Revamping Orientation: Overcoming Challenges and Enhancing the Student Experience

Revamping Orientation: Overcoming Challenges and Enhancing the Student Experience

April 20 - 21, 2020 | Eastern Time

As the coronavirus pandemic unfolds nationally, it is so important to keep connecting and networking with your peers - at a “social distance” - and to keep learning and developing as higher-ed leaders and professionals. Don’t let social distancing and quarantines prevent you from setting aside time for professional development. Everything is changing so fast; more than ever, we need to be pooling our resources and knowledge and finding the best ways to develop our capacity, connect and share with each other, and move forward during a challenging time.

Virtual Conferences are FREE* with your All-Inclusive membership. Sign up today.

The Academic Impressions Virtual Conference Experience

Our virtual conferences go far beyond just replicating PowerPoint presentations online: these new programs are intentionally designed to give you the kind of robust and dynamic learning experience you’ve come to expect from Academic Impressions. As higher education strives to adapt rapidly to the shifting crisis, connecting with your peers who are experiencing similar challenges can be the best use of your professional development time.

What you will get:

  • A dynamic, interactive, and high-touch virtual learning experience designed to engage and set you up for growth
  • Seamless online face-time, networking, group work, and Q&A opportunities from the comfort of your own workspace
  • Practical takeaways and hands-on knowledge
  • Unlimited access to all recorded online sessions
  • Access to an online conference hub — one-stop shop for presentation materials, attendee introductions, worksheets, supplemental reading, videos, and other resources

Enhance your student orientation program to better meet the changing needs of students.

Overview

New student orientation is the primary means to make sure incoming students have the information, resources, and skills they need to successfully transition into the college environment. When planned and executed intentionally, orientation can play an important role in student retention and persistence by setting an important foundation and positioning students for success.

If you’re facing challenges around serving the needs of an increasingly diverse student population, managing information overload, and overall doing more with less, this hands-on training is for you. Our experts will show you how to take stock of your current program’s strengths and weaknesses, design an assessment plan, and identify creative solutions to overcome some of the daunting challenges orientation staff face today.

With the help of our expert speakers, we will address the most pressing challenges institutions face when leading a student orientation program on campus, for instance:

  • Assessing current practices: mining meaningful data to demonstrate student learning and success, improve the program, and advocate for resources
  • Finding physical space on campus to host orientation
  • Allocating proper resources and staffing
  • Fighting information overload: balancing what students need to know for a successful transition vs. what campus partners want to include
  • Meeting the various needs of a diverse student body

To ensure you’ll walk away with tangible and valuable resources, our seasoned speakers will share unique and creative solutions to common orientation pitfalls. During this event, you will have the chance to work in small peer groups and build important connections with those engaged in the same work as you.

 

Who Should Attend

This training will benefit those who face challenges with their current orientation program or simply want to revamp their existing initiative. Campus constituents leading or supporting orientation efforts will also find this program valuable.

See What Our Attendees are Saying

"At first, I was skeptical that a virtual conference was capable of being both engaging and informational - but Academic Impressions has mastered it! The 3-day online event was structured in a creative way that all participants had multiple opportunities to interact with each other and the presenters. No one's questions went unheard or unanswered. Thank you for this great experience, it has changed my view of virtual conferences and I look forward to attending more in the future."

- Desiree Ford, Digital Communications Manager, Binghamton University

“The virtual conference has been amazing. The presenters have all been great and the information they’ve provided is going to help us better use our social media. Even though this conference had to be virtualized due to COVID-19, the online format has been set up in a way that we can all collaborate and share ideas. I’m very eager to take what I’ve learned back to campus and start implementing new ideas.”

- Chris Forde, Coordinator of Marketing & Public Information, Lincoln Trail College

AGENDA

Day 1 | April 20, 2020 (Eastern Time)

 

Tech Check and Meet & Greet

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

 


 

Conference Welcome and Opening Remarks

12:00 - 12:15 p.m.

 


 

Current Trends and Challenges of Orientation

12:15 - 1:00 p.m.
In this opening session, you will begin to discuss the challenges of leading orientation efforts from finding physical space to reducing information overload and managing staffing.

WEBCAM CHAT: You will take stock of current challenges, areas of growth, and strengths. You’ll share your reflections with the group to guide the rest of the conference experience.

 


 

Break

1:00 - 1:15 p.m.

 


 

Designing and Implementing an Assessment Plan

1:15 - 2:00 p.m.
You will learn how our experts assessed their orientation program and, in turn, implemented successful solutions.

WORKBOOK REFLECTION AND WEBCAM CHAT: Through a series of reflections and chats, you will create your own assessment plan designed specifically for your institution to implement upon your return.


 

Break

2:00 - 2:30 p.m.

 


 

Prioritizing Content: Determining the Non-Negotiables

2:30 - 3:15 p.m.
Balancing the right amount of information students need to successfully transition with the information campus partners want to present without leading to information overload is a challenge. In this session, our experts will help you determine what information is needed and when—and how to prioritize conflicting needs. You will leave with a checklist to help implement this on your campus.

WORKBOOK REFLECTION: You will identify student populations and their specific needs for various orientation tracks.

 


 

Break

3:15 - 3:30 p.m.

 


 

Identifying and Engaging Diverse Students’ Needs

:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Students come from a variety of backgrounds and bring with them a variety of needs, which should shape the way we design orientation. For example, adult students likely need information delivered in a different way than Gen Z, first generation students may need different information than a student whose parent is an alum, and transfer students may need the same orientation that first-year students receive. Yet, trying to deliver consistent information to the masses with limited time and resources can be daunting.

