BENTONVILLE — Orientation has changed from a group affair to individual appointments at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
A pilot group of Pea Ridge students walked into the college Wednesday morning as high school students and left as college students, schedules in hand. They had applied to the college before their visit, but for some it was their first visit to the campus.
At A Glance
NWACC Orientation
Last year 1,200 students attended orientation at NorthWest Arkansas Community College. First-time students starting in fall or summer of this year can make orientation appointments from April 14 through Aug. 8. Orientation is optional for students taking a class and not looking for a degree.
Students can sign up for orientation by logging in to the myNWACC Connection account. Once logged in click on the resources tab and select new student orientation. The school’s admissions and advising center can be reached at 479-619-4167.
Source: NorthWest Arkansas Community College
Sadie Robertson, a senior at Pea Ridge High School, said she was still a little confused partway through the morning. She plans to major in early childhood education. Her scholarship applications are in, but she hasn't seen the money in her account just yet. She's been to the campus before, but never walked the halls and tried to find her way around. After going 13 years of school in Pea Ridge the idea of leaving is intimidating.
"I feel a little bit better," Robertson said.
College can be intimidating, said Ladonna Penner, scholarship director for Pea Ridge High School. Students need to picture themselves on the college campus, she said.
Last year her students had a tour and they got their student identification cards. This year students sat down with advisers and made out their class schedules before they left the campus. They logged into computers and saw where their financial aid will show. The 30 students she brought all met the requirements for the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship, she said.
College often comes down to what a student can afford, Penner said.
"You guys are here at the perfect time," said Ann Turner, enrollment specialist, while she greeted students.
July may be the deadline, but earlier is better when it comes to ironing out financial aid, Turner said. Some awards have money early on that won't be there in July and August, she said.
As Arkansas Challenge recipients the Pea Ridge students will need to schedule 12 hours for fall and 15 hours every semester after that, Turner reminded them. Changes to class schedules have to be made before the drop date or the scholarship won't pay, she said.
The financial aid explanation helped him because he's concerned with how to pay for college, Emanuel Munoz said.
Karen Ketterman said her daughter Heather Ray has been taking college classes in the culinary program. She's happy to have the paperwork filed.
"It's done now and we don't have to worry about it again. We can enjoy the summer," Ketterman said.
The change to individual appointments instead of group sessions is the result of parent and student feedback, said Todd Kitchen, vice president of learner support services. Students said they wanted to know where to start to get set up for school, Kitchen said. There will still be senior day, he said. An open house is planned for the fall.
College orientation isn't about the school anymore, but about the student, he said.
The change to a more individual concept isn't unusual at smaller schools, said Jennifer Joslin of the National Academic Advising Association.
"Studies show that the one-on-one connection makes all the difference for student success," she said.
Kitchen said he hopes the program helps both recruit and retain students. He estimates 20 percent of the college's freshmen graduated from high school the spring before they start at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
Students will ask her questions, but can be afraid to ask for help in an unfamiliar situation with new faces, said Jessica Woods, Pea Ridge English teacher.
"If they're left to do this on their own it kinda freaks them out," Woods said.
Students were able to do and not just see, Penner said, making the experience more personalized than a tour.
"They'll remember this," Penner said.
NW News on 04/03/2014