Students from the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics attending last year’s New Student Orientation. Photo by Lee Choo.
California State University, Northridge’s campus will be deluged with first-time freshmen, beginning July 30 with the launch of this year’s season of new student orientations.
Led by red-shirted new student orientation leaders, the incoming students will be welcomed to campus by CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison or her representative, and participate in a campus tour, a service fair and a series of group discussions with current students and campus leaders.
“New Student Orientation is an important program that supports the continuous process of integrating new students into the academic, social and cultural context of this university,” said Christopher Aston, assistant director of the Office of Student Involvement and Development. “We feel that a student’s initial steps should be inspiring, comfortable, enjoyable and spirited, to allow for the most comfortable transition into their collegiate journey.”
Orientation leaders train for hours to learn how best to assist and advise the new students. The students are divided into the one-day orientations based on their major and admission to the university.
This year, orientation leaders are expecting more than 5,000 first-time freshmen, 600 international students and 500 first-time transfer students.
The office also will host an orientation for parents of new students in October.