Summer orientation off to spectacular
start
Summer orientation for Sam Houston State
University has begun with “resounding success,”
according to assistant dean of students Mary Ellen Sims. Orientation
is held in order to “give students an overview of the
campus, to help them get advised and get registered for classes.”
A new change has been made to orientation
policy, however. Attendance is no longer required by freshman
students in order to be able to register for classes. Sims
said that despite that policy change, the last three sessions
have still been “quite successful” with attendance
being between 230-240 of the 250 slots available.
Summer orientation spans eight sessions,
six for incoming freshman and two for transfer students. The
freshman sessions take place over the course of two days and
one night while the transfer students’ schedule is shortened
to one day.
Students are given an opportunity to sample
nearly everything that Sam Houston State has to offer. Those
students who stay the entire course of a session will have
a chance to sleep in dorm room--guys in King Hall and girls
in Belvin-Buchannan-- partake in several meals at Café
Belvin and tour the campus, as well as take part in Passport
to Sam, the business fair-style expo of various departments
and organizations offered at Sam.
The actual schedule is quite robust for both
students and the parents.
Day one begins with residence hall and orientation
check going from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Once students are
registered, they may take part in any number of optional activities
ranging from advising and registration-for students who have
not already done so, getting ID pictures made, information
on dining services, and campus tours to rappelling with ROTC.
Following these activities is a general welcome
in the Lowman Student Center (LSC) Ballroom followed by a
session titled “Academics First,” which provides,
as Sims describes it, “basic academic information.”
Parents also have their own individual sessions ranging from
safety and security to residence life/dining.
“We’re really emphasizing academics this year,
providing visitors with several sessions and a panel discussion
dealing with academics,” said Sims.
The first evening is topped off with “Bearkat
Bash,” a dance and karaoke party in the LSC Kat Klub.
Day two consists of several more sessions,
including the SAM C.A.R.E.S. about the Four Rs program which
informs students of rules, regulations, rights, and responsibilities
they have when attending SHSU. This covers the student code
of conduct, maintenance of personal records and such.
Future orientation sessions for incoming
freshman will run June 29-30, July 15-16, July 22-23, and
August 2-3. Only one more session for transfer students remains
on June 30. Registration is still open on the SHSU web site
at
www.shsu.edu/saminfo/orient-menu.html. For more information
contact Sims at 936.294.3026
–END–
SHSU Media Contact:Stewart
Smith
June 24, 2004
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