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In order to increase attendance rates and help graduation and retention rates, Academic Advising at Sacramento State has made freshman summer orientation a mandatory two-day affair.

The new approach is one of six plans aimed to “foster excellent academic and student programs” and is integral to Destination 2010, the campus’ initiative launched in 2004, which aims to make Sac State a destination campus for the West.

The switch from voluntary to mandatory orientation is necessary for students to familiarize themselves with the university’s services ?” including academic advising ?” and to meet with the heads of the departments, said Ginarose Perino, the orientation reservation coordinator.

Perino said many students think they know how the university works but find themselves lost when they get on campus.

“Many freshmen think because they know someone who went here, they don’t need assistance,” Perino said. But at orientation students get to learn more about the campus, while finding out the requirements of their major, she said.

The cost of orientation is $62 per student, $40 for each guest/parent and an additional $50 for an overnight stay in the dorms. The cost is not included in student fees and is not covered by financial aid.

Perino said it is possible for students to get the $62 fee waived but that the student must qualify for a fee waiver from Sac State to be eligible.

“I’ve approved at least 15 requests,” Perino said, “and if price is truly a burden, they’ll probably get in for free, regardless of their tuition situation.”

Katie White, a junior economics major, said she doesn’t like the new policy of mandatory orientation attendance and having students pay for orientation fees independently.

“It should be part of the regular fees,” she said. “I found orientation helpful, so it shouldn’t be subject to student money concerns.”

Mary Shepherd, the orientation coordinator, said the $62 pays for food, staff salaries and printed materials ?” including a student planner, campus maps and information pertinent for those two days.

“Our goal is to help students get situated at the beginning of college life, to get off on the right foot,” Shepherd said. “Our research shows that it’s better for students to attend orientation.”

Perino said retention of freshmen who participate in orientation is higher than for those who don’t. Participants also tend to graduate quicker compared to the nonparticipants, she said.

Jenn Santos, a student coordinator for the program, said even the “grumpy” students who don’t want to be at orientation still receive valuable information regardless.

Nevertheless, John Duncan, a senior majoring in kinesiology, said he would have been upset if he had to pay $62 for the benefits made available through orientation.

However, Duncan, a transfer student, said he wouldn’t have been forced to attend an orientation session because under the new policy, transfer student orientation attendance remains voluntary.

In persuading freshmen to participate in orientation, Shepherd said the university is choosing to be proactive.

“Without this program, students are just left to their own devices,” Shepherd said. “We want freshmen to be successful, and we provide things they should know.”

Freshman Ajit Singh didn’t go to orientation but wishes he had.

While Singh thinks the orientation fee should come from existing student fees, he said paying the extra money would have been worth it for him.

“I had a problem with the structure of the campus,” Singh said. “Finding my classes in the first week was difficult,”

According to Shepherd, approximately 1,800 students participate in orientation each summer and she expects 700 more to be there this summer with the implementation of enforced freshmen attendance.

According to the new policy administered by Student Affairs, students who don’t attend orientation will be barred from registering for classes.

Academic Advising, and Student Affairs, oversee the entirety of the orientation program.

The other new policies under Academic Advising, in various stages of implementation, include: increased advising services; a targeted advising model; mini-orientation programs for transfer students; increased overnight stay during freshmen orientation; student-guided campus tours; and a welcoming program for parents, according to the Academic Affairs’ website.

Norm Erickson can be reached at [email protected]