New Student Orientation will be updated for summer 2027 to include more student organizations and more engaging programming. Orientation advisors will also no longer be required to live on campus.
Senior orientation coordinator Dallas Wilburn announced these revisions during an Oct. 13 Student Government committee meeting. Wilburn said these changes address the decrease in student organization recruitment and increase in mandatory programming following orientation’s reduction from three days to two days last summer.
The shorter sessions included more mandatory programming in bigger groups, a shorter social hangout period and fewer opportunities for student organizations to recruit.
“We are hoping to bring back some student org connections, whether that be a student org fair or other involvement like we’ve done in the past,” Wilburn said. “So you will be hearing from us in the spring about how to get signed up and participate.”
Additionally, orientation advisors can opt out of on-campus housing and receive a slightly higher wage, Wilburn said. Previously, first-year advisors were required to live in the residence halls, while returning advisors could live off campus.
Applications for orientation advisors are now closed. Group interviews will take place Nov. 8, and the department plans to extend offers by the end of the fall semester, Wilburn said.
“We have seen more sophomores, juniors and so on apply,” Wilburn said. “So it’s now going to be optional to stay in on-campus housing.”
Business freshman Ashima Nair, who signed a 12-month lease for next year, said the change makes it more likely she will apply to be an orientation advisor.
“I would definitely feel like my lease is being put to a good use,” Nair said.
Wilburn also said they are modifying the orientation schedule to reduce the amount of walking required of students in the summer heat. Wilburn also said they hope to modify the mandatory programming that requires sitting in an auditorium to be more useful for students.
“(We’re) trying to improve our mandatory programming, knowing sitting in a large auditorium cannot always be the most engaging,” Wilburn said.
