Not a day goes by as of late that I get a phone call/email that asks the big question: “Is orientation mandatory?”

The standard answer is: Yes. All orientation events are mandatory for students, not mandatory, but highly recommended for parents/families. The question asker pauses at this point, and almost always asks, “How mandatory?”

As someone who helps put Orientation events together, I see the day to day planning and coordination that it takes to put these events together. Often it’s a crew of over 20 people coordinating yet a larger group of people to come together and ut on the events. We expect about 1252 incoming students to descend upon campus that weekend with and without families in two, pushing that number up to no less than two thousand and a few hundred. Yes that’s a lot of work to coordinate those events, but that’s not why you should come. Don’t do it out of guilt! 😉

But why you SHOULD come is because those folks have created a schedule that is full of information and designed to give you as much information as possible AND give you an opportunity to meet folks (students, faculty and staff). Orientation, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, is about orienting you to a place, a culture, and its people. That’s why these events are mandatory. Friendships are struck here, directions provided here, and if you’re coming from a place by yourself, you get your bearings here.

There are no, however, consequences for you not attending. I’m not afraid to say that largely because the expectation is that you’re an adult now. Once you set foot on this campus, you are the master of your destiny, so to speak. If you show up, great. If you don’t, that’s a decision you will have to make, and the consequences of which you’ll have to live with.

So, August 21st? I’ll see you on campus. Cause you know…it’s mandatory.

Charlene

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