The upcoming 2016 fall orientation will get an upgrade following mixed reactions to last fall’s orientation from students and faculty.
There are now two service groups working on the fall event. The first is a pre-existing group that focuses on what its chair, Michelle Tait-Eburne, calls a “service-centric orientation.” A second group has been added to ensure that some aspects of the event are program-oriented.
“We have a penultimate goal in mind that we’re working towards,” said Tait-Eburne.
Tait-Eburne hopes that the addition of a second working group can help earn this fall’s orientation a positive reaction from first-year students.
Last fall, the Times reported that some first-year students were disappointed with the lack of program cohesion in the orientation.
First-year baking and pastry arts student, Cynthia Geekie, said in the story that she “would have preferred to have met (her) fellow students and teacher.”
“We did find in hindsight we were missing one key element, and that was a specific time for program orientation within the day,” said Tait-Eburne.
The working groups are also aiming for this fall’s orientation to have what Tait-Eburne described as a “festival-type feel,” which will make use of the campus’ size.
“Orientation is an important experience for the students where they enjoy themselves and they’re reassured that (they) made the right choice by choosing Algonquin,” said Tait-Eburne.