Students preparing to begin study at the University of Colorado at Boulder can get helpful advising and a sneak preview of life on campus starting June 13.Ìý
CU-Boulder's College of Arts and Sciences orientation program will offer nine two-day sessions during the summer for freshmen and two for transfer students. Business students also are invited to some of the sessions. Engineering, music, and architecture and planning students must attend orientation programs at their colleges during the week before fall classes begin.
With 200 campus buildings, 175 fields of study and more than 2,000 teachers, getting acclimated at CU-Boulder can be a daunting task.
"Attending orientation in June or July can ease some of the week-before-school craziness for new students," said William Swentzell, director of arts and sciences orientation.
Each session is designed to offer three primary benefits to new students: academic advising, help with registration and orientation to campus facilities and resources. Participants learn how to become successful CU students and are introduced to important publications such as the new student honor code and Ralphie's Guide to Student Life. Each session also features activities to build camaraderie, including cookouts and evening activities on campus.
All freshmen are required to live in residence halls during their first year at CU-Boulder, so orientation participants get the chance to sample on-campus housing by staying in the Kittredge Commons residence halls.
"I think that with the overnight programs, students have an opportunity to learn a lot about how to get involved in campus life," Swentzell said.
Students can get answers about anything from parking to Greek life to ROTC to financial aid. "In my mind, that's a very important part of orientation," Swentzell said. "Students can meet with people face-to-face to learn about the resources available at CU, instead of just reading about them."
Parents are encouraged to attend orientation with their student. There are a number of presentations specifically for parents, including informational panels and counseling presentations on the psychological aspects of children leaving home for college. Student affairs representatives also will be available to answer questions and address concerns during parent luncheon and dinner events.
The first orientation, for arts and sciences freshmen, will be held June 13-14. Program organizers anticipate 300 to 400 students and 400 to 500 parents will attend each of the freshmen sessions. More than 1,000 students and 1,000 parents are expected at the Aug. 20-22 freshmen orientation just before the fall 2002 semester begins.
The program will be based in the Eaton Humanities Building, but meetings also will be held in the University Memorial Center, Macky Auditorium and centrally located classrooms.
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Orientation Schedule
June 13-14 Arts and Sciences Freshmen
June 17-18 Arts and Sciences Freshmen and Business Freshmen
June 20-21 Arts and Sciences Freshmen
June 24-25 Arts and Sciences Freshmen and Business Freshmen
June 27-28 Arts and Sciences Freshmen
July 8-9 Arts and Sciences Freshmen
July 11-12 Arts and Sciences Freshmen
July 15-16 Arts and Sciences Freshmen
July 18-19 Arts and Sciences Freshmen
July 22-23 Arts and Sciences Transfers
July 25-26 Arts and Sciences Transfers and Business Transfers
Aug. 19-20 Arts and Sciences Transfers and Business Transfers
Aug. 20-22 Arts and Sciences and Business Freshmen, and other colleges