Graduate Student Orientation Needs

1. Graduate Student Orientation Needs NODAC 2012 Janice M. Hicks, University of North Texas La’Cresha Moore University of North Texas Health Science Center

2. Presentation Goals • Define graduate and professional students • Examine current research • Identify the differences and similarities between undergraduate and graduate orientation • Share development, implementation and assessment process for UNT Health Science Center orientation program

3. Graduate and Professional Students Definitions Graduate students are defined as those in Master’s or Doctoral programs. Professional students are defined as those in such programs as J.D. or M.D. (Poock, 2004)

4. Role of Orientation undergraduate GRADUATE • Acclimation • Registration • Ease anxiety • Enhance success • Support Services • Increase persistence and retention • Socialization • Acclimation • Registration • Ease anxiety • Enhance success • Support Services • Increase persistence and retention • Socialization

5. Literature Review Socialization in Graduate School • Process includes socialization of not only the university, but also the culture, values and customs of a chosen profession • Graduate school socialization is defined as “the processes through which individuals gain the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for successful entry into a professional career requiring the advanced level of specialized knowledge and skills” • Dual Socialization: Graduate Study and Profession Golde,1998; Tinto, 1993; Weidman, Twale & Stein, 2011

6. Literature Review Current Research • Programs emerged in early 1980s • Studies on graduate orientation has focused on either departmental or campus-wide activities • Most studies have only included a single institution and a single department or field of study Poock, 2004

7. Literature Review Nation-wide Study (Poock, 2004) • On-line Questionnaire • Content reviewed by graduate education administrators and members of NODA • Focus was on campus-wide activities offered to all graduate students • Email sent to 446 members of the Council of Graduate Schools • Total of 191 participates Poock, 2004

8. Literature Review Nation-wide Study (Poock, 2004) • Communication • Format • Content • Funding

9. Communication • 40% of the respondents informed their new students of orientation at least three months prior to the beginning of classes • Approximately 25% informed students two months prior to classes • 21% informed students one month prior to classes. • Only 14% of the respondents informed students of their orientation program once they arrived Letters • 76% Email • 10% (Poock, 2004)

10. Format When? • Day before classes (7%) • Two-Three days before classes (23%) • Four days before classes (12%) • Five days before classes (28%) Where? • One location with various speakers (49%) • Concurrent workshops or small group sessions (10%) • Other-fairs and breakout sessions (27%) Length? • Half a day (56%) • Full Day (27%) • More than a day (17%) (Poock, 2004)

11. Content Top 10 • University Policies/Graduate School Policies • Student Services • Computer Facilities • Library Services • Health Care and Health Insurance • Academic Advising • Student Organizations • Registration • Email Accounts • Financial Aid/Funding Opportunities (Poock, 2004)

12. Funding Graduate School Funding • 60% VP of Student Affairs or Academic Department • 7.3% Student Government or Organization • 11% No Student Fee • 92% Student Fee • $1.00-$25.00 (3.4%) • $26.00-$50.00 (3.4%) • $50.00 or more (less than 1%)

13. Discussion Question: Who should plan Graduate Student Orientation: Graduate School, Academic Program or Student Affairs/Orientation Office?

14. Overview of Academic Programs • Communication Plan • Format • Content • Funding • Assessment

15. UNTHSC Academic Programs • Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine • Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences • School of Public Health • Doctor of Physical Therapy • Physician Assistant Studies Statistics: Students: 1,760 Faculty: 400 Adjunct Faculty: 851 Non-Faculty Staff: 1,353 Graduates to date: 5,499

16. UNTHSC Communication Plan • Students informed of orientation 3-5 months prior to the beginning of classes • Admission Letters • Orientation website link • Emails • Website • New Student Resource Guide • Social Media

17. UNTHSC Format When? • Three-seven days prior to classes Where? • One-two locations with various speakers Length? • Full Day • Three days • Five Days Who? • 31 Orientation Leaders • 3-12 per academic program

18. UNTHSC Content • Student group sponsored socials and meals • Student Panel • Academic Support Services (Tutoring, Learning Styles, Writing) • Fun Day • Flash Mob • Faculty Involvement • Housing and Relocation Fair

19. UNTHSC Funding Student Matriculation Fee • $50 per student Fee Usage • Pre-Orientation • Orientation • Orientation Leader Staff • NODA Intern

20. UNTHSC Assessment On-line survey • 8-10 questions • Emailed immediately following orientation Focus Groups • Recently matriculated students • Faculty and Staff • Orientation leaders

21. What We’ve Learned • Must be a collaborative effort • Orientation Office, Admissions and Academic Programs • Be knowledgeable about recruitment and admission cycles • Helps to anticipate influx of questions and plan information dissemination • Incorporate social activities • Small group activities, fun day • Be committed to understanding academic programs • Program requirements and expectations • Orientation Leaders are a must! • Assists greatly with answering program specific questions , anxiety and socialization into the profession • Future considerations: Childcare services and employment for spouses/partners

22. Questions?