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Orientation Resources

New student orientation is an essential step in acclimating learners to the community college environment. Many institutions are using a combination of in-personal and online orientation tools and activities on a wide range of topics to help students feel welcome, become familiar with campus resources, and be successful in college.

This page features examples of orientation resources for you to explore. It will continue to expand as best practices are identified and shared. To submit a resource for consideration, please use the Best Practices Exchange submission form.

The content below is organized into four categories that can be accessed quickly by clicking the category title.

Examples of Orientation Offerings from North Carolina Community Colleges:

Cape Fear Community College's online orientation that features three main modules: Advising and Registration, Paying for College, and Services to Students. A Quick Facts brochure is also available, highlighting five keys for success and the building and room numbers of specific offices that provide student services. http://cfcc.edu/orientation/

Central Piedmont Community College provides both in-person and online orientation options. The online edition is divided into three sections, featuring information on the transition to college, choosing an academic and career path, and getting to know people and resources:
https://www1.cpcc.edu/ican/orientation

Durham Technical Community College offers multiple in-person orientation sessions and online answers to frequently asked questions: http://www.durhamtech.edu/html/current/orientation.htm

Fayetteville Technical Community College offers “Opportunity to Succeed,” a four-minute overview video of programs and services. Several program area videos are also available: http://www.faytechcc.edu/stuserv/admissions/Videos.htm

Forsyth Tech Community College offers both in-person and online orientations. The online component focuses on four major informational sections and concludes with an online survey to verify completion: http://www.forsythtech.edu/online_orientation/

Guilford Technical Community College provides self-paced online content to orient new students. Topics include Getting Enrolled, Paying for College, Being Academically Prepared, and Serving Students, in addition to information about campus tours: http://www.gtcc.cc.nc.us/nsorientation/index.html

Haywood Community College offers an online slide show to orient students: http://www.haywood.edu/orientation/Orientation%20Spring%202007_files/frame.htm

Pitt Community College offers a comprehensive overview of the college for new students through its “Orientation News,” http://www.pittcc.edu/students/Online_Orientation/OrientationNews.pdf

Rockingham Community College provides orientation content in its New Student Orientation Guide: http://www.rockinghamcc.edu/docs/Orientation_Guide_2006-2007.pdf

Southwestern Community College offers a comprehensive online orientation divided into eight major topics. Each section concludes with a short quiz to check for understanding. Students must login upon completion of orientation content to receive credit for completion: http://www.southwest.cc.nc.us/orientation/index.htm

Examples of Orientation Offerings from Community Colleges Outside North Carolina:

Carroll Community College offers a Virtual Orientation to supplement its onsite orientation. This well-organized tool highlights key information, in brief content segments. The ten sections can be viewed in any sequence; noted topics include “college lingo” and information for parents.
http://www.carrollcc.edu/studentlife/orientation/default.asp

Coastal Georgia Community College offers a straightforward, step-by-step approach for new students in its online orientation: http://www.cgcc.edu/studevserv/orientation/

The Community College of Philadelphia encourages new students to attend onsite orientation but a series of companion web pages are also available to provide answers to frequently asked questions and a host of resources on student success topics: http://www.ccp.edu/site/prospective/orientation/

Del Mar College’s New Student Orientation presents a broad array of topics in a comprehensive, sequential approach to online orientation: http://www.delmar.edu/orientation/

Georgia Perimeter College’s Online Orientation highlights special features such as the “Student Success Backpack,” a compilation of personal, academic, and career resources for student use:
http://www.gpc.edu/orientation/

Green River Community College’s Smart Start online orientation is designed to help new students “reach their goals faster and smarter.”: http://www.greenriver.edu/NSO/default.htm

Harper College offers a media-rich online orientation that is user-friendly and concise: http://www.harpercollege.edu/services/newstu/orientation/advising1.htm

Johnson County Community College offers New Student Orientation sessions daily in their Student Center, beginning on the hour and lasting 45 minutes. An online self-paced tutorial in PowerPoint is available for those who cannot attend in person: http://www.jccc.net/home/depts/5103

Lane Community College offers both in-person and online orientations for new students. The online orientation provides several notable features including more than 20 comprehensive study tip documents under the heading “Success Strategies.”: http://www.lanecc.edu/stuser/exprnso/10.htm

Long Beach Community College offers a well-organized online orientation featuring six modules on essential topics for new students. A quiz is available to check students’ knowledge and verify they’ve completed the modules: http://orientation.lbcc.edu/

Los Medanos College, an institution of the Contra Costa Community College District in California, offers a New Student Orientation Workbook; a thorough, user-friendly document for students: http://www.losmedanos.edu/studentservices/handbook/orientation-screen.pdf

North Harris Montgomery Community College District offers its students the opportunity to participate in an Online Enrollment Guide to ensure a smooth admissions and registration experience. Students can choose among customized orientations for post high school, dual credit or transfer enrollment: http://www.nhmccd.edu/templates/content.aspx?pid=54172

Phoenix College provides a six-section orientation in an online format for new students, parents and returning students. Information is presented sequentially and students complete an evaluation of the orientation content upon conclusion. Notable features include a glossary of college terms, a time management checklist template, and guidelines for course loads for working students: http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/orientation/index.htm

Tacoma Community College offers multiple “live” sessions for orientation as a companion to its step-by-step online content that guides new students through important first steps based on their individual situation: http://www.tacomacc.edu/currentstudents/newstudentorientation.aspx

Tulsa Community College offers a comprehensive online orientation that organizes content based on the educational background of a new student. Information about what to expect upon graduation is also included:
http://www.tulsacc.edu/page.asp?durki=2739

Orientation Reports, Articles and Related Resources

Related Professional Organizations