Questions about course selection, how much spending money you need in college and how to get to the student health center filled the corridors of Newcomb Hall this week as four hundred students from the class of 2007 arrived on grounds for orientation.
During the month of July, most of the entering first years and transfer students will come to the University to attend one of seven two-day orientation sessions. An eighth session is scheduled at the end of August for international students.
The primary goals of orientation are allowing students to register for classes and acclimating them to the University, Orientation Director Tabitha Enoch said. The orientation program, run by three full-time staff and a small legion of student leaders, provides new students their first experiences as University undergraduates.
Student orientation leaders, who just completed a week-and-a-half training session, serve as an excellent resource for the entering first years.
"There's someone who can answer any question on any class," Orientation Leader Ben Brown said. Brown said that he has talked many over eager first years out of registering for a schedule full of upper-level classes.
Course selection can be stressful for many of the entering students. Kelly Pierce of Raleigh, NC was up until 1:00 a.m. deliberating over courses. Pierce felt fortunate finding space in all of her chosen courses.
"I lucked out," she said, adding that some of the other first years with whom she spoke had been blocked out of their first seven selections before finding a course in which they could enroll.
In addition to taking care of administrative tasks, such as course enrollment and medical records, entering first years get a glimpse of what student life will be like. New students "get just a taste of campus life and ask questions of experienced veterans," Enoch said.
Interactions with the "experienced veterans" are especially valuable to the entering first years.
"When the Deans talk there's a distance," Orientation Leader Allison Mui said, indicating that interactions between the first years and orientation leaders are a valuable part of the orientation program.
Of the many panel discussions and talks offered at the orientation, one is closed to parents and University officials. This session provides a forum for students to ask questions on topics such as the leniency of the police force and what sort of shenanigans they can get away with.
In addition to the summer program, the Office of Orientation is planning for the arrival of new students in the fall. Enoch said there are a host of programs relating to college life scheduled around the start of classes, such as Different Voices, Common Threads, a program dealing with diversity at the University. These programs will help students adjust to the social aspects of college life.
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