By Ayden Bolin
Many students at the University of Puget Sound remember orientation as the strange and transitional time in their college experience where they developed friendships, got lost on campus and maybe tipped over a canoe during Passages. Alternatively, some may also remember a time that was harsh and confusing, with conflicting social groups and a general anxiety for their future in a new environment.
These two realities are in direct opposition to one another, making the first weeks of arriving on campus either incredibly affirming or incredibly alienating. In hopes of making the process more cohesive and successful for everyone involved, incoming student orientation is shifting.
Orientation for college has always had the goal of being an “introduction” to the rest of the next four years, or, at the very least, a way to induct newcomers into a culture that they haven’t yet been exposed to. Indeed, coming into a new community as vast as a college campus is very intimidating, and the struggles that can arise are varied and nuanced. Stemming from this, orientation at the University of Puget Sound has always had three main goals: to challenge, to comfort and to connect.
According to Marta Cady, Associate Dean of Students and Director of New Student Orientation, these goals will still be the framework of orientation during the shift.
“It is meant so that you are intellectually challenged, that you are comforted in terms of meeting peer groups as well as meeting upper class leaders, and that you are connected to the resources that the college offers, as well as connected to Tacoma. I don’t really see those changing,” Cady said.
The plans for the shift have been discussed in rough terms since 2013. The decisions come from a long history of past orientation experiences from both leaders and students, as well as research on the topic.
The docket for modifications to the program is extensive, and includes the ending of “maroon and white” groups, a shortening of the overall time frame, more immersive community engagement, and a “bookend experience” lead by a faculty member, according to Greg Shipman, Orientation Program Manager/Office Manager and alumnus of the University of Puget Sound. The bookend experience is to tie together the experience of orientation with the academic component to better prepare students for the academic work in college life.
“Our old program, what we’ve been saying is, it’s not broken, in any sense, and we are trying to be very clear about that. We’re just trying to stay ahead of the curve and make sure that we’re transitioning as our student population needs us to transition,” Shipman said.
One of the more controversial aspects of the shift is the changing of the “perspectives, preludes, and passages” portion of the week. In the past, orientation was divided into these three groups, and they roughly had the ideas of community service and engagement, academic introductions and outdoor community-building.
This program is loved by many, and seen by some as integral to the experience of orientation at the University of Puget Sound.
In its place will be a decision between the normal backpacking, canoeing and day hiking options, as well as intensive community and intellectual engagement, such as art museums and a creative writing seminar.
Orientation is an event that directly affects the entire campus community. In addition to the many new students involved, many student leaders over time have become deeply embedded in the project. According to Marta Cady, planning for orientation usually starts almost an entire calendar year before the event actually occurs.
“It was a lot of responsibility, but it was worth it for the goals of it,” Emily Laliotis, a student coordinator for orientation, said.
“Over the summer, it was a lot of logistical stuff, but also imagining programs, trying to be the most intentional that we could be, both for the new students and also for our leaders. And then, once everyone got here, that’s the payoff. Getting to spend five days with our leaders, training them, but also just watching them get to know each other and really grow very close,” Laliotis said.
In the end, this will be a situation of trying something new and seeing how it goes. Over this last summer, there were meetings across university departments regarding input for the changes. The orientation staff is open to further discussion and questions on the shifts, and already has had three info sessions in September regarding the changes.
“If students want to talk, we would be happy to get together with them and talk about what is changing, what they want to make sure is heard in the process,” Shipman said. This shift is not one that orientation coordinators take lightly, as there is a high awareness and recognition of the traditions and invaluable experiences that many have held.
“As I thought about orientation 2017 knowing that we were doing this shifting for 2018, I think what was remarkable for me was that this program is so phenomenal, and it felt that way for 2017 and I am looking forward to it feeling that way for 2018 even with these shifts,” Cady said.