cohort groups of students for future contact.
2004-2006
New Student Orientations
In keeping with NSCC’s emphasis on collaboration with campus community, the name of New
Student Session was renamed as New Student Orientation and presenters expanded to include a
faculty counselor, the Director of Entry Services as well as advising staff. A college tour is
offered at the end of each daytime session. Students come to the Advising Center after the
session to receive individual advising and to learn about Advising Center resources.
Evolution of Alternative Formats for New Student Orientation
2001-2006:
Student Success Information Fairs/Welcome Back Barbecues/Spring Fest/Enrollment Fairs
From 2001-2004, 13 Student Success fairs were scheduled and held—two in 2001, five in 2002,
four in 2003 and two in 2004—to either precede or follow a new student orientation/registration
session (evening or daytimes) or as part of the Welcome Back Barbecue or Spring Fest. Tables
were set up around the cafeteria or in the courtyard for departments to display information about
their services and programs. Since 2004 SDS has continued to sponsor these events during which
student success services and academic departments share information with students. During
2005-6 fall and winter Enrollment Fairs, featuring student success services and new academic
courses, were held on the eighth week of each quarter to provide information and to encourage
students to re-enroll.
2002-2003
College 101
The advising staff developed a ½ day orientation to provide new students an opportunity to
experience a more comprehensive orientation experience. It included workshops and activities
facilitated by advisors and staff from several campus departments and a student panel. This event
was held prior to fall quarter, 2002, with attempts to hold it each succeeding quarter; however
due to low enrollment, this event was discontinued.
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2002-2006
HDC 101, Orientation to College Success
The Director of Retention Services taught this class, in 2002, and in fall, 2003, a two-credit and a
one-credit class were co-facilitated with an academic advisor and included an educational
planning component. Since then the class has been taught by a counseling faculty as a link with
ENG 93/94 and currently as a stand alone transfer class available to all students.
2004-2005
Online Orientation
The online orientation was developed and implemented by the Advising Center as an easily
accessible alternative to the on campus New Student Orientation.
Analysis and Assessment of Multiple Models of Orientation
General New Student Orientation
Students at the general New Student Orientation sessions are asked to sign in at the beginning of
the session and to complete an evaluation at the end of the session.
 In 2002-3, 21 sessions were held and 207 students attended
 In 2003-4, 22 sessions were held and 216 students attended.
 In 2004-5, 22 sessions were held and 315 students attended.
 In 2005-6, 20 sessions were held and 263 students attended.
 A compilation of student survey results for all sessions showed that approximately 90% of
the students surveyed felt that the visual presentation, the welcome and overview of campus
resources, choosing and registering for classes, availability of advisors and knowledge and
helpfulness of the advisors were excellent or very good. The majority of students thought the
length of the session was appropriate. (See Advising Center Self-Study for statistics)
 Changes that have been made due to assessment, and student or staff feedback:
 A college tour with SDS staff is offered after each New Student Orientation
 Orientations are offered at convenient early and late afternoon times to consolidate
resources and to encourage more students to attend each session.
 Students are able to access the quarterly orientation dates and times and can enroll for
orientation sessions via the web.
 The online orientation was developed to give students an alternative format to receive
valuable orientation information.
 Student Success Information Fairs and Enrollment Fairs were developed to allow
students to conveniently access information from faculty, staff and administrators.
 In response to reduction of number of students pursuing professional-technical
programs, the introductory segment of the orientation has been combined for transfer
and professional-technical students.
 Due to increasing number of students pursuing Associate of Science degrees, AS
students receive separate information and advising as part of the orientation.
 Emphasis on collaboration between departments has resulted in a team effort of
faculty counseling, entry services and advising in facilitation of orientations.
 The advising staff participated in an activity to identify desired learning outcomes for
students attending New Student Orientation.
 At the beginning of the orientation students are asked to identify what they wish to
learn at the orientation.
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As a result of the learning outcomes activity, after the presentation students are
brought to the Advising Center to familiarize them with resources and to provide
them with individual advising.
Online Orientation:
 As part of the online orientation, there is a site survey and opportunity for comments. Thus
far, all who have completed the survey have agreed that the site was helpful. According to
website statistics, the number of views per month has increased since the beginning of 2005:
(February: 109, April: 158, May: 369, June: 319, July: 245, August: 372, September: 322),
and has continued to maintain between 200-365 views each month through spring quarter,
2006, indicating that students are locating and using the site.
