The University of Colorado at Boulder will welcome almost 5,000 newly admitted freshman students along with their parents to two-day orientation programs starting June 14 and ending Aug. 23.
All of the orientation sessions in June and July are for students admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences or the College of Business and Administration.
The intent of orientation is to make new students feel welcome to the campus community. Orientation officials hope that students will leave the program feeling that they made the right decision in pursuing their education at CU-Boulder and feeling secure that they will succeed at CU in the years to follow.
Orientation programs have been offered for 21 years at CU-Boulder, and the College of Arts and Sciences now uses it as a time when students are given one-on-one advising and a confirmed schedule of fall classes.
Students will be introduced to academic requirements, receive assistance in the registration process and learn how to make maximum use of campus resources. They also will learn how to balance academics, work, recreation and social activities.
Students who will be living in residence halls in the fall are requested to stay in a designated hall during the two-day orientation and will have a social gathering at the Hard Drive Cafe in Kittredge Commons.
Orientation also is a time to welcome and ease the transition for parents of students who will be leaving home. Events targeted toward parents are an extensive portion of the arts and sciences and business colleges' orientations, including a parent's dinner hosted by the Parents Association.
Parents and students will receive a welcome from prominent faculty members and will have the opportunity to ask questions at the new Ralphie's Resource Center in Norlin Library. The center will help ensure that families will have no lingering questions regarding campus business issues once school begins.
An information fair featuring booths from university clubs, organizations, support services and Greek representatives will be offered, as well as an entertaining "Orientation Theatre" that portrays college students handling issues that they may be confronted with in college.
The colleges of architecture and planning, engineering and applied science and music will offer orientation programs in August, along with the colleges of arts and sciences and business.