Welcome new students, to the University of Idaho. UI has a small, beautiful campus with rolling hills as far as the eye can see and two arboretums one of which looks like an ancient forest. New students have signed up for classes and it’s time to begin. Soon, the place students have called home for 18 or more years will become their home away from home. They just have to orient themselves first.
The first step for students is the new student orientation hosted by the Dean of Students Office. Orientation runs Thursday, August 18, through Saturday, August 21 and will begin early evening that Thursday after student move-ins are complete.
“It is an expectation that new students attend new student orientation,” said Coordinator of orientation programming, Ashley Morehouse.
Morehouse and the Dean of Students understand that at the UI the student population is diverse and allows exceptions for new students with different circumstances. The Dean of Students Office will be hosting an orientation, for students with different circumstances like, veteran status, adults with children, students taking care of parents in need of support, and other situations. This alternative orientation will be held 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, August 21.
“Students should have a very good time and learn a lot about the University of Idaho, from rules to our awesome traditions,” Morehouse said.
The Dean of Students Office has planned three days of fun, education on university culture, and information about student academic resources. A complete calendar of all events can be found on the UI website under new student orientation. The first item on student’s schedules for orientation will be meeting their orientation leaders. Each orientation leader will guide a group of new incoming students through their activities over the three-day orientation.
“Its a friendly face offering any help they can and making their first experience a positive one,” said Morehouse
Orientation leaders are hand selected by the Dean of Students Office and go through vetting and interview process before granted the position. Once the leaders have been selected they receive training from spring into the summer before orientation begins Morehouse said.
“The orientation leaders are their to give students resources and to answer any questions they may have,” Morehouse said.
If a leader doesn’t know the answer to a particular question, they will still be able to point them in the right direction to somebody who can help them. For instance, a leader may tell them about a new student where the transportation center is to help them select the right parking pass or to the Counseling and Testing Center for academic and emotional support, Morehouse said.
“A lot of our leaders end up being friends with new students. We have two right now, where one was the orientation leader of another and now the former new student is a leader as well and she is doing it because they became friends,” Morehouse said.
Generally, the Dean of Students Office tries to match new incoming students with leaders of their same major. Though it does get difficult with more students than leaders, but they make it as close as they possibly can Morehouse said.
Students can take the opportunity to get to know not only their leaders, but also the other new students within their groups. It is a great way for students to make some of their firsts friends upon arriving to the UI.
One of the new events for student orientation this year is the Vandal Scramble.
“There will be a lot of running in Vandal Scramble,” said Morehouse.
Students will be fed various meals throughout the three days including, Einstein’s Bagels and the president’s barbecue.
Students will have sessions about the ins and outs of academic success and how to deal with the stress that comes with being a college student. They will also discover how to make campus a healthy environment for all students, and other helpful information to help students make their first year at college comfortable and successful Morehouse said.
“I would encourage students to reach out if you have issues or anxieties. There are thousands of people available to help them,” Morehouse said. “Remember that all of the students are feeling the same way.”
Kevin Neighbors
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