There are changes coming to Baker’s Summer orientation process. Orientation gives freshmen, transfer students and their families a chance to get to know campus, support staff and their advisors. Junior Tucker Armstrong, Lead Orientation Director, advocated for many of the new changes. For him, creating a positive environment for newcomers and their families is paramount.
“A successful orientation is all about building relationships with students and families,” Armstrong said. “We have to have fun, if we aren’t having fun, we’re doing something wrong.”
Choosing a college to attend is a major decision, and it is important for students and families to be comfortable with all aspects of the institution. While many of these elements are learned during campus visits and research prior to being enrolled, the orientation process offers another opportunity to meet with representatives from academics, financial aid, student life, and a number of areas of campus life that can help answer questions about a new student’s future at Baker.
Armstrong’s first-year orientation took place over a full day, during which he and his family received information together on many aspects of the university.
“Fast forward a year, when I joined the [orientation leadership] team we switched it to [a] very condensed day where students would be away from parents for [the] majority of the time,” he said.
Armstrong said it was difficult to run a smooth operation with such limited time, but he and the orientation staff made do with what they had. Baker is now going back to the full-day schedule, during which faculty will be on campus to provide a positive
environment and answer any questions that new students and their families may have.
“Students and families will have the opportunity to do breakout sessions with different offices at our university,” Armstrong said. “This will allow oneon-one meetings assuring students are receiving what they need.”
The goal for orientation is to inform new students and families and help them feel comfortable with Baker. Only having one day to do so can be overwhelming, so Armstrong has implemented new techniques to make orientation engaging rather than an information overload. Armstrong wants to have five directors and a staff of about 30 leaders to allow for more individual conversations and connections.
There will be interactive activities between the new students so that they can get to know one another. Parents will be involved, and leaders will have the opportunity to share their Baker experience with everyone.
Sophia Wilson, the newly arrived Executive Director of Student Experience, bridges the gap between students and faculty at Baker. Baker has also partnered with the Gardner Institute to redesign the first-year experience. Wilson’s broad goal is to create a positive environment where “students feel connected, supported, and able to thrive.”
Wilson understands that not everyone has the same route to success, but it is her goal to adapt and support everyone so they can achieve as much as possible. According to Wilson, views on higher education and questions surrounding it are ever-changing
and, “in response, our approach is grounded in understanding that students arrive with different lived experiences, goals, and support needs.”
