[Important Information for Employees] Changes to New Student Orientation

[Enrollment and Student Success]

Colleagues,

The primary goals of new student orientation are:

   -

   We want new students to feel that they belong here.
   -

   We want new students to have a positive experience to generate optimism
   about their SUNY Plattsburgh experience.
   -

   We want to cultivate opportunities for all new students to explore and
   discover themselves and create their own affinity groups while seeing
   themselves as part of the larger community.
   -

   We want students to be aware of the resources available to support them
   in all their academic and social endeavors.
   -

   We want family members to trust that the University also wants what’s
   best for their student.

After conducting an after-action report of Summer Orientation 2023 as well
as conversations with key stakeholders including, Elizabeth Bernat -
Director of Academic Advising, Steve Matthews - Dean of Students, and Jake
Avery - Director of Center for Student Involvement and prior Coordinator of
New Student Orientation, we collectively do not believe that we delivered
on all of these goals and did not deliver the best student experience.  As
a result,  we are shifting from a multi-session Summer Orientation model to
an Opening Weekend model that serves as a header to the start of the fall
semester.  We will couple this experience with optional summer online
information sessions and engagement opportunities for both students and
families.

Some of our considerations in making this recommendation include, but are
not limited to:

   -

   100% participation: summer participation has been decreasing in recent
   years
   -

   For families, a fall orientation would decrease number of trips to
   campus as well as associated expenses and time away from work
   -

   More inclusive: International and EOP students have historically had
   separate onboarding initiatives and have not attended the summer
   orientation sessions. This allows for ALL students to experience their
   onboarding together
   -

   Provides opportunity for leveraging human, financial, and time resources
   -

      Orientation staff of 10-15 orientation leaders will be replaced by
      using nearly 100 Community Assistants and Community Directors
      -

      Eliminates need for faculty to be on campus throughout the month of
      July
      -

      Encourages staff to take vacation in July which has not been possible
      in over 20 years due to summer orientation. This supports
greater work/life
      balance demands.
      -

   Orientation fees could be combined with other opening weekend
   expenditures to increase hospitality and a more welcoming feel for
   families, (i.e., expansion of fun campus activity options which can lead to
   a greater sense of belonging)
   -

   Reduces pressure on M&O staff so efforts can be redirected in
   preparation for fall semester needs, (i.e., Whiteface prep for
   training/sessions, academic buildings, ACC, etc).

To plan and execute this new format for New Student Orientation a cross
divisional steering committee has been formed to create the overarching
framework and logistics but this is a campus wide effort.  The committee
members are:

Larry Allen (Chair)

Elizabeth Bernat

Jim Sherman

Jennifer Bleaux

Sarah Mccarty

Tonya Baker

Jess Loveless

Sarah Cunningham

Lyndsey Lafountain

Sherri Kowalowski

The steering committee will be augmented by working groups from across the
campus to build a comprehensive program that will better accomplish the
goals above.  The current working themes for the new schedule are:

Wednesday, 8/21

Focus: Welcome/Arrival/Celebration


Thursday, 8/22

Focus: Academic Experience and Onboarding/Matriculation


Friday, 8/23

Focus: Engagement via the 8 Pillars of Wellness


Saturday, 8/24

On and Off Campus Exploration and Engagement


This is an exciting time for SUNY Plattsburgh as we continue to work
towards continued improvement in our persistence to graduation rate and
that all begins on Day 1.  Change takes time and patience and the change to
orientation is not a small feat.  If you have any questions about
orientation or  how you or your department can get involved please contact
Larry Allen, Orientation Chair, at lalle001 at plattsburgh.edu


Have a good second week of the Spring semester!


Brent Carbajal <bcarb001 at plattsburgh.edu>

Interim Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs


Karen McGrath <kmcgr011 at plattsburgh.edu>

Vice President for Enrollment & Student Success
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