New Student Orientation Becomes "First Year Experience"

September 1999  -  It's a statistic every college would like to change: one-half of students who fail to complete college leave before their second year.  Recognizing there is a big difference between being academically prepared and being ready to succeed academically, Trinity University has revamped its freshman orientation program and extended it from one week to the entire academic year. "New students are emotionally overwhelmed and don't know how or where to start.  It's all a blur," says Moya Ball, interim associate vice president for academic affairs.  "We recognize the transition takes longer than one week.  By spreading it out, we hope it keeps reminding students that this is an ongoing process and we're here to help." "The First Year Experience" has three tracks: academic, cultural, and life achievement, and programs are strategically timed.  "Classroom Politics & Other Encounters" is held after a few weeks of classes in mid-September and covers professors' pet peeves and "civility."  After mid-term exams, "Too Much to Do?  Not Enough Time?  Welcome to Trinity!" will help with time and task management issues.  A semester long series, "What My Parents Tried to Teach Me but I Didn't Want to Learn" will cover topics like safe sex and communicating with your roommate.  The cultural track will have students and faculty going together to the zoo, museums, and other places in San Antonio. To find out more about Trinity's First Year Experience, contact Carolyn Wheat at (210) 999-8406 or by e-mail at cwheat@trinity.edu.

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Last updated on June 7, 2000 by the Office of Public Relations