Student Success Information Fairs:
 Estimated numbers of participants during 2001-4 were based on tallies of student visits to
individual information tables, and visits per table varied from 0 to about 60 depending on the
event. Student participation was higher at the events that were tied to the Welcome Back
Barbecues or Spring Fest. Responses from student surveys showed that a majority viewed
the fairs as interesting and informative. After 2003 student success information was offered
as part of the Welcome Back Barbecue and/or Spring Fest as well as at Enrollment Fairs.
(exhibit)
International Student Programs
 More than 70% of new students attend new student Orientation. Most of the students who
attend have recently arrived in the U.S. Most of the students who are transferring from other
institutions in the U.S. do not want to attend.
 The follow-up orientation was begun in 2004-5 academic year after reviewing student needs
(from surveys and verbal feedback) as well as student development issues for first quarter
and international students.
ESL, GED and ABE
 Both ESL and ABE/GED orientations have been revamped during 2004-5 academic year to
become more organized and student oriented.
 Collaboration with registration has resulted in computers being used in the ESL sessions so
that student information can be entered directly in the system without completing registration
forms and submitting them in batches. This process has eliminated most errors and has
streamlined the registration process.
Running Start
Changes resulting from student surveys and staff feedback have included:
 The length of the orientation has been reduced from two to one and a half hours.
 The student progress policy is presented at the orientations.
 An online Running Start orientation is now available as an option for students who wish to
review important information and for those unable to attend an in person orientation.
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Strengths of the General New Student Orientation and Alternate Formats
Collaboration/partnerships with campus community
As a result of recommendations and continuing efforts to enhance, coordinate and broaden the
scope of the orientations, collaborations and partnerships have been formed. These include:
 Staff and faculty from counseling, entry services, and advising, who work effectively as a
team on the development, preparation, introduction and presentation.
 Ongoing coordination with media services and security to ensure a well-organized set up.
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Multiple student development service departments, who cooperate to relay information to
new students about attending the New Student Orientations.
Student-oriented/builds relationships with advising staff
 New Student Orientations provide a clear, systematic, and effective way to orient new
students to the many and varied programs, resources, and services of NSCC. Information is
up to date and revised regularly.
 The sessions are tailored to meet the needs of students seeking AA, AS, AB and professional
technical degrees by providing sessions addressing each of these areas of study.
 Students receive information and interact with staff in a supportive, friendly atmosphere.
 Orientations provide an opportunity to introduce students personally to the advisors they will
be working with and to receive individual advising.
Multiple formats
 The online orientation provides students, who might not attend an orientation with an
opportunity to get the information on their own or to follow-up after the on campus session.
 The Student Success Information and Enrollment Fairs offer multiple opportunities for
students to gather information and meet staff, faculty and administrators.
 Orientation to College Success class assists students with their adjustment to community
college and provides them with skills and resources for college success.
Challenges of the General New Student Orientation
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Low participation of students in all general New Student Orientations and alternative
formats; there is no requirement to attend and many of our traditional and nontraditional aged
students work full time and/or have many out of school responsibilities.
Creating a more visually appealing general presentation, that encourages more student
interaction and participation and addresses different learning styles.
Evaluating whether students who attend New Student Orientations are more successful.
Emphasizing the importance of Orientation to College Success classes for students new to
college.
Recommendations
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To address low participation, continue to stress excellent collaboration and communication
between departments providing student services (advising, testing, registration, etc), so that
new students receive correct information and appropriate referrals to the orientation.
Continue to promote a variety of orientation models to address a diversity of student needs.
Although the current presentation is continually revised and updated with relevant
information, consider upgrading the media presentation and format so that it is more visually
appealing, interactive and participatory, and so that it addresses more learning styles.
Add questions to the current student survey for those who have earned 45 credits, asking
students if they attended an orientation, and if so, what they felt was helpful (or not helpful).
Explore ways to compare data regarding GPA and student success patterns for those who
participated in one of the formats of New Student Orientation versus those who did not.
Consider increasing number of sections of Orientation to College Success classes with
participation from advising and other SDS staff and faculty, and providing an incentive for
students to attend these classes.
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