Orientation season for 2018 wrapped up on July 25, bringing more than 3,000 new students and their families to campus for one or two days to learn more about Coastal Carolina University and how to be successful during their time here.

Families here for a summer Orientation weekend contribute approximately $788,000 over a two-day period, according to a 2017 report compiled by the Grant Center for Real Estate and Economic Development at CCU.

Orientation is designed to help students transition to CCU and assist families in understanding their student's experience during this exciting time.

Families members get their own CCU experience during Orientation as well through a new program called "Little and Future Chants."

Current Coastal students serve as Orientation Leaders to help incoming students navigate campus during the program and to answer questions. Director of New Student and Family Programs Susannah Marshman said the Orientation Leaders are often new students' first friends they make on campus.

Orientation is required for all incoming students at CCU to help them get involved, because student involvement is critical for student success, according to Debbie Conner, vice president of student engagement.

"We find that students who do come through an in-person student orientation are more likely to be retained and be successful at the university," Marshman said. "We want them to be excited to become a part of Teal Nation and engage when they return to campus and excel academically."