{"id":26528,"date":"2023-06-29T10:31:15","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T14:31:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/?p=26528"},"modified":"2023-06-29T10:50:41","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T14:50:41","slug":"summer-orientation-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/summer-orientation-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Class of 2027 kick-starts Furman experience at Summer Orientation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearly 500 members of Furman\u2019s Class of 2027 got acclimated to college life well before the start of their first academic year in one of five Summer Orientation<\/a> sessions in June. The incoming first-year students \u2013 along with family members \u2013 met a few future classmates, began exploring academic options and discovered a wide array of student organizations<\/a> and campus activities.<\/p>\n

About 20 upperclass students served as group leaders during Summer Orientation (a.k.a. Summer O), the goal of which was \u201cto kick-start our new students\u2019 Furman experience as they begin to navigate their individual pathways,\u201d said Jessica Berkey-Barnes<\/a>, associate dean of student involvement and engagement. Nearly 70 upperclass students will work as leaders during an additional multiday Fall Orientation<\/a> session before classes begin on August 22, Berkey-Barnes said.<\/p>\n

Focus on the first year<\/h3>\n
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Colin Alfaro ’26\u00a0 and another Orientation Leader perform a custom handshake while Orientation Leaders Alysha Matthews \u201924 and Alex Bussom \u201924 watch from the stage.<\/p><\/div>\n

After a welcome at the Trone Student Center, the incoming students heard from Brad Harmon<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, that morning the students\u2019 families were learning about the emphasis on engaged learning, reflection, mentoring and belonging that comprises The Furman Advantage<\/a>, the Pathways Program<\/a> designed to help first-year students transition to college life, student engagement<\/a> and wellbeing<\/a> and academic success from Beth Pontari<\/a>, interim vice president for academic affairs and provost, and other speakers.<\/p>\n

After lunch in the Dining Hall (and a few of the legendary cookies<\/a>), 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes Summer O special is that the incoming class has a choice of five sessions,\u201d said Orientation Leader Alysha Matthews \u201924, an English and theatre arts double major. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

High-impact experience for upperclassmen<\/h3>\n

Orientation leaders go through extensive training, which incorporates leadership development and intentional reflection. The experience \u201cprovides upperclassmen with a high-impact experience where they are working closely with faculty and staff and leading their peers,\u201d said Berkey-Barnes.<\/p>\n

Consequently, it wasn\u2019t just the Class of 2027 that benefited from Summer Orientation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have learned so much through this experience, both personally and professionally,\u201d said Orientation Leader Alex Bussom \u201924, a communication studies major who plans to go into higher education. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot 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,\u201d said Matthews. \u201cSummer O particularly has a special place in all of our hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gallery: Summer Orientation 2023<\/h3>\n