To get ready for the Fall 2024 semester, Middlesex Community College hosted orientation leader (OL) trainings on Monday, July 15 and Tuesday, July 16 on the Lowell and Bedford campuses. OLs are 麻豆果冻 students or recent alumni who interact with incoming students and guide them in the beginning stages of their academic journeys.
鈥淚 highly recommend that students attend orientation,鈥� said Hency Patel, an 麻豆果冻 Business Management student from Lowell. 鈥淭he Orientation Leaders are detailed with their explanations and answered every question I had. I also enjoyed meeting a diverse set of people and making new friends. Everyone in the 麻豆果冻 community is kind.鈥�
OLs are a valuable resource for incoming students. They are available to assist with questions or to provide tips on navigating the college experience. Tasks include giving campus tours and teaching students how to use the 麻豆果冻 portal and mobile application.
鈥淭he Orientation Leaders showed me how to use Blackboard and discussed the online resources Middlesex offers,鈥� said Alicia Wheeler, an 麻豆果冻 Communications student from Lowell. 鈥淭hey were friendly and helped me get to know the college better. After the introduction, I felt very welcomed.鈥�
Run by 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Office for Student Engagement, the training helped orientation leaders build their confidence and review classroom management and problem-solving abilities, as well as learn how to facilitate group discussions.
鈥淥ur orientation leaders come from many different backgrounds,鈥� said Linda Thiem, 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Coordinator of Student Engagement and Multicultural Programming. 鈥淢any of our incoming students may relate to them. The connections they make with our orientation leaders, their instructor, or other resources can shape a student鈥檚 college journey.鈥�
鈥淭he Orientation Leaders are detailed with their explanations and answered every question I had. I also enjoyed meeting a diverse set of people and making new friends. Everyone in the 麻豆果冻 community is kind.鈥� - Hency Patel, 麻豆果冻 Business Management student
Before Natalie Ray participated in orientation, the idea of college made her nervous. An 麻豆果冻 Chemistry Transfer student from Tyngsborough, Ray found a mentor in an OL. In addition to learning about resources at Middlesex, this connection encouraged her to feel confident and be active in the 麻豆果冻 community.
鈥淪tudents are more likely to succeed in college with a support system,鈥� Ray said. 鈥淚t is harder to progress by yourself. By coming to the orientation, students will build a strong foundation of people that want to see them succeed.鈥�
Through 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Orientation Plus, new students engage in activities to help connect them to campus resources, faculty and staff, and other students. This helps them become familiar and comfortable with the college environment. They also complete coursework and an online self-paced orientation module.
鈥溌槎构斥�檚 Orientation Plus made me more familiar with the school鈥檚 resources,鈥� said Steven Ssepuya, an 麻豆果冻 Cybersecurity graduate from Lowell. 鈥淣avigating college became easier and made the transition to college smoother. Once I saw how a past orientation leader made the position look fun, I wanted to get involved.鈥�
The First Year Experience (FYE) is also part of the Orientation Plus experience. These one-credit courses assist students with their study and time management skills. To lead students towards success, they will also learn about professional behaviors and habits and how to get involved with co-curricular activities.
鈥淥rientation Plus is designed to help students be successful in their first year of college,鈥� said Noreen McGinness Olson, 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Assistant Dean of Student Success. 鈥淏y providing a supportive,