June 27, 2002
Contact: Jill Klepach (509-963-1491/fax 509-963-2301/email: klepachj@cwu.edu)
ELLENSBURG, Wash. - As many as 1,300 incoming Central Washington University freshman are expected to attend one of four two-day Summer Orientation 2002 sessions scheduled June 27 through July 12 on the Ellensburg campus. That is a 200-student increase from last year.
“The importance of orientation programs is to connect the student with academic life here at Central – including academic advising, registration and meeting faculty,” Stacy Klippenstein, director of residence life and new student programs, said.
New to orientation this year is the “Parents in Transition” presentation. It’s designed to help parents understand how they can assist in their child’s transition to college as well as understanding the transition parents will also experience.
“We want parents to walk away from orientation feeling very comfortable, both in that their child made the best college choice and that they got all their questions answered,” Klippenstein said. “We want them to feel that their child’s academic pursuit is very important to us and demonstrate our campus cares about both their safety and involvement.”
Also new this year is a program for non-tradition students and a “Topic Tables Lunch.” The lunch program will offer incoming students the chance to meet with faculty, staff and current students to discuss issues such as diversity or academic interest areas in university residence halls.
“This is a chance for parents and students to pick a topic and ask more questions or learn more about what we do at Central,” Klippenstein said.
In addition, orientation gives students the opportunity to experience on-campus living first-hand.
“A two-day orientation allows students to visit more of campus, for the child and parent to see some of the extracurricular activities that occur and to discover what housing is like by staying overnight,” Klippenstein said. “The overnight stay is crucial because 92 to 93 percent of the incoming freshman class will reside on campus. It gives students an idea of what life will be like during the academic year.”
In addition, one-day orientation sessions for incoming CWU freshman and transfer students will be held July 19, 29, and 26 and Sept. 9.
