Brandon Conner, director of freshman services and student success, addresses parents in a panel discussion during a previous Orientation.
Orientation 2011 will be full of information and fun activities to welcome new students to the Tusculum College community Friday – Saturday, August 19-21.
Orientation assists new students in adjusting to life on campus, informs them about the College’s primary academic opportunities and introduces them to a wide range of student support services.
Special programming for parents and other family members is part of the Orientation schedule on Friday afternoon as well. The program for parents will provide an opportunity for parents and family members to meet faculty and administrative staff one-on-one. A parent “mix and mingle” will be held from 3:45 to 4:30 followed by “Tusculum College and Families Working Together for Student Success,” which will provide parents an opportunity to hear from various faculty and administrative staff about the resources and services they can provide to help students be successful. Both events will be held in the Chalmers Conference Center in the Niswonger Commons.
Friday will begin with check-in from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Niswonger Commons for both new students living on campus and commuters. Students living on campus will be given their keys and be able to move into their rooms during this period. Students must check-in as a first step and will not be able to move into their room until they do so.
Water stations will be located near the residence halls to provide refreshment during the move-in process and throughout the day’s activities. East Tennessee, as most of the nation, has had an unusually hot summer and temperatures in the 90s are not unusual in late August even during a typical year. Please visit these stations to keep hydrated in the summer heat.
Tusculum College staff will be located throughout campus to provide any assistance that may be needed during Orientation weekend. For general information, visit the Office of Student Affairs in Room 223 Niswonger Commons. The Student Affairs Office can also provide information about health services, housing, multicultural programs, orientation, recreational sports, religious life, residence life and student activities.
Various departments will also be available to assist new students and their families from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. In the Annie Hogan Byrd building, offices providing academic advising, career counseling, disability services, student support services and tutoring can be found. The Admission, Freshman Services, Financial Aid and Registrar offices are located in Virginia Hall. The Business Office and the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations are in McCormick Hall. In addition to Student Affairs, the Information Systems Office is located in the Commons.
The Tusculum College Bookstore inside the Commons will be having a “buy one, get one at half price” promotion on apparel August 19-26.
The Campus Safety Office is also located in the Niswonger Commons. The staff is available 24 hours a day to serve students and can be reached at 636-5318 to assist with room lockouts and emergencies. Parking rules and regulations are provided to students in a parking/traffic safety manual. Students who will be driving on campus during the year and did not receive their parking decal during Advanced Registration are reminded to visit the office to obtain one.
After check-in and move-in, students and their families are invited to lunch in the cafeteria in the Niswonger Commons. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In the early afternoon, students will meet with their Orientation Leaders. More information about times and location will be provided to students once they arrive on campus.
Students, parents and family members will receive a welcome to campus and other information during the Opening Assembly for Orientation at 3 p.m. in the Annie Hogan Byrd auditorium.
While parents and family members attend their presentation, the new students will attend informational sessions about various aspects of campus life and academics.
Saturday’s schedule is full of activities to acclimate new students to the campus with a variety of programs about various topics, such as work study.
On Sunday, the new students will have more sessions with their individual Orientation groups and have some time for fun in the Katherine Hall game room.