Extended orientation is a new program this year that aims to help first-year students acclimate to the college environment. Yet, since it is only the third week of classes, students are still adjusting to their hectic schedules. “I don’t like extended orientation. I understand the purpose and I believe that those resources should be available for those who need them, but I don’t think it should be mandatory. It takes away from the time that I can be eating or doing homework, which helps my stress levels compared to the presentation [they gave us] on stress,” says one student. 

Angie Harris, Associate Vice President of Student Life, argues the opposite, saying, “Often orientation is described as ‘drinking from a fire hose’ — Extended Orientation allows us to slow down all of the new information.” 

Students were sent an email reminding them that they would not be eligible to register for spring semester classes if they did not stay for the entirety of these events. “Because extended orientation conflicts with my pre-health orientation, I have to choose which event I want to go to,” one student said, “Pre-health will help me with my career but if I don’t go to extended orientation, I won’t be able to schedule classes. It’s frustrating.”  

Despite the consensus that some students do not want to participate in these sessions at all, a surprising amount of the population are generous enough to recognize the importance of these topics but wish other priorities were emphasized. 

“I wish the presentations were more invitational. I would have a better outlook on this if I didn’t feel forced or threatened,” a student said in response to the email. 

Harris acknowledged this, saying, “We have shared directly with those students that they should focus on Pre-Health meetings, and we will be developing an alternative for them to get the information. So, we will seek to avoid those conflicts in the future.” 

Other students offered a solution that simply revolved around changing the sessions to later dates. “Information is important, but I would be more receptive to the information later on in the year when I am less overwhelmed,” one student was overheard saying.