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Class of 2027 kick-starts Furman experience at Summer Orientation
Incoming first-year students and student leaders toss a miniature beach ball as part of an icebreaking activity during a Summer Orientation session in June 2023.
Nearly 500 members of Furman’s Class of 2027 got acclimated to college life well before the start of their first academic year in one of five Summer Orientation sessions in June. The incoming first-year students – along with family members – met a few future classmates, began exploring academic options and discovered a wide array of student organizations and campus activities.
About 20 upperclass students served as group leaders during Summer Orientation (a.k.a. Summer O), the goal of which was “to kick-start our new students’ Furman experience as they begin to navigate their individual pathways,” said Jessica Berkey-Barnes, associate dean of student involvement and engagement. Nearly 70 upperclass students will work as leaders during an additional multiday Fall Orientation session before classes begin on August 22, Berkey-Barnes said.
Focus on the first year
Colin Alfaro ’26 and another Orientation Leader perform a custom handshake while Orientation Leaders Alysha Matthews ’24 and Alex Bussom ’24 watch from the stage.
After a welcome at the Trone Student Center, the incoming students heard from Brad Harmon, assistant dean for the first-year and second-year experience, on what it means to thrive during their first year. Then, in various locations around campus, each group of students enjoyed icebreaking activities and got more insights from their orientation leaders and academic advisors.
Meanwhile, that morning the students’ families were learning about the emphasis on engaged learning, reflection, mentoring and belonging that comprises The Furman Advantage, the Pathways Program designed to help first-year students transition to college life, student engagement and wellbeing and academic success from Beth Pontari, interim vice president for academic affairs and provost, and other speakers.
After lunch in the Dining Hall (and a few of the legendary cookies), the students rejoined their families for an Academic Pathways Fair in the James B. Duke Library and a Campus Connections Fair in the Trone Student Center. Each student also met individually with an academic advisor and had the opportunity to participate in an afternoon Q&A session on the nuts and bolts of registering for classes.
“What makes Summer O special is that the incoming class has a choice of five sessions,” said Orientation Leader Alysha Matthews ’24, an English and theatre arts double major. “The hundred or so students that come to each session get our undivided attention. It gives them time to focus only on academic life at Furman, so when they get here in the fall, they can focus on other things.”
High-impact experience for upperclassmen
Orientation leaders go through extensive training, which incorporates leadership development and intentional reflection. The experience “provides upperclassmen with a high-impact experience where they are working closely with faculty and staff and leading their peers,” said Berkey-Barnes.
Consequently, it wasn’t just the Class of 2027 that benefited from Summer Orientation.
“I have learned so much through this experience, both personally and professionally,” said Orientation Leader Alex Bussom ’24, a communication studies major who plans to go into higher education. “I have learned more about adaptability, problem-solving, communication and so many more skills that I will be able to apply in my future career path after I graduate next year.”
“Not only do we learn more about ourselves as people and leaders, we get to experience a feeling of satisfaction and pride when the new students get comfortable at Furman and start finding their people,” said Matthews. “Summer O particularly has a special place in all of our hearts.”
Gallery: Summer Orientation 2023
Summer Orientation 2023
Incoming first-year students participate in icebreaking exercises in small groups with student leaders during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Incoming first-year students mingle in the Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Student Orientation Leaders Michael Ross ’26 and Amelia Smith ’26 prepare to meet with their groups of incoming first-year students in the Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation in June 2026.
2023-6-20 Summer Orientation Pics Edited-7
Student Orientation Leader Meghan Bové ’26 helps an incoming first-year student join a GroupMe chat group during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Judith Cholak ’27, an incoming first-year student, mingles with future classmates in the Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
A Student Orientation Leader gathers his group of incoming first-year students in the Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Student orientation leaders introduce themselves to incoming first-year students and their family members at a welcome meeting in the Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Incoming first-year students participate in icebreaking exercises in small groups with student leaders during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Incoming fist-year students participate in icebreaking exercises in small groups with student leaders during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Student Orientation Leader Alysha Matthews ’24 (far left) meets with her group of incoming first-year students in a classroom in Furman Hall during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Tuğçe Kayaal, an assistant professor of history, leads an “Academic Advising: Getting Started on Your Career Path” session in a Furman Hall classroom during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Incoming first-year students and their families learned more about studies at Furman at an Academic Pathways Fair in the James B. Duke Library during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Franklin Ellis (left), associate dean and director of the Center for Inclusive Communities, talks with a student at the Campus Connections Fair in Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation.
Summer Orientation 2023
Alfons Teipen (right), a professor of religion, talks to a student at the Academic Pathways Fair in the James B. Duke Library during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Robert L’Arrivee (left), an assistant professor of politics and international affairs, meets a student at the Academic Pathways Fair inside the James B. Duke Library during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Natalie The (right), an associate professor and chair of health sciences, speaks to a student at the Academic Pathways Fair in the James B. Duke Library during Summer Orientation in June, 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Liz Bouzarth (right), an assistant professor of mathematics, talks with a student at the Academic Pathways Fair inside the James B. Duke Library during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Students learned about programs at Furman at an Academic Pathways Fair in the James B. Duke Library during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Riley Hughes ’22, postbaccalaureate fellow for women’s, gender and sexuality studies at Furman, talks with students and their families at an Academic Pathways Fair in the James B. Duke Library during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Joseph Merry (left), an associate professor of sociology, meets a student at the Academic Pathways Fair in the James B. Duke Library during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Darren Hick (right), an assistant professor of philosophy, speaks with a student at the Academic Pathways Fair held inside the James B. Duke Library during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
An incoming first-year student learns more about biology studies at Furman at an Academic Pathways Fair in the James B. Duke Library during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Natalie Kindler (far left), assistant director of the Shucker Center for Leadership Development, meets incoming first-year students at the Campus Connections Fair in the Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Addison Smith '22 (far left), student organizations coordinator, and Nancy Cooper (second from right), coordinator for volunteer services, at the Campus Connections Fair in the Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Madi Ogburn (right), assistant director of communications and assessment at the Malone Center for Career Engagement, greets a student at the Campus Connections Fair held inside the Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation in June, 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Jordan King, director of student involvement, at the Campus Connections Fair in the Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Eli Johns hands out popsicles from Common Pops at the Campus Connections Fair in the Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
Summer Orientation 2023
Lauren Willis, a career advisor, talks with an incoming first-year student at the Campus Connections Fair in the Trone Student Center during Summer Orientation in June 2023.
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