For Orientation and Family Connections (OFC) summer is the busiest time of the year. Soon thousands of new students and their family members will arrive on campus for their orientation and enrollment program. Between Thursday, June 6 and Monday, Aug. 12, OFC will host 12 two-day orientation programs and nine one-day orientation programs.
“During orientation, incoming students gain an increased understanding of resources, identify opportunities for engagement and involvement, and begin to learn what it means to be part of an inclusive community,” said Jenna Pracht, acting director of Orientation and Family Connections. “It will be a two-day program for first-year students and a single day for transfers.”
“It’s important that new students at orientation understand that NIU is a community that cares about their success both in and out of the classroom,” Pracht added.
As part of NIU’s commitment to student success, all new students will receive the NIU OneBook. The OneBook will be used throughout the orientation program as a reference to topics discussed. New students should bring the OneBook back to campus in the fall semester and use it throughout their college career.
The two-day first-year program gives students extended time to learn about academic expectations and responsibilities, as well as to begin developing a sense of belonging on campus as they meet other new students. Also included in the program is a faculty panel designed to highlight the classroom experience and present strategies for success from a faculty perspective. Additionally, students meet with academic advisers, register for classes and begin to prepare for their first semester.
Family members are also invited to attend orientation to discover the resources available to them and to learn more about their role in their student’s success in college. Family discussions focus on academics and student life, safety, student health, managing college costs and common transitional issues. The DeKalb community also participates in first-years’ family orientation by conducting bus tours of the community.
The transfer students’ orientation program focuses on getting connected to campus as quickly as possible. Sessions are tailored to finances, academics and the business of being a student at NIU.
Optional activities for both programs include campus and housing tours and individual meetings with financial aid counselors.
OFC partners with the academic colleges and numerous departments throughout campus to create a great experience for incoming students and their families. For more information, explore their website, call 815-753-1535 or email orientation@niu.edu.
