UC Davis is trying something new this year, and it is part of the reason I am here. Each year Davis, like other institution takes in students from out-of-state, and more importantly from other nations. So we are implementing a new program to meet student's needs. For these students, the challenge of coming in for a regular (July/August) orientation presents a challenge. Simply put, it costs a lot of money to travel to campus for three days, and then have to come back a month later for the start of the semester in September. In addition, for some international students, their visas only allow the students to be in the United States a maximum of 30 days prior to the start of class, which does not fit into the current design of the typical program.
So the orientation program is adding a new blended session. The students will register for "International & National (Out-of-State) Orientation" which will take place during two phases. The first of which is online remote advising via the web and phone to register for classes, and get to know important importation prior to arriving. The second aspect starts the Wednesday prior to normal student move in (which occurs on a Friday). The students who register and qualify for this program will move into their housing assignment for the fall, and spend the next three days going through their own unique orientation programs that are intertwined with activities that lead into the 'Fall Welcome Week.'
The students will be led through programs that the normal orientations sessions also receive such as interacting with their specific college's Dean, and way-finding through campus with Orientation leaders. However, there is some specific information that International students need to receive that National students do no (i.e. Visa information (Difference between F-1 & J-1, employment concerns, etc.). During these times the two groups will split. The international students will go through information sessions pertinent to themselves, while the national students go through information about downtown Davis, public transportation, and other aspects of information for students to know for those who have not lived in California. I recognize that this information will also be important to International Students, and the supervisors are working to ensure that these students will receive this information though personal appointments with their Orientation Leaders, who have time to do so because of the students already being registered for classes.
One aspect that I brought up to my supervisor is that the other students have a greater level of ability to interact with students for a longer period of time, and for students who are not from California, the transition may be harder because of students not knowing anyone else. Also, this session has less registrants than a regular session and should be leveraged in ways to increase the bonds between students.
To accomplish this I recommended that the Orientation leaders start hosting chats/discussion boards/etc. as soon as possible for these students so that they can ease in the student's transition to college in a remote setting prior to the student attending college. The issue is how to accomplish this? At some institutions I Have seen blackboard used, at others Facebook. Unfortunately, Davis does not use Blackboard, and my supervisor challenged me by stating that many internal countries do not have access to social media (especially not Facebook in China).
So how this will be accomplished is still TBD, but I will let you know when I figure it out. In the meantime I am still working on questions/prompts for the orientation leaders to use that will increase communication and bonds between these remote students.
Here is a video on the power of social media:
One aspect that I brought up to my supervisor is that the other students have a greater level of ability to interact with students for a longer period of time, and for students who are not from California, the transition may be harder because of students not knowing anyone else. Also, this session has less registrants than a regular session and should be leveraged in ways to increase the bonds between students.
To accomplish this I recommended that the Orientation leaders start hosting chats/discussion boards/etc. as soon as possible for these students so that they can ease in the student's transition to college in a remote setting prior to the student attending college. The issue is how to accomplish this? At some institutions I Have seen blackboard used, at others Facebook. Unfortunately, Davis does not use Blackboard, and my supervisor challenged me by stating that many internal countries do not have access to social media (especially not Facebook in China).
So how this will be accomplished is still TBD, but I will let you know when I figure it out. In the meantime I am still working on questions/prompts for the orientation leaders to use that will increase communication and bonds between these remote students.
Here is a video on the power of social media:
Very interesting!
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