The mission of Orientation Programs is to provide continuing services and assistance that will:
- aid new students in their transition to the institution
- expose new students to the broad educational opportunities of the institution
- integrate new students into the life of the institution
Orientation Programs seeks to accomplish these goals through the following programs and publications.
Summer Orientation Sessions
Each summer, Orientation Programs offers approximately 16 Orientation
sessions for new students and their parents. These sessions are two days for freshmen
and one day for transfer students, and are designed to assist with the
transition to UCSB from high school or other institutions. In previous
years, attendance at Summer Orientation has been approximately 96% for freshmen
and 77% for transfer students. The student and parent programs include large
and small group meetings (discussions, lectures, presentations, panels);
academic advising in small groups for students; tours of the campus, facilities,
and Isla Vista; meals in a campus dining commons; an overnight stay in
a campus residence hall (during freshmen sessions only, optional,
and dependent upon availability); student social activities; parent social hour;
workshops on student life; and assistance with fall course registration.
Beginning in mid-May, booklets describing the Summer Orientation program,
fees, and reservation procedures are mailed to freshmen and transfer students who have
returned a Statement of Intent to Register to the UCSB Admissions Office.
Summer Orientation booklets are also mailed to the parents of freshmen.
The same information is also included on the
Freshman,
Transfer, and
Parent Orientation sections of this website.
Winter Orientation and Advising
In late November, Orientation Programs presents a
Winter Orientation and Advising session for new transfer students who will enter UCSB at the start
of winter quarter. Students are invited by e-mail to attend this Orientation and must reserve space
in advance. The one-day session provides academic advising and information about
resources and student services to help with the transition to UCSB.
Fall Orientation
Prior to the beginning of fall quarter classes, Orientation presents a program for
new students who have not attended Summer Orientation.
This alternative to Summer Orientation
includes academic information and an introduction to important resources and student services.
Graduate Student Orientation
At the beginning of fall quarter, a program is presented
for new graduate students that includes important information about registration,
the Graduate Division, Graduate Students Association, Student Health, Counseling,
Career Services, and other campus resources. Panels on important graduate
issues are also offered.
Discovery Days
At the beginning of fall quarter, there are several days of events
to help new students become familiar with the variety of programs and services
available to them at UCSB. Activities include receptions, discussions, workshops,
tours of the campus, departmental meetings, and campus organization social events.
A calendar of the
Discovery Days
events and an invitation from the Chancellor to attend the
New Student Convocation
will be mailed to new undergraduate students at their permanent addresses in early September.
Kiosk - Student Handbook
Orientation Programs publishes the
Kiosk, the UCSB student handbook which
is a comprehensive guide to academic and co-curricular services and resources on campus and in the community.
The UCSB Kiosk is the only University publication of its kind and has won national awards. It is distributed
to new students during Orientation and Discovery Days, and is available for viewing online.
It is also for sale in the UCSB Bookstore for students who wish to purchase an updated copy after their first year,
or for parents and visitors interested in learning more about the campus.
Student Staff Positions
Each year during fall and winter quarters, Orientation Programs advertises
the availability of student staff positions.
Two students are hired from among previous staff members to act as
Student Coordinators, and approximately 28 students are hired as Orientation Staff advisors.
These positions are advertised in the Daily Nexus, fliers, letters to targeted groups
of students across the campus, and announcements in specific winter quarter courses.
Orientation Programs seeks to recruit a diverse staff representative
of the range of students making up the UCSB student body. Those who are
hired will participate in a three-month spring training program, and help to plan and
implement the upcoming Summer Orientation sessions. The process of students
interviewing, training, and working in these positions is valuable for
their personal and career development, as well as for the success of the
Summer Orientation program.