UAF orientation to connect students to campus, community

Submitted by Ginny Tschanz
Phone: (907) 474-2760
08/29/07

More than 800 University of Alaska Fairbanks students and their families are expected to participate in orientation activities Sept. 2-5. The three-day event is aimed at welcoming and acclimating new students to UAF, the Fairbanks community and Alaska.

Residence Life will open residence hall doors on Sunday, Sept. 2. Students can begin moving in at 8 a.m. "Rev It Up" activities coinciding with the move-in will take place in Hess Recreation Center in the Moore-Bartlett-Skarland complex. The event is designed to be a one-stop reception for incoming freshmen. This year, nearly 1,280 students will live in campus residence halls. Hundreds more will live in campus apartments.

Parents’ orientation will take place Sunday, Sept. 2. Student and Enrollment Services offices will be open for essential services Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Student orientation activities will continue over the following few days and feature various tours of campus and the Fairbanks area, lots of food, prizes, games, panels, open houses and much more.

"Orientation is about making connections and building communities," said Ginny Tschanz, special programs coordinator. "It’s a proven fact that a student who connects--with an orientation leader, an RA, a staff member, a professor, or a fellow student--within the first 6 weeks of their freshman year, is more likely to finish their degree. Students that engage themselves in student activities, student government, campus jobs, campus community and service opportunities are more successful in the classroom and more successful throughout their academic careers."

Classes at UAF begin Thursday, Sept. 6.

CONTACT: Ginny Tschanz, UAF special programs coordinator, at (907) 474-2760 or visit www.uaf.edu/orientation. Marmian Grimes public information officer, at (907) 474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu.

ON THE WEB: www.uaf.edu/orientation