Orientation

1. Orientation: An Organizational
Function Of Student Affairs
Diana Tien
Antonio Banks
EDAD 521

2. Overview Of Presentation
• What is Orientation
• What Must/Should an Orientation(s) do
according to CAS Standards
• Profile of UCI and CUSF Orientation(s)
• Major Components of The Orientation

3. Functions Of Orientation Programs
According to CAS Standards
• CAS Standards believe that Orientation
Programs(OP) regardless of institution
should(PG. 267):
▫ Facilitate transition of Students Into the
institution
▫ Make students aware of their new educational
opportunities as well as their responsibilities
▫ Integrate students into the intellectual, cultural
and social climate of the institution
▫ Support parents, partners , guardians, and
children of the new students

4. Functions Of Orientation Programs
According to CAS Standards
▫ Enhance overall educational experience
▫ Mission of the orientation must match the mission
statement of its respective university
 Orientation Coordinator Serena Cline States that
each of their respective orientations implements
what should be apart of their programs according to
CAS

5. Orientation staff
CSUF UCI
Meet The Staff Meet The Staff
• Larry Martin, Associate Dean • Jill Halvaks, Director of New
of Students Student Programs
• Serena Cline, Senior • Mike Knox, Assistant Director
Coordinator of New Student Programs
• Annabelle Cariaga,
Coordinator
• Susan Amdahl, Administrative
Support Coordinator

6. History of Orientation
CSUF UCI
• Began With School’s Opening • Orientation was always a part of
• Part of Academic Affairs until student affairs, from the time
the 70s UCI opened to present day
• Was not made mandatory • Orientation was an optional
until 2004 program until the early 1980’s
• Comprised of Two Separate
• Comprised of Three Separate
programs
Programs
▫ Student/Parent Orientation
▫ New Student Orientation
Program (SPOP)
▫ Transfer Student ▫ Transfer Student Orientation
Orientation (managed by individual
▫ Parent Orientation schools/academic units)

7. CSUF Types of Orientation:
New Student Orientation
• Mission of the Orientation
• Orientations are mandatory for incoming
freshmen students
• Must spend a day on campus getting acclimated
to various resources that they can take
advantage of in their academic career
• Part II Optional
▫ Expand on Student Services

8. CSUF Types of Orientation :
Transfer Student Orientation(TSO)
• Designed to ease the transition from student’s
previous institution to CSUF
• Encouraged to complete upon transferring; must
be completed before the second semester begins.
• Three different ways to complete the orientation:
▫ Full Day($55), Half-Day($35), Online(Free)

9. CSUF Types of Orientation:
Parent Orientation
• Strictly Online Based:
• Has presentations on such topics as:
▫ CSUF 101- Overview of University’s Structure;
listing of Academic and Student Affairs
departments
▫ Academic Expectations- Presentation on various
academic topics relevant to students and how
parents can assist in achieveing these expectations
▫ Student Health and Safety
▫ University fees- helping to understand what the
students are paying for

10. UCI Types of Orientation: Student
Parent Orientation Program (SPOP)
• Orientation is mandatory for all new incoming
freshmen students. Last year, 96% of all incoming
freshmen attended a SPOP session.
• The orientation program is a 2 day/1 night program,
that includes spending one night in a dorm hall.
• The first day consists of mandatory academic
advising and class registration in the student’s
school/academic unit.
• The second day focuses on student services that the
University offers.

11. UCI Types of Orientation: Transfer
Student Orientation
• All transfer students are mandated to attend an
academic advising session with their respective
school. Academic units will go over all degree
requirements, University regulations and other
school specific policies.
• There is no fee for this program.
• Academic advising sessions usually run for half
of the day.
• Students will be able to register for their courses
on the same day.

12. UCI Types of Orientation: SPOP
(parent portion)
• Parent sessions will begin on day 2 of SPOP.
• Parents get an overview of laws that guide the University
such as FERPA and the Clery Act.
• Financial aid officers are also present to answer
questions about their student’s aid packages
• Housing, admissions, disability student services, etc. also
run information sessions for parents.

13. Components of CSUF Orientation
• Who Makes Orientation Possible At CSUF?
▫ The New Student Programs Office
▫ The Academic Affairs Departments
▫ The Student Affairs Departments
▫ The Trained Orientation Leaders

14. Overview of CSUF’s Orientation
Specifics
• Program has strong ties with each of the
academic and student affairs departments on
campus
• Partnerships limited to on campus
• Very thorough advising sessions for NSO

15. Learning Outcomes for SPOP
• Assist New Students in Defining Personal and
Educational Goals
• Develop New Students’ and their Families’
Awareness and Understanding of UCI’s Values
• Provide New Students and their Families with
Knowledge of Campus Resources and How to Access
Services
• Foster a Sense of UCI Pride and Connection to the
Campus Community for New Students and Their
Families
• Build Students’ Commitment to Personal
Responsibility

16. Components of UCI SPOP
• Director and Assistant director hire 5 SPOP
coordinators to help plan SPOP
• Last year, 140 student volunteers were hand-picked
to assist with staff.
• New Student Programs (part of the Dean of
Students) is entirely self-funded and is not given any
monies from the University.
• Cost to attend:
▫ $190 w/linens
▫ $65 per parent
 *scholarships are available for students who qualify for
financial aid

17. Overview of UCI’s SPOP specifics
• SPOP works closely with Admissions, Registrar’s,
academic units, campus catering, residential life, etc.
• Partnerships are limited to on campus services.
• SPOP coordinators are responsible for program planning
for students and parents.
• These positions are paid and students are selected based
upon personal characteristics such as the following:
▫ Openness to change
▫ Innovation
▫ Confidence
▫ Students are all different, and they have various
backgrounds and degrees of study.

18. CSUF program challenges
• Orientation Leaders Training
▫ Cut in time
▫ Cut in skills learned
▫ How will it affect the orientation?
▫ Are we satisfied with the experience they have
now?

19. UCI program challenges
• The main concern for SPOP is funding. Since SPOP is entirely
self-funded, and the cost of food and housing continue to
escalate, the cost of SPOP slowly increases as the years go by.
• SPOP volunteers are trained by the program directors as well
as coordinators. In addition to this, the volunteers are also
trained by various student affairs officers on campus.
Furlough days will impact training, but the director does not
cite any great negative impacts.
• With courses being cut, this causes problems for course
registration, in particular for large units such as
Undecided/Undeclared. Priority registration for many
courses are given to students within a respective major.

20. Student and faculty perceptions
• Faculty believe that students come in more
prepared, as they are more aware of degree
requirements and the expectations that faculty
have of them.
• For students, before school even begins, they
have already been able to forge a relationship
with some of their peers and the campus.
Students cite that they are more aware of
campus services and feel confident about their
academic and social success.

21. Other tidbits about UCI SPOP
• Technology has served as a great tool in
disseminating information to SPOP participants,
academic units and parents.
• There has been more en loco parentis in recent
years, compared to years ago. There are more
“helicopter parents” today than there were many
years ago. This alone is a great challenge for all
student affairs professionals on campus.