CSC launches new online orientation
CHADRON – Chadron State College recently developed an online orientation with Advantage Design Group to assist all incoming students. The last time CSC offered in-person orientation events was the summer of 2019. According to Stephanie Alfred, project coordinator, CSC’s Orientation team attended an Orientation Professionals Institute in October 2019 and developed plans to revamp Orientation for Spring 2020.
Alfred said when public health guidelines were implemented in March 2020, the team decided to cancel in-person summer events.
“We partnered with Innovative Educators to develop an Online Orientation in 30 days. This allowed us to reach our students without bringing them on campus until August. At the conclusion of Move-In, we revaluated the Innovative Educators product and decided to move forward with Advantage Design Group instead as their product provided a more robust and interactive platform,” Alfred said.
The topics covered in the platform are: Academic Expectations, Student Portals, Campus Living and Safety, and Paying for College. Each section has an interactive quiz at the end to test students’ knowledge. A final feedback survey includes a checklist of next steps for students and links to items of interest. The total time for the orientation program is between 30 to 60 minutes.
Alfred said since the platform was activated in early April 2021, 150 prospective students have completed it.
“We are asking students to complete it before arriving for their campus orientation event, if they are attending. The Orientation Team’s goal is to have 90 percent of incoming students complete the module,” Alfred said.
Director of Housing and Residence Life Austen Stephens is excited about the jump start online orientation provides.
“It gives students and their families the flexibility to acclimate to CSC from the comfort of their home. The user-friendly platform is designed to reduce the stress and anxiety of a major life event: transitioning to college,” Stephens said.
The Advantage Design Group film crew spent two days at CSC in December 2020. Six CSC students participated in the project: Olivia Bryant of Anselmo, Neb., Shealyn Hager of Rapid City, S.D., Drew Kurtenbach of Rapid City, S.D., Jake Norris of Fort Morgan, Colo., Paige Seidler of Hermosa, S.D., and Damien Zuniga of Colorado Springs, Colo.
“I would like to thank the student talent in our videos, and our campus partners who assisted us in reviewing the content and moving this project forward. This platform will allow us to reach a greater number of students and get them ready to be successful members of our campus community,” Alfred said.
—Tena L. Cook, Marketing Coordinator
Category: Campus Announcements, Campus News