New Student Orientation plays a critical role each year in welcoming a class of nearly 1,400 first year students to campus. Planning occurs throughout the entire year to make sure every new student feels as much a part of the Elon community as any other student, faculty or staff member on campus.
A lot of orientation programs from other universities hold several sessions throughout the summer. Elon is unique in that orientation occurs upon arrival to campus for Move-In weekend.
Nearly 100 trained students, also known as Orientation Leaders, lead sessions with first-year students, providing information regarding Elon University, ranging from opportunities to get involved, meal options, academic citizenship and resources offered campus. The sessions also provide a time for first year students to get to know fellow classmates and form friendships before the academic year begins. Each OL was trained by other student leaders who formerly held positions as OLs and are now a part of Head Staff. Head Staff is responsible for recruiting, selecting and training all of these leaders as well as assisting in the planning and facilitation of Spring Orientation Weekends and Opening Weekend in August.
The orientation program holds values of the university as a whole. All training and information provided through orientation is very intentional and purposeful. The entire staff incorporates this through a phrase called F.U.N.N., or "Functional Understanding Not Necessary." This means that while students may not immediately understand why they are doing what they are doing at that time, there is indeed a purpose to everything that is being done, all of which go along with our mission statement.
We hope that through orientation, students are better able to adjust to the university on a much deeper level, rather than just walking onto campus with no knowledge of what to expect. Orientation allows students to walk right into the university and feel as if they were always a part of it, and provides them with an opportunity to become close with upperclassmen, whom they can go to with any questions throughout the year. Orientation leaders are both mentors and guides to new students to make sure that every student feels at ease in the community they are now a part of.
We want to break the barrier between upperclassmen and first year students so that everyone is together and viewed as one whole student body. The great thing about Elon is that you will never be another number in the crowd. Someone is always there to help you with any questions you may have. Orientation Leaders and staff members are here to help in this process.
Rusterholz is a member of Orientation Head Staff.