The Daily Bulletin Archive

By Tony Astran

A new approach to orientation this year will see all first-year students collectively undergo a traditional orientation session and academic advisement the week before classes begin. The welcome week—dubbed “Discover Your Truths” to mirror the 2008–2010 Academic Theme—begins Tuesday, August 25, and replaces the multiple orientation sessions for first-year students as conducted in the past.

Faculty and staff do not need to report to campus earlier than previous summers but will play a major role on Wednesday, August 26, during First-Year Convocation and academic department meetings with students and parents. Classes begin August 31.

According to Robert Mead-Colegrove, director of orientation and new-student programs, the new format creates an easier and faster process for students to complete necessary tasks both before and during orientation. Accepted students recently began receiving “welcome week” packets that include a registration form from University College, a computing guide, and required health forms—which upon completion allows them to register for classes. These and other materials used to be mailed individually by departments.

“By getting information in students’ hands ahead of time, we can make the paperwork process faster,” he said. “Then, we can stay engaged with them over e-mail during the summer. Once they arrive in August, I’m confident the ‘one-trip’ welcome week will help them feel happy that they’ve made the right choice by coming to Buffalo State.”

Resident students will check in on Tuesday, August 25. On Wednesday, students and their families will attend First-Year Convocation, which begins at 9:00 a.m. Students will then meet with their academic departments and orientation leaders. Parents will participate in a separate track of afternoon workshops before departing in the evening.

Last summer’s successful preregistration process for classes will be repeated this summer, which Mead-Colegrove said will alleviate stress and allow more time for advising. “Students will again be put in classes that are best suited to their majors and that help ensure a timely graduation,” he said.

Two one-day transfer-student orientations will take place on July 9 and August 13. Both first-year and transfer students will have the opportunity to participate in a community service project on Saturday, August 29, and a “get to know Buffalo” excursion the following day.

Mead-Colegrove hopes faculty and staff will support the new orientation format and help students during the week.

“We made intentional, purposeful, and collaborative changes to better meet to needs of our students,” Mead-Colegrove said. “We want them to experience interaction on all levels and hear the right messages, through the right methods, at the right time.”