What's Happening in the Office of New Student and Parent Programs

The office of New Student and Parent Programs recently completed the 2007 orientation season with a record number of students and parents/guests.  This past summer, more than 8,400 students and an additional 7,000 guests attended our New Student Orientation programs.  We held 11 programs for freshman, seven programs for transfer students, and one program in Northern California for both freshman and transfer students.

Our New Student Orientation programs have been enhanced to assist incoming students successfully integrate into the SDSU community.  Our programs now feature an interactive general education overview in which students use keypads linked to a power point demonstration so presenters can survey the audience and ask questions.  In addition, students go to computer labs at the end of the day to search the class schedule online and create their wish list of classes to register for the following business day. 

In collaboration with Enrollment Services, we now provide freshman students personalized information sheets and Major Academic Plans (MAPS) to show which classes to register for in the fall.  We provide each transfer student their preliminary degree evaluation showing them how their classes transfer to SDSU.  This significantly helps Ambassadors assist in course selection with orientation participants.

In addition, we recently added a new workshop for students titled, "Being an SDSU Citizen" to help students transition to being members of the SDSU community.  Students learn about policies on campus and in the College Area, the Student Code of Conduct from Student Rights and Responsibilities, and general tips on being a successful student at SDSU. 

More than 95 percent of freshman students and 90 percent of transfer students attended orientation this past summer.  This is a record percentage of students who attended. 

The summer came to a close with the 5th annual New Student and Family Convocation hosted by Dr. Kitchen, Vice President for Student Affairs.  Approximately 8,500 students and families participated in the ceremonial event on Saturday, August 25.  New Student and Family Convocation begins at the residence halls with a "band run" through campus to Hepner Hall, where students and families separate by college to be seated in Cox Arena. Over 40 members of the Aztecs Marching Band and Aztecs Football Coach, Chuck Long, addressed thousands of participants in front of Hepner Hall.

New Student and Family Convocation officially recognizes students into the academic community with remarks from Provost Nancy Marlin, Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. James R. Kitchen, and University President Dr. Stephen L. Weber.  Aztec Parents Association board members welcome parents to the SDSU community in an official pinning ceremony.  Students are given bookmarks with pins and Associated Students President James Poet led students in the Aztec Declaration and facilitated the student pinning ceremony. 

This year we held our second Transfer Student and Family Receptions immediately following Convocation, which were designed specifically for transfer students and their families.  Each college held their own reception and invited faculty members, College Deans and Assistant Deans.  The receptions were once again successful with more than 1,000 transfer students and their families in attendance.

The summer concluded with Welcome Week activities that took place Friday, August 24 through Friday, August 31 for incoming and returning students.  A few years back, we transitioned from Student Life Orientation to Welcome Week to expand the activities offered to students.  Welcome Week is a university-wide event with programs and events from New Student Programs, Associated Students, Residential Education, Cultural Arts and Special Events, the Cross-Cultural Center, Athletics, and Student Activities and Campus Life. 

This year, we hosted the "Red and Black Welcome Back" dance with Residential Education in the open area in front of Hepner Hall.  More than 3,000 students came to this inaugural event.  In addition to a DJ playing all night, we had a henna tattoo artist, caricature artist, a bounce house, and fire performers throughout the night.  The evening was a huge success and we look forward to making this an annual event.  Our featured event for Welcome Week continues to be the Aztec Bash hosted by Dr. Kitchen.  Senior Administrators from the university sport chefs' hats and jackets to barbeque a free lunch for 2,000 students. 

The Office of New Student and Parent Programs ended its busiest time of the year with Family Weekend, taking place September 28-29.  During Family Weekend, we invited parents back to campus for a weekend full of events and activities, including a Picnic and Serenade, pep-rally, breakfast, a pre-game reception and the Aztecs Football game.  Over 700 families attended Family Weekend this year. 

Upcoming events for the Office of New Student and Parent Programs include the Spring 2008 New Student Orientation, the National Orientation Directors Association regional conference in Anaheim and Explore SDSU in 2008.