New Student Orientation Wraps Up at CWU

July 29, 2008

ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- The final session of Central Washington University's Discover! New Student Orientation wraps up this week. By the time it's over, more than 1,770 incoming students and nearly 1,625 parents and guests will have visited Central to get to know the campus better. This year Central held seven sessions of Discover! throughout the month of July. The final session is Wednesday, July 30.

An important part of the transition to college life, the orientation experience allows students that are new to Central an opportunity to learn more about academic and student life on campus. Incoming freshmen and running start students take part in two-day sessions, while sessions for transfer students are just one day. At orientation, each new student is given a chance to meet with faculty, staff and current students and gather information on registration, financial aid, housing, dining, student life, academics, clubs, student employment, and many other programs.

"This year we placed even more emphasis on financial aid, scholarships and student employment," explained Nathan Sanden, assistant director of New Student Programs. "We really focused on showing all that Central has to offer."

This year's orientation incorporated some new activities including tours of Central's bookstore, the Wildcat Shop, and a session specifically for student athletes.

Geared toward the new student, orientation is also a learning experience for parents as well. Parents and guests attending Discover! receive an opportunity to talk with members of the Central community and get a personal glimpse into life on campus and the environment in which their son or daughter will be living. Orientation is designed to help parents better understand how they can assist in their child's transition to college as well as understand the changes they will experience as parents.

In addition, the two-day orientation gives students the opportunity to experience on-campus living first-hand. Students stay in on-campus housing and get a chance to visit more of campus, see some of the extracurricular activities that occur and get acquainted with what housing is like. The overnight stay is essential because a large percentage of incoming students reside on campus.

The next big event for Central's first-year students is the annual Wildcat Welcome Weekend, which is Sept. 19-22. For more information visit www.cwu.edu/~housing/

Media Contact:
Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations & Marketing, 509-963-1416, olint@cwu.edu

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of place bound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.