National Orientation Directors Association –
Orientation 101
2/14/2010
ORIENTATION 101
THE BASICS OF ORIENTATION &
AN INTRODUCTION TO NODA
CYNTHIA L. HERNANDEZ
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE
VP FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
MEREDITH MALNAR
COORDINATOR
NEW STUDENT PROGRAMS
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNAL RELATIONS & MEMBERSHIP
NATIONAL ORIENTATION DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
y What is the Purpose of Orientation?
{ Provide students with attitudes
attitudes, knowledge
knowledge, skills and
opportunities that will assist them in making a smooth
transition to university or college community thereby allowing
them to become engaged and productive community members
{ Conveying information vs. ‘Doing’
Ù
There is often this tension between what the priority/primary goal
should be…social development, academic development
Presented at the 29th Annual Conference on the First Year Experience in Denver, CO
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National Orientation Directors Association –
Orientation 101
2/14/2010
y Populations for Orientation
{ Freshman students
{ Transfer Students
{ Graduate Students
{ Parents/Family members
{
{
{
{
{
{
1st Generation students/families
V t
Veterans
International Students
Underrepresented Students
Student-Athletes
Non-traditional Students
y Components of a Comprehensive Orientation
Program
{
{
{
{
{
Academic
Personal Management
Social
Family Member
Assessment
Presented at the 29th Annual Conference on the First Year Experience in Denver, CO
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National Orientation Directors Association –
Orientation 101
2/14/2010
y Developing Content based on Theory
{
Cognitive-Structural
Cognitive
Structural Cluster
Ù
Ù
Ù
Ù
{
Perry – intellectual and ethical development
Magolda – gender related patterns in intellectual development
Kohlberg – moral development
Gilligan – women’s moral development
Campus Environment and Interaction
Ù
Ù
Ù
Ù
Lewin – behavior is a function of interaction and environment
Astin – Student involvement
Tinto – student retention , fit of student with environment & skills and
abilities
Maslow – hierarchy of needs
y Developing Content based on Theory…Continued.
{ Identity Development
Ù
Ù
Ù
Ù
{
Sanford – Challenge & Support
Chickering – Vectors of Student Development
Helm – Racial Identity
Evans & Levine; Cass – GLBT
Transitional Theory
Ù
Schlossberg – Moving in, moving through, moving out
Presented at the 29th Annual Conference on the First Year Experience in Denver, CO
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National Orientation Directors Association –
Orientation 101
2/14/2010
y Orientation program models
{ One day
{ Multiple day
{ Online
{ Off –site
{
{
{
{
{
Summer (one day or overnight)
F ll ((3-5 days
Fall
d
prior
i tto semester
t b
beginning)
i i )
Spring (3-5 days prior to semester beginning)
Mandatory/non-mandatory
Course registration
y Items to Consider:
{ Who Owns Orientation?
Ù
{
Orientation should belong to the university/college
Who coordinates orientation?
Student Affairs vs. Academic Affairs
Orientation/New Student Programs Office
Ù Other Offices (Counseling, Student Activities, Deans Office)
Ù Student Life/Campus Life/University Life Departments
Ù
Ù
Presented at the 29th Annual Conference on the First Year Experience in Denver, CO
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National Orientation Directors Association –
Orientation 101
2/14/2010
y Items to Consider:
{ Building Collaboration/Support
Build bridges
Ù Strive to make each relationship mutually beneficial
Ù Consider developing a campus-wide Planning/Advisory
Committee
Ù Be willing to meet individually with stakeholders
Ù Find ways to get faculty buy-in/support
Ù
y Items to Consider:
{ Outcomes,
Outcomes Evaluations,
Evaluations Assessment
CAS Standards
Ù Learning & development outcomes
Ù Program satisfaction
Ù Follow-up evaluation
Ù Focus groups
Ù External Program
g
Review
Ù
Presented at the 29th Annual Conference on the First Year Experience in Denver, CO
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National Orientation Directors Association –
Orientation 101
2/14/2010
y Where does Orientation End?
{ First Year Initiatives
Welcome Week
Ù Convocation
Ù Mentoring
Ù Common Reading Programs
Ù Freshman Seminars
Ù Other resources p
provided to FY students
| Websites
| New Student Handbooks/Publications
| Workshop/Program series
Ù
How can NODA help?
Presented at the 29th Annual Conference on the First Year Experience in Denver, CO
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National Orientation Directors Association –
Orientation 101
2/14/2010
y Mission:
{ The mission of the National Orientation Directors
Association is to provide education, leadership and
professional development in the fields of college student
orientation, transition and retention
y Core Values:
{ Community, Diversity, Integrity, Learning, Scholarship,
Service.
Service
y NODA tidbits
{ 1st ‘meeting’
meeting was December of 1948 (24 delegates from 6
states)
{ Continued to meet and develop; NODA was chartered in 1977
{ Organization is governed by Board of Directors made of
volunteers from within membership
{ Membership is separated into 9 Regions
Presented at the 29th Annual Conference on the First Year Experience in Denver, CO
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National Orientation Directors Association –
Orientation 101
2/14/2010
y NODA Resources
{ Conferences
Ù
{
Institutes
Ù
Ù
{
Annual and Regional
Orientation Professionals Institute
Mid-Managers Institute
Networks – Affinity & Special Interest groups
Ù
Canadian, GLBT Issues, Small College, Transfer Services,
Parent/Family, Two-Year College, Nontraditional Student,
Undergraduate Student, Graduate Student, Multi-ethnic Issues
y NODA Resources
{ Publications
Orientation Planning Manual
Ù Parent and Commuter Guides
Ù Designing Successful Transitions Monograph (in conjunction with
the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience© &
Students in Transition)
Ù Journal of College Orientation and Transition
Ù
{
Online Resources
Listserv
Data Bank
Ù Website
Ù
Ù
{
Recognition
Presented at the 29th Annual Conference on the First Year Experience in Denver, CO
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National Orientation Directors Association –
Orientation 101
2/14/2010
y NODA Resources
{ Recognition
Association Awards
Ù Network Awards
Ù
NODA Home Office
University of Minnesota
1313 Fifth Street SE
Suite 323A
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Toll free: 866-521-NODA
5
or 612-627-0150
7 5
612-627-0153 (fax)
[email protected]
www.nodaweb.org
Presented at the 29th Annual Conference on the First Year Experience in Denver, CO
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