REORIENTING ORIENTATION

THROUGH ONLINE SOCIAL

PEDAGOGIES
A New Student Orientation

HEIDI M. BAEZ, INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH

ANGELA FRANCIS, GENERAL EDUCATION
SHANNON GALLO, CAREER SERVICES
KRISTAL REYES, COMMUNICATION & MEDIA
JENNIFER SPARROW, GENERAL EDUCATION
City University of New York School of Professional Studies

CUNY School of Professional Studies

CUNY's first fully online undergraduate degrees

2,600+ credit-earning students
10

Bachelors Degree Programs

8 Masters Degrees
Certificates

23,000+ non-credit

Online Bachelors Students

8 Degree Programs
Completers
60

Male
27%

transfer credits on average

Average age 34 years old

Female
73%

Out of State,
11%

International,
1%

Part-Time

New York
State, 12%

New York City,

76%

Full-Time

74.25%

25.75%

Data source: CUNYFirst SPS_IR_REG_STUDS, Oct 27 2015

New Student Orientation: a Study

colleges to conduct rigorous evaluations of promising
innovations designed to improve students prospects for
baccalaureate or associate degree attainment
Student Success Grant, 2013
CUNY

Office of Academic Affairs

Funding for:
Peer

& Faculty Mentors, Facilitator and Analyst

Site Development
Media production

New Student Orientation (NSO)

Media
Welcome from the
Dean
Site Tour/Navigation
CUNY SPS Resources

Course Design
Syllabus
Assignments: e.g.

LMS Skills,
Reading &Writing

New Student Orientation (NSO)

Welcome: Opening
Webinar
Who are CUNY SPS
Students?
About Online
Learning
Faculty-led Course
Course Tour & What
to do on First Day
Intro to Orientation
& Tour

New Student Orientation (NSO)

Groups: Professions &

Discipline
Discussion Board

Introductions

Q&A

Time Management
Instrument, Tips &
Discussion
Feedback Survey
Certificate of
Completion

Career Services at CUNY SPS

Individualized support tailored to students unique

needs
Career Changers and Career Growers
Professional Development more than traditional
advising
Networking strategies and Coaching

Discipline/Major Orientation

Career Narrative

Career Narrative
Careers
Networking
The Pitch
Self-Reflection

Focus
Means to the end
Common interests
Relationship building
Coherence
Articulation
Aspirations
Uncertainties

Connecting Careers to Curriculum

Connecting Careers to Curriculum

Introducing Career & Student Services

For Student Success

CUNY

SPS support outside of classroom instruction

Early connections to staff / administration
Crucial early career development activities

Peer Mentoring
Modeling
Tips
Information

Discussion Boards
Communication
Blackboard navigation
Time Management
Courses & Faculty
Administration

Time Management Tips

Below is a short list of tips and things to consider as your pursue your degree at CUNY SPS.

Think about your goals and prioritize

Assess how long activities take, i.e. getting ready for work, commuting, cooking, etc.

Make lists whenever necessary of what has to get done and the best order in which to do it this may be for daily tasks, weekly
tasks, and even monthly goals

Build flexibility into your plans for any unforeseen obstacles

Be prepared to compromise

Figure out where youre going to do your work (e.g. home, after hours at work, public library) and make sure you have access
to the technology necessary to do your school work
Create and keep calendars to track your use of time and scheduled activities, including a family calendar
Maintain a support system, by informing your family and close ones about your return to school and schedule changes, for
encouragement and support and to help them feel included

Have people you can rely on to help you with routine tasks or chores, such as housekeeping or buying groceries

Make sure to make time for your loved ones every week

Engage your classmates and professors you are not alone

Be healthy and take care of yourself

Learn your habits and give yourself small breaks during study time

Schedule me-time

Time Management Instrument

Peer Mentoring
Modeling
Tips
Information

Discussion Boards
Communication
Blackboard navigation
Time Management
Courses & Faculty
Administration

Three ways to consider the role of

Orientation Facilitator

Instructor Role
Guide through Blackboard
Assist through Orientation Site
Assignment Grading & Feedback

Information Nexus Role

Students
Peer
Mentors

Help
Desk
Facilitator

Student
Services

Registrar
Bursar

Connector Role
Student to
Student
Student to
Self
Student to
Group

The study: Connections Retention

The study: Connections Retention

Mentors

Discipline

New
Students

How can we foster online

working adult students
connection to the their
intended degree and
each other?

Operationalizing

Interpersonal

Performance

Connections
Disciplinary

Persistence

Operationalizing

Interpersonal

Performance
(GPA)

Connections
Disciplinary

Persistence
(Retention)

Hypotheses

Interpersonal

Performance

Connections
Disciplinary

Persistence

Study Findings

Mentors

Discipline

New
Students

Actionable Research-Actionable Model

NSO
Model

NSO
Site

Analysis

Acknowledgements
Evgeniya Reshetnyak, Fordham University
Paul Russo, Long Island University
CUNY Office of Academic Affairs

Questions?
Contact
Angela.francis@cuny.edu
646.344.7336
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