Over the first month of the semester, first-year students have spent over 16 hours in mandatory meetings in ATS or classroom lectures.
A program introduced just last year by the Dickinson Wellness Center, extended orientation has finally concluded its weekly mandatory meetings held for first year students. But as students worked to adjust to their new schedules and manage their time between classes, meals and clubs, this program created difficulties for some to attend these meetings while involving themselves in overlapping activities.
“I signed up for marketing club, but the first meeting was held at noon on a Thursday, so I wasn’t able to go,” said Ava Schneider ’28. “I thought [marketing club] would be a good way to meet some more people, so that was a bummer to miss.” Several other lectures and activity meetings have overlapped with extended orientation time, leaving many first years frustrated with their inability to become involved in interesting activities as they acclimate to the new opportunities college offers.
Despite the time conflict, students are still willing to admit that some of the extended orientation lectures have been beneficial. “Bits and pieces have been helpful, like what the Wellness Center provides, because I didn’t know a lot about that,” said Schneider.
While these long hours in lectures can feel tedious, the students who worked with orientation staff upheld that these lectures are, in fact, worthwhile.
“A lot of these talks are required, whether its Title IX or financial wellness, these things are important,” said Andrew Garcia ’26, student body president. “Obviously, you want to be out, exploring the college, meeting new people – and sitting there zoning out can be rough … In the moment, during orientation, you kind of don’t realize how important all this stuff is, but it is important.”
While many of the long lectures and extended orientation are familiar to Dickinson students, there have been several changes from past years that first-year students this year were able to enjoy during their initial orientation.
“A big session they took away this year is ‘Why Are We Here,’ which was a big thing that was another long ATS session, so I think that helped,” said Olivia Abbott-Havers ’25, senior class president. “Dickinson After Dark” was also a series of new events this year, which included a block party, a movie night and “Target Takeover.”
Planned by Kimberly Steiner, associate director for campus activities, Target Takeover offered first year students transportation to and from Target in Carlisle, which was set up by Target staff for students. It featured a giant inflatable red devil, a DJ booth and a basket raffle. Free pizza was also provided, as were Dickinson-themed Starbucks drinks, titled “The Red Devil Drink” and “Siren’s Sip.”
The program “Nuts and Bolts: The Basics” was also a new addition to orientation this year, which was a program run in smaller groups by orientation leaders to give first-year students answers to any questions from upper class students.
“I was excited to see how that would go just because … it wasn’t a professional staff doing it,” said Garcia. “It was just students. The orientation leaders were just kind of talking about their experience.”
Garcia went on to explain how the program is still being developed and is awaiting feedback to see that each session worked to the greatest advantage of the students. “It could’ve been an amazing session where you learned so much about the school, it could’ve also been a not-so-great session where you just got lectured to by students,” he said.
The changes to orientation this year may mean more interactive learning opportunities for years to come as orientation management works to continue making improvements. Abbott said, “Trying to find different ways to distribute the information in an engaging way that’s not just sitting in ATS is kind of what everyone’s looking forward to doing in the future.”
