Building a program to ensure a smooth assimilation of students in to your institution is a critical component of student retention. The sooner, and more deeply, students get 'plugged in' to your college the better.

Student's Perspective. Applicants often develop a very real bond with their admissions representative that ends (from the institution’s standpoint) once they begin classes. The student, however, probably has the strongest relationship with their representative of anyone at your college. Afterall, the representative has guided them through the entire enrollment process. Students have told their rep a great deal of personal information. From the student's perspective, the institution IS their admissions representative! Suddenly having that support taken away can be traumatic. Given the stress of the first few weeks it is critical they build a new, long-term support system.

Institution's Perspective. Once an entering cohort is attending classs, the admissions office begins focusing on securing more new students. This is as it should be. A steady stream of new students is vital to the organization. Unfortunately, colleges often take the transition for granted. Unless you build a strong bridge for students to bond with someone else at your institution, they can feel lost. Often they will migrate back to their admissions representative to assist with issues. Orientation and first week activities design specifically to help students make new connections will pay big benefits in persistence.

3-Part Support: Institution, Faculty, Classmates. There are three groups with whom you should connect your new students: your institution, your faculty and each other. Studies are clear, the more connected students feel to others at your college significantly increases student persistence. Orientation is the perfect format for students to begin developing relationships with others at your college. An effective orientation program let's them leave feeling like a student and provides them with a new network of resources.

Institution Bonding. In addition to familiarizing students with other support offices, your orientation program is a way to 're-sell' them on the benefits of attending your college. This is an excellent time to have current or former students (in person or on video) provide testimonials regarding their experiences. All people want to know they have made the right decision when they make a significant purchase. Your students are no exception. The decision to attend a specific college has a huge impact on their life, both short- and long-term. Reinforce they have made a good decision about attending your institution.

Build as many 'connection points' as possible.

1. Connect them to Services. What other offices will they need to interact with regularly? What services will provide them with ways to resolve issues as they arise? Include these in your orientation program in ways that allow for personal interaction. For example, Career Services will play a key role as they prepare for their career. Provide an opportunity for your Career Services personnel to interact with students, explain their services. Financial aid, student services, etc. are other key offices that students will interact with and/or need support from on a regular basis. Make sure these interactions provide for a way for students to get to know staff as 'people'. It is important to portray professionalism. It is also important that they are approachable. 2. Have them leave 'like a student'. The more you can do to have students leave orientation feeling like a student, the better. This means things like having a student ID, books, uniforms (for allied health programs), syllabi, etc. Things that have them already in the mindset of 'belonging' and already incorporated in to your college.

The Faculty Connection. Student bonding with faculty is absolutely critical. Faculty should become an integral part of any orientation program. Students will spend the most time with them than any other part of your college. Students are often very intimiated by faculty when they first enter your institution. They have all kinds of self-doubts concerning their ability to succeed and no doubt they have heard a multitude of 'horror stories' about college professors! This is your opportunity to set the stage for several things.

1. Ideally, you would have department chairs and other full-time faculty available at orientation to meet with students within their discipline. The absolutely best scenario is these meetings take place in the actual classroom where students will be attending classes. This not only gets them familar with your facilities, but also gives them a 'feel' for being a student.

2. Set the expectations. Faculty should take this opportunity to set realistic academic expectations for students. This doesn't mean scare them! It does mean clarifying program requirements and outcomes. This discussion should also include explanation of support services such as faculty office hours, tutoring availability, etc. Let them know that assistance is available and encourage them to take advantage of those services.

3. Program Overview. Faculty should also provide an overview of program advantegous. What's unique or different about your verision of a particular major? What type of jobs will they be prepared for after graduation? What is the employment outlook? Reinforcing decisions about their program will reinforce their decision to attend your college.

4. Make it Personal. Faculty should feel free to share their backgrounds, goals and experiences. This builds credibility with students. They will respect their instructor's ability to provide them with the necessary skills AND it let's them know that they are people, too. This is often the part of orientation that both faculty and new students enjoy the most. Faculty have a wealth of 'stories' they can share that make this a wonderful bonding opportunity.

Classmate Accountability. From a student's perspective, making new friends and forming a support group of their peers is an important piece of the college experience. There is nothing worse than feeling disconnected from your classmates. An effective orientation builds student interactions early and provides a structure for support and accountability from classmates. Here are just a couple ways we've found that are effective strategies for permoting peer support.

1. Personal Goals/Testimonies. One of the best programs we've reviewed had students at orientation stand up and share their personal reasons for attending college and the goals they hoped to attain by graduating. This activity was performed in the meeting with faculty, and after their instructor had shared her own goals about teaching. Students expressed their goals, and in some cases fears, about attending college. This provided for significant 'bonding' between that particular group of students and they quickly became a very close-knit group. This is also an activity that can be used, instead, as part of your first-week activities within your classrooms. Many faculty use some type of 'introduction' exercise already. This is an excellent way for instructors to gain insight and to promote peer support.

2. Take a 'class' picture and post it! This is a great way to get people to feel part of a group. It also provides them with a visual representation of what they're 'graduating class' could be!

The bottom line. There are a variety of additional methods available to get students connected at orientation. No doubt you have effective strategies of your own. Tactics should be taylored to highlight your institution's unique culture. The key is to create as many personal interactions with as many people as possible. The old model of parading a long list of staff people in front of large groups imparts information, but isn't as effective for creating bonding experiences.