Western Illinois University Transfer Orientation

1. Western Illinois University Transfer Orientation Jessica Mueller Alison Chapman Matt Nelson Ally Randolph Tara Hardison

2. Introduction • Why did we want to do this? • Other topics • Benchmarked other institutions • Interview with Tracy Scott, Jane Coplan, & Candace McLaughlin • Registration v. Orientation

3. Current registration • 4 Hours, 4 times a year • Current Schedule • Testing • Housing Overlap • Advisor registration

4. Current Registration • Demographics • 1,332 Transfer Students • ~300 students use services Only 22.5%! • White 1033 • (M569, F 464) • Black 102 • (M 56, F 46) • Hispanic 74 • (M 43, F 31)  • Asian 16 • (M 5, F 11)  • Other 61 • (M 42, F, 19) • 2 or more racial identities 14 • ( M7, F7) • FT1155, PT 177

5. Goals • Four Primary Goals and Program-Specific Goals • Additional Subordinate Goals • Goal #1: Students will feel supported. • Goal #2: Students will have multiple opportunities to socialize. • Goal #3: Students will become familiar with WIU culture. • Goal #4: Students will reflect on their personal development and identities.

6. Goal #1:Students will feel supported. • Transfer students become more aware of support systems available to them on campus. • Help transfer students feel supported.

7. Goal #2:Students will have multiple opportunities to socialize • For transfer students to have the opportunity to socialize and get to know students, both new and current students. • Create avenues for students to get connected to current students. • Introduce students to faculty and staff members at WIU.

8. Goal #3: Students will become familiar with WIU culture. • Educate students about WIU culture and traditions. • Educate students on the technological services and culture at WIU. • Teach transfer students about WIU policies, rules, and procedures. • Provide students with an understanding of the college mission and vision.

9. Goal #4: Students will reflect on their personal development and identities. • Communicate various learning styles to new students. • Ease the students’ transitions by educating them on the transitional process. • Create an awareness of the multiplicity of identities.

10. Program-Specific Goals • Create an orientation-focused program, not a registration-focused program. • More transfer students will utilize the on-campus orientation program rather than the advisor-registration option. Make the program more appealing. • Educate parents, families, and partners about opportunities and culture at WIU. • For students to comfortable register for courses they see values in. • Provide opportunities for assessment and evaluation of transfer orientation programs and services.

11. Theories- Student Characteristics & Environments • Arthur Chickering • William Perry • Mary Belenky, Blythe Clinchy, Nancy Goldberger & Jill Tarule • Marcia Baxter Magolda • David Kolb • Lawrence Kohlberg • Carol Gilligan • Nancy Schlossberg • Derald Sue & David Sue • W. Rowe, S. Bennett, D. Atkinson • Vivienne Cass & Anthony D’Augelli

12. Challenges • Environmental • Politics (area and office support) • Demographics (Sue & Sue, Baxter Magolda) • Students in the LBG community may still find it difficult to find resources on campus (Cass & D’Augelli) • Budget • Long term supports for students (Schlossberg) • Developmental • Attendance (Chickering) • Lack of knowledge & education on Caucasian student (Rowe, Bennett, & Atkinson) • Program doesn’t support learning styles(Kolb, Baxter Magolda)

13. Supports • Environmental • Our services do support student voice (Magolda & Belenky et al.) • WIU has resources for racial and cultural exploration (Sue & Sue & Baxter Magolda) • Already a transfer registration in place (Schlossberg) • Articulation agreements • Developmental • Student Leaders (Perry & Baxter Magolda) • Question and Answer time (Perry)

14. Reassess Goals • After reassessing our goals, a few goals were added that we felt needed to be addressed after looking at transfer students through a theoretical lens.

15. Added Sub-Goals • Goal #1: Students will feel supported. • Provide opportunities for minority students to discuss their role on a predominantly white campus and recognize sources of support. • Goal #2: Students will have multiple opportunities to socialize. • No sub-goals added.

16. Added Sub-Goals • Goal #3: Students will become familiar with WIU culture. • No sub-goals added. • Goal #4: Students will reflect on their personal development and identities. • Provide opportunities for LGB students to find support at WIU. • Provide sessions to meet the various specialized identities. • To empower students to construct their own educational experience. • Provide opportunities for students to discuss moral situations and analyze their values according to the context of the situation(s).

17. Western Illinois University Transfer Orientation New & Improved

18. Publicity • Email/Postcard come to students once they are accepted in order to select an orientation date (sent individually) • Follow up email sent by SDO three days prior to confirmed date (mass email) • Students /Guest receive folders at check-in

19. Budget • Total SDO 2010 Fiscal funds (personal services & Operating) $187, 368 • 2009-2010 $50 orientation fee for transfers ($66,600) • Cost of lunch (students) • Guest lunch is paid by guest • Cost of orientation staff & administrative staff • Printing costs • Some decorations that will have a high ROI

21. Schedule • Total change in schedule • Testing is not overlapping sessions • Individualized schedule

22. @ a glance

23. Our Enhancement- Registration • Registration times & “Schmoozing” • Scattered depending on student situation • Pick up folders (containing) • Guests to Prairie Lounge/ optional tours • Testing • Moved to beginning of day • English @ 10 / Math @ 11 • Theories

24. Our Enhancement- Welcome • Welcome Session • Introduction to the university • President’s & VPSS Welcome • Theories

25. Our Enhancement- Staff • Orientation Student Staff • Staff will be trained • Available for tours • Escorts to testing • Lunch facilitators • Small group discussion during session • Recommendation: Transfer student social held during the first week • Theories

26. OurEnhancement- Lunch • Intimate Group Setting • Casual Chatting • Common Experience • Comforting • Theories

27. OurEnhancement- Blurbs • Resources can say a blurb about their services towards end of lunch • Creates connections • Helps shape students decisions • Theories

28. OurEnhancement- The Fair • Middle of the day, after lunch • Amp up some services (LGB & racial/cultural, veterans, spiritual) • Additional resources (AOD & judicial) • Theories

29. OurEnhancement- Student Sessions • Small Group Break Out Sessions • Students will choose preferences for sessions at registration • Technology & Religious/ Spirituality 101 • Theories

30. Exploratory Session • 5 min: Introductions • 10 min: Learning Styles Inventory through Career Services • 10 min: discussion of learning styles results/ how your learning style impacts your choice of major • 5 min: handout list of all majors, Q&A with past undecided major students

31. What to Expect from Your Classes • 5 min: Introductions • 5 min: Students brainstorm their expectations of classes • 5 min: Students expectations vs. WIU academic expectations of students • 10 min: Students break into “colleges” and have Q&A with college representative (s) • 5 min: reflection/closing remarks and questions

32. OurEnhancement- Class Registration • Students will be placed in a registration session pending their interests in the information sessions & major • Will provide for individualized attention with advisor • Will be able to attend more information sessions • Theories

33. OurEnhancement- Guest Sessions • Emergency System – OPS • 1:30-2:00pm • Health Safety – Beu Health Center • 2:00-2:30pm • Panel – SDO • 2:30-:300pm • Interactive Session – UAASC • 3:00-4:00pm • Theories

34. OurEnhancement- Campus Tours • Available at the beginning of the day as well as after the closing sessions • Led my orientation staff similar to the campus tours throughout the year • Visualize all the resources students will need

35. OurEnhancement- Closing • Led Student Development & Orientation • Handouts will be available online • Time to do evaluation & other paperwork • Student staff and new students can exchange email addresses

36. Conclusion Welcome to WIU! Questions?