FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) – As universities continue to learn more about how to improve student outcomes, some are finding that increased student engagement can increase academic success. One way the University of Alaska Fairbanks is doing this is by expanding orientation sessions.
“I love the great independence of college, so I’m excited,” said Grayson Lamp, a freshman starting at UAF this fall. While many share that sentiment, many others who come to Lamp feel quite overwhelmed or anxious. From moving into the dorms, finding all of your classes, navigating campus, meeting new people, and sometimes a new city, starting college can be a hectic experience, to say the least.
Orientation sessions are a common tool universities use to manage these changes, but they typically last only a few days to about a week. Some students say that’s too short, and colleges are making changes to address that. “For the fall 2024 class, we’re having a very different type of orientation than UAF has had before,” said Josh Hovis, director of the Wood Center for Student Engagement.
Even though classes for the fall semester have already started, the orientation for freshmen will continue. “We remain actively involved for seven weeks after the orientation, so our orientation actually lasts eight weeks,” explained Hovis. That’s a total of 49 days. This was intentionally planned because Alaska is the 49th state.
According to Hovis, this includes checking in on new students throughout the semester and involving them in events and activities, such as a “float party,” a type of palooza in the Patty Center pool.
Part of the idea is to show that the university cares, because Hovis said the narrative is that colleges don’t care about their students. “I think there’s a really damaging myth about colleges and universities that people don’t care or that people don’t care when you get to college, and that’s not true,” he said.
Another aspect of extension is improving student success. “As strange as it may sound, if a student is engaged and involved in something outside of class, they are more likely to graduate and persist from semester to semester,” Hovis said.
In addition to student success, the extension also addresses mental health and socialization needs. This part of the initiative is designed to create connections and support circles for students before the busy winter months arrive. “It’s all kinds of events tailored to specific needs so students can find their social group…whoever their people are, we want them to find them and find them quickly so they have them for the winter,” Hovis said.
The orientation event concludes with the annual Starvation Gulch Bonfire, which takes place later in the year than usual. This event takes place on October 12th.
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