WHITEBOARD ACTIVITY: You will participate in setting and prioritizing the agenda to focus on creating solutions to meet the needs of your underserved student populations.

 


 

Day 1 Wrap-Up

4:30 - 4:45 p.m.

 


 

Ask an Instructor & Virtual Networking

4:45 - 5:15 p.m.
This informal reception is your chance to decompress and expand your network of connections. Our programs are intentionally designed for smaller groups, so this is a great time to catch-up with attendees and speakers whom you may not have connected with yet.

 


Day 2 | April 21, 2020 (Eastern Time)

 

Tech Check

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


 

Day 2 Opening Remarks

12:00 - 12:15 p.m.

 


 

Leveraging Technology

12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
In addition to highlighting creative ways to leverage technology, you will learn the five key steps to implement new technology on your campus. You will hear how our experts overcame numerous challenges by implementing a completely online orientation that still engages students and builds community in creative ways.

VIRTUAL TOUR: You will have the opportunity to experience online orientations in three different platforms.

 


 

Break

1:15 - 1:30 p.m.

 


 

Working with Stakeholders

1:30 - 2:15 p.m.
WEBCAM CHAT: How do partnerships build capacity?
Whether you’re significantly overhauling or fine-tuning your orientation program, you need productive relationships with your stakeholders. During this session our experts will share their experience building and sustaining successful campus partnerships and highlight the strategies and skills needed to do so.

WEBCAM CHAT: You will use the skills and strategies learned in the session to respond to a stakeholder scenario.

 


 

Break

2:15 - 2:45 p.m.

 


 

Beyond New Student Orientation: Supporting Second Year Students

2:45 - 3:30 p.m.
While new student orientation is focused on first-year and transfer students, there’s a need to address the sophomore slump. During this session, you will learn about best practices and trends in working with second-year students including what a re-orientation and second-year welcome week could look like.

WORKBOOK REFLECTION AND WEBCAM CHAT: You will reflect on four discussion questions and report out with your peers.

 


 

Break

3:30 - 3:45 p.m.

 


 

Telling Your Story: Orientation as a Stakeholder in Student Success

3:45 - 4:45 p.m.
In this closing session, you will identify key steps to take back on your campus to measure and leverage your success to create a sustainable orientation program.

WORKBOOK REFLECTION AND WEBCAM STORYTELLING: Through a series of reflection activities, you will set clear objectives and create a communication plan to implement.

 


 

Final Remarks, Questions, Evaluations

4:45 - 5:00 p.m.

SPEAKERS

Jonathan Fries

Jonathan Fries

Director of Second-Year, Transfer & Transition Initiatives, University of Lynchburg

In his role as Director of Second-Year, Transfer & Transition Initiates, Jonathan oversees Transfer, Adult Learner, Commuter, and Second-Year student services. This includes overseeing the transfer peer mentoring program, Transfer Orientation, Adult Orientation, Second-Year Welcome Week, Tau Sigma: Transfer Honor Society, and the Commuter Student Association.

Read Jonathan's Full Bio.

Lisa Simmons

Lisa Simmons

Director, Student Orientation and Transition Services, Utah State University

Lisa Simmons has 15 years of administrative experience with orientation, transition, and retention programs. She directs Student Orientation and Transition Services at Utah State University, an office that houses orientation, parent and family programs, first-year experience, and advising for students taking a leave of absence.

Read Lisa's Full Bio.

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PRICING

Features

  • All presentation resources

  • Access to THIS virtual conference

  • Access to all virtual conferences

  • Gain free and unlimited access to all upcoming live webcasts and on-demand trainings for one year. See list of trainings here.

  • $250 off all in-person conferences

  • 1 in-person conference registration per institution

  • -

    -

Virtual Conference

  • -


  • -



  • -

  • -


  • $1,395

    through April 13 $1,495

    All-Inclusive Members: To preserve the learning experience, free member registration is now closed.

10-User Membership




  • -


  • $4,495/yr

    (with 2-year agreement)

    $5,000

    (with 1-year agreement)

25-User Membership





  • $7,500

    -

Virtual Conference

  • All presentation resources

  • Access to THIS virtual conference

  • Access to all virtual conferences

  • $1,395

    through April 13 $1,495

    All-Inclusive Members: To preserve the learning experience, free member registration is now closed.

10-User Membership

  • All presentation resources

  • Access to THIS virtual conference

  • Access to all virtual conferences

  • Gain free and unlimited access to all upcoming live webcasts and on-demand trainings for 10-users for one year. See list of trainings here.

  • $4,495/yr

    (with 2-year agreement)

    $5,000

    (with 1-year agreement)

25-User Membership

  • All presentation resources

  • Access to THIS virtual conference

  • Access to all virtual conferences

  • Gain free and unlimited access to all upcoming live webcasts and on-demand trainings for 25-users for one year. See list of trainings here.

  • $7,500

Questions About the Event?

Jess Landis

Jess Landis
Program Manager, Academic Impressions

*There are limited spots available for All-Inclusive Members to register for Virtual Conferences for free in 2020. Each virtual conference has a registration cap in order to ensure a high-quality learning experience, personalized attention, networking and interactivity. If the cap has been met, All-Inclusive Members can register with a $250 discount if space is available.

Please note the member discount is not applicable on conference binders or success coaching.