Welcome to Fresh@News, Villanova's e-mail newsletter for parents
and
friends of the class of 2013. Over the year we will be sending you
occasional postings about activities at Villanova University that relate
the class of 2013. Instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe from this
service are given at the end of this posting.
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Our first interview is with Alicia Dunphy-Culp, Director of New
Student Orientation.
Fresh@news. You have just finished the four-day orientation
program for the Class of 2013. How did it go?
Alicia Dunphy-Culp: We were very pleased with this year’s
Orientation program. Of course, we had to deal with some pretty high heat and
humidity throughout the 4 day program. But the students really seemed to
enjoy themselves and come together within their Orientation Groups as well as a
within their class community, ready to start a new academic year.
Fresh@news: What were some of the highlights?
A.D-C: For me, one of the highlights is the difference that
we see over the four days. It was very moving to see the students and their
parents saying good-bye after the picnic on the first day. While all of the students
were excited, I also saw a lot of apprehension and nervousness
as well. Then four days later, we end with the commissioning ceremony, where
Fr. Peter Donohue, our University President, officially welcomes the class. As
I looked around the pavilion, what I saw was a large number of those same,
rather apprehensive students of four days ago, who were thinking to themselves,
"I am ready for four years of college. I am settled into my room, I have a
great group of friends, if I have problems, I know where to turn. I can do
this."
Fresh@news: Any other highlights you want to mention?
A.D-C: In addition to the programs for parents on
Thursday (the Parents Resource Fair and optional information sessions), the
Parents’ Committee sponsored move-in barbecues throughout the campus on
Wednesday. The barbecues were a great addition to a very hectic day, as parents
and new students were able to enjoy something to eat while taking a break from
moving into the residence halls. WXVU 89.1, our campus radio station also
broadcast live during move-in on Wednesday. The students involved in the radio
station were very pleased to share their broadcast with the new Villanova
families, while at the same time providing helpful information about the
University. Overall, we were pleased with both the turnout and the overall positive
response from parents.
Another great moment for our students was on
the final evening during a speech to the whole class by Mr. Richard Jackman, a
retired professor of the Communication Department. He is a terrific
speaker, as wise as he is funny. One of the things he said was, "If you
take up cross-country skiing, start with a small country." Then he
explained that what he meant was
that the students should start by re-examining their own lives, then building
out from there to accomplish their dreams.
Fresh@news: So how does the University help those nervous young
people on Thursday become the confident new students of Sunday night?
A.D-C: New student orientation is really about four things.
First, we try to deal with some of the concerns and questions that the students
have. Second, we try to introduce them to the services that will be supporting them,
both within and outside of the classroom. Third we create a peer support group
for them, and, fourth, we give them an older student who can act as a mentor
and as a guide.
Fresh@news: Let’s talk about some of those elements. What
are some of the concerns and questions?
A.D-C: You might think that the primary concern of a new
student would be the academic work, and in the next few weeks that is going to
be a big issue for these students. But during the first days of college, the concerns
are more basic: where will I sleep? where will I eat, and with whom? who will
my friends be? Remember, many of our students have never lived away from home (except
for maybe a week or two at a camp), and, indeed, many have never shared a room
on a regular basis. Now they are living miles from their homes, sharing a room
with a complete stranger from a different place with a different background.
Many issues come up, and we try to address them.
Fresh@news: You mentioned helping the students connect to
services and resources. Can you say a bit more about that?
A.D-C: We really run the students all over campus,
introducing them to the many support functions here at Villanova. One of the
most important functions is that they start to get introduced to the faculty.
There is a session with the academic advisors, where students can establish a relationship
with the advisor and work out scheduling problems. Each
orientation group also has an informal session with a faculty member, where
they discuss academic life and expectations. This is a good chance for the new
students to meet a faculty member outside of class, and start to know what
college professors are like.
We also spend a lot of time just getting
students familiar with the mechanics of daily living. One big first step is
what we call the Wildcard. This plastic identification card serves as a meal
card, a building key, a library card, their fitness center access card, their
card for our laundry system and, for many students, a banking system. Another
big priority is e-mail and computer issues. Our students come to Villanova very
computer savvy, and e-mail is their link to the world, so it is really important
for a student to get connected to the Internet. We also want students to know some
of the resources that we hope they won't need right away, like
Public Safety and the Student Health Center. We cover a lot in the four days:
we don't expect them to remember it all, but it will at least let them know
where to go if they do have problems. Orientation isn't all work either. We
always have some fun entertainment for the students.
Fresh@news: You also mentioned the importance establishing a group
of friends?
A.D-C: We find that our students form very close
relationships in freshman year with roommates and people who live on the same
hall. These relationships are very important, and often enough some of these students
will stay together as friends and roommates throughout the four years. But,
just as in any other group, the community in the residence hall can have its
own problems and tensions. One of the strengths of orientation is that the
students also form very intense relationships with a group of people who are
NOT in their residence hall. So if things aren't working out well in the hall,
a student has a separate group of friends to turn to. Even if things are just
fine in the hall, it is always good to have a wider network. We also work very
hard to make sure that the members of the orientation group are not all from
the same
major or the same hometown.
Fresh@news: What about the Orientation Counselors? What is their
role?
A.D-C: One of the nicest tributes to the orientation
program is that so many of our students apply to be Orientation Counselors in
later years. It really is a remarkable opportunity for a student a few years
down the road to be able to give back to a group of new Villanovans. The
training is extremely rigorous and the Orientation Counselors get a real sense
of accomplishment. One of the things that we stress is that Orientation does
not end on Sunday night. We expect the OC to maintain a relationship with the
new students throughout the year. It is enormously useful for a first year
student to have a "big brother/sister" on campus, to whom he or she
can turn for advice and support over the year. Usually each OC has reunions
with the group through the year, but the informal contacts are where the magic
really happens.
The OC can often be a resource for parents as
well. If you were here for the beginning of orientation you would have met the
OC, but if you have questions or comments for the OC, you can also forward them
to parents@Villanova.edu and we can forward your message to the OC.
Fresh@news: Any other advice or suggestions for parents?
A.D-C: Just as we tell the OC staff that orientation
doesn't end on Sunday night, parents need to know that we are always available
to address questions or concerns. Obviously, college is a time of life when students
start to learn to work out their own issues, so parents really
should encourage the student to resolve whatever problem has come up. Each
parent/student relationship will change during the college years and especially
this first semester. Being a supportive parent can come in many forms and we
know that each relationship with your sons and daughters is unique. Make
sure to connect with your student—through email, phone calls,
old-fashioned postal service, etc—and continue to support them through
this sometimes tough transition.
If you have a general question, feel free to
contact us (parents@villanova.edu) and if we can't answer your question, we can
put you in touch with someone who can. Parents should also check in with the
Villanova web site, especially the Parents page at ww.parents.villanova.edu.
_____________________________________________________________________________
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appropriate office at Villanova University or email the Parents' Website at
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