NWCCU Standard Three – Orientation

I. SUMMARY:

In 2002, we reported our intent to improve our orientation programs by making them more purposeful and meaningful to incoming students. Our plans for this improvement came in the form of integrating the new Assistant Director of Campus Life into orientation planning, using past evaluations to guide our future changes, and incorporating new orientation programs for specific populations such as international students. At the time, we had no specific plans for programmatic offerings at our extension campuses or for our graduate students. However, we had tried to be intentional with our inclusion of commuter students, making every attempt to house them on campus for the duration of new student orientation, despite our fears of no longer being able to accommodate our growing number of students with our limited housing options.

While NWCCU was pleased with our standard orientation programming at the undergraduate level, they felt that we needed to extend our programming to include specific orientations for graduates and extension campus students. Additionally, they commented that our academic advising from faculty division chairs and program directors seemed effective.

II. ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Since 2002, we have made many changes to our orientation offerings. Our desire to make orientation more purposeful and meaningful for incoming students and families is reflected in our orientation learning outcomes:

• New students will learn about resources, programs and services to aid in the transition to Saint Martin’s University.
• New students and parents, through a set program curriculum, will become more socially and academically integrated to Saint Martin’s University than they were prior to attending New Student Orientation.
• New students and parents will learn about Saint Martin’s University academic policies and procedures, guidelines, and deadlines; students will understand their academic requirements and responsibilities.
• New students and parents will meet University administration, faculty, staff and upper-class students; they will be welcomed and addressed as individuals within our community.
• Students will understand expectations of them as a student in our campus community as they relate to: citizenship, civility and academic integrity.
• Students will discover that the campus celebrates diversity through its support of many different organizations, resources, events and academic activities; Students will learn to appreciate and value diversity.

Our updated two part freshman orientation was created in response to current student feedback. Specific recent modifications include creating an optional overnight for greater student-campus connection prior to their arrival in fall; creating opportunities for greater student-staff/faculty interactions; programming that is parent/family conscious, responding to a desire for the best use of time and money.