Orientation programs help acclimate new University Park students

Orientation programs help acclimate new University Park students

University Park, Pa. -- This week (Aug. 23-27), some 6,000 new freshmen begin arriving at the University Park campus for the start of their first semester. This won't be the first time that these greenhorns have set foot on campus, though.

Most have already participated in the one-day summer orientation program called FTCAP (First-Year Testing, Counseling and Advising Program) or participated in specially designed orientation experiences that helped them start to build meaningful relationships with others on campus. Regardless of how much preparation students have undertaken to orient themselves, the University is taking steps to make a sometimes-overwhelming first-year experience a bit more manageable.

Pre-semester Orientation Programs

During this summer's FTCAP orientation, new students were introduced to the University and its programs and services and came away with a fall semester schedule of classes. The FTCAP process started for these students months before the summer orientation process with the completion of a series of tests used for educational planning and academic advising purposes, to determine each student's appropriate starting levels in core course sequences, and for basic skills purposes.

Then, this summer, students participated in the educational planning and academic advising component of the FTCAP program, during which each student had an individual interview with a FTCAP adviser to discuss educational plans. The program also familiarized students and families with the wide range of degree programs available at Penn State, acquainted them with the campus and some of its procedures, and helped students to select courses for their first semester of study.

The University is proud of the success of the FTCAP program in helping to officially integrate new students into the University in an efficient and comprehensive process. "FTCAP is one of the premier, pre-college testing and advising programs in the country," said Donald Leslie, associate vice provost for undergraduate education. "And it is continually reviewed, evaluated and improved each year in response to students' and their families' changing needs."

In addition to the FTCAP experience, many first-year students and transfer or change-of-assignment students participated in one of the many special orientation programs offered by the University.

Programs such as Urban Service Adventures (USA), a 2-credit student orientation program in its third year that provides incoming students with an opportunity to learn more about an urban community through a service project while establishing new friendships, is among those that help ease the transition from home to college. Another program, the nationally recognized, award-winning ORION Wilderness Orientation program guides students away from campus as they embark upon their University adventure. Designed by the Penn State Outing Club and the University's Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, ORION allows students to develop bonds with each other and the natural community while setting goals for their first year at school and earning 2 credits in recreation and park management.

Experiences such as these help to make coming to a large campus like Penn State less overwhelming for students. “To go to a brand new place, that is enormous, especially when you don’t know very many people at all, is very scary, and in the weeks after the Urban Service Adventures trip before school started, I was extremely relieved to have met such wonderful people,” said Allison Gahr, a 2003 participant.

While programs such as USA and ORION are open to all first-year students, other academic program-specific orientation experiences are offered to students who want to become acclimated to their particular college.

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) offers the Total Orientation To Earth and Mineral Sciences, otherwise known as TOTEMS. This orientation program is designed to help first-year and transfer EMS students familiarize themselves with the college and their peers. TOTEMS provides students with a retreat to a nearby recreation area where they can meet fellow first-year students, current students and faculty members in the hopes of forging supportive relationships that will help carry them through their Penn State experience.

Programs like TOTEMS also give faculty and staff an opportunity to show new students just how dedicated they are to making students feel comfortable and welcome. "We have three deans, one department head, three chairs of undergraduate programs and a host of faculty and research faculty here for and about our students," said Allen Kimmel, assistant professor in materials science and engineering and coordinator of the TOTEMS program, "Imagine, an undergrad chair of a department arriving with a moving dolly to move your stuff in -- that's cool."

Similarly, the Women in Engineering Program Orientation (WEPO) offers students in the College of Engineering the opportunity to get to know their peers before the influx of thousands of other students flood the University Park campus. Each year, new women engineering students participate in a three-day orientation during which they get involved in engineering design projects, learn the University computer system, and network with other students, faculty and alumnae.

Web and Print Resources

In addition to these in-person orientation opportunities, first-year students also have some virtual orientation experiences available to them. "Orientation 100: An Introduction to Penn State" is available to students at http://www.psu.edu/ouic/orientation100/ and is an interactive, Web-based introduction to the University community, its facilities and its services. Helpful tips about time management and goal setting and vital information about the problems of drug and alcohol use are also included.

In addition to Web resources, Preface, a publication sent to students about one month before they arrive on campus, also is designed to introduce students to Penn State University Park campus. Rather than being limited to helping students prepare just for arrival week, the publication addresses some of the long-term challenges typically faced by University Park students and provides information about the University's many support services. From campus maps and important telephone numbers to feature articles regarding education and personal development, Preface is an invaluable reference guide for those new to University Park and the State College area.

Welcome Week Activities

As students arrive on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 26 and 27, the University continues to make their transition a pleasant one. Students will be greeted by hundreds of Welcome Week volunteers who are ready to give directions, unload cars and offer useful advice. Consisting of returning students, faculty and staff, these volunteers are essential to the success of the orientation program. These individuals -- armed with a smile, a willingness to be helpful and the know-how that comes from being veteran Penn Staters -- do their best to create a seamless transition from hometown to University Park.

"Clad in brightly colored uniform T-shirts the welcome week volunteers can be seen everywhere," said William Farnsworth, director for communication for undergraduate education and international programs. "Their training has prepared them to field questions ranging from how to secure a move-in cart, the location of the nearest dorm elevator, where to go to get a room key and what to do if the big screen TV that came from home doesn't fit through the dorm room door."

Orientation continues on Friday evening following move-in with resident assistant-hosted house dinners, floor meetings, "get acquainted" activities and the New Student Convocation held at the Bryce Jordan Center at 7:30 p.m. At the convocation, the new University Park students get a chance to see just what the entering class of 2004 looks like. Listening to welcome messages from top administrators, student government officers and even the mayor of State College, the audience of first-year students will begin to sense what it means to be a Penn Stater. "This large-scale orientation event is filled with the excitement and energy that can only come from a high level of anticipation associated with making new friends, finding one's way, meeting tough challenges and realizing lifelong goals," said Farnsworth.

After the convocation's formality comes the fun and games. For the remainder of arrival day, new students are invited to participate in an array activities designed to promote socialization and good times. Dancing, music, magic, movies, crafts and comedy are just a few of the events scheduled during LateNight-Penn State at the HUB-Robeson Center and White Building from 9 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday.

The day before classes begin, new students will continue their orientation to the academic community by attending a required series of college programs, including Dean's Meetings, schedule adjustment sessions, academic advising, and introductions to the libraries, computing, career services and research opportunities.

To round out the orientation program, new students are enrolled in a First-Year Seminar course for credit. The First-Year Seminar is a component of Penn State's General Education Requirement. The purpose of the First-Year Seminar is to introduce new students to an open and purposeful learning community, and to help them develop the habits and pleasures of good scholarship. Working with regular faculty members in a small class environment, students will learn that expectations of personal integrity, level of effort and civility at Penn State are much higher than in high school, but that there are many people, vehicles, and support to help them meet those expectations. "They can learn to take charge of their own education, to plan for internships, international experiences, research and, in general, to become active learners," said Farnsworth. "And they will find that a life-habit of learning is satisfying, useful, and necessary."

For the complete Welcome Week agenda, go to http://www.psu.edu/ouic/faoe.htm

For a schedule of LateNight-Penn State events for arrival weekend, go to http://www.sa.psu.edu/latenight/