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Orientation offers us new opportunities to shine

By President David A. DeCenzo

Orientation is beginning this month, and I would like to take this opportunity to remind all faculty and staff members of the importance of these events to this institution.

During the months of June, July and August, a total of 10 Orientation sessions will be held on campus for new freshmen and transfer students. Some 300 students and their family members will be on campus for each session.

One of the major changes in Orientation this year is the new math placement exam. This standardized test, taken by freshman students on the first day of Orientation, will allow us to determine students’ appropriate math levels more quickly and accurately than ever before, which will improve our advising and class scheduling processes. This year we are also increasing the interaction between incoming students and student orientation leaders. It’s a proven fact that new students show a higher level of trust when they seek advice from their peers—in this case experienced students who have been in their shoes—than from staff or administrators. This one-on-one contact early on in their Orientation experience helps students adjust more quickly and smoothly to college life and contributes to student success.

I have had occasion in the past to express appreciation and admiration for the contributions of faculty and staff to the success of our Orientation programs. Whether you have a formal presentation in the Orientation program schedule, or are simply going about your routine tasks as a CCU employee, you have a part to play. The attitude that you display at your job and in your interactions with visiting parents and new students makes a critical impression on them. Even though they have paid a deposit, many of these students are still in the decision-making stage in choosing a college. If they (and their parents) have a positive experience on campus, it will help solidify their feeling that CCU is the right place for them. So let’s all be aware of the opportunities that Orientation offers to make a good impression on our incoming students and their families, whether it’s giving them directions, assisting them with paperwork, or just greeting them with a friendly smile. After all, they are why we are here in the first place!
 

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