Andrew
Garner, Perspectives Editor
posted
on April 20, 2006
To
some, the TROY 1101 orientation class is a waste of time, but not
so to most students who found the orientation class helpful in different
ways:
* “It helped me with networking,” said Cody McLeod,
a freshman elementary education major from Luverne.
* “It was helpful because we learned a lot about the library,”
said Derek Wilson, a freshman undecided major from Honoraville.
* “It gave you a way to ask the administration questions,”
Wilson added.
*”I actually learned a lot in the class. The teacher helped
out a lot,” said Jennifer Hutson, a senior journalism major
from Enterprise.
*”I enjoyed the class and the teacher Ms. Rodgers,”
said Melissa Howlett, a freshman social work major from Highland
Home. “She was great. She helped me make a decision on my
major,”.
* “It is good stuff to know of the university. The class is
pretty well set up,” said Kari Kieszek, a junior psychology
major from Ft. Walton Beach.
“Students often end up with a faculty or staff mentor after
taking the class,” said Eleanor Lee, director of instructional
support services.
Other colleges and universities in the state have an orientation
class in their schedules.
University of Alabama, Auburn University and Birmingham-Southern
college are included among these.
At Birmingham-Southern, they offer it as orientation to the college
but not as a class.
TROY 1101, which is required for graduation, provides a number of
different benefits to students.
First of all, it gives students a process to learn about the campus
in an organized way.
Students also learn how to manage their money by planning budgets.
Time management skills are also stressed.
Orientation’s main goal on campus is to familiarize students
with the resources of the campus, its history and views.
In addition to providing accurate information about the university’s
history, it also gives students a better understanding on the organizational
structure on campus.
“I really enjoy teaching the class. It helps me understand
how to serve students,” said Susan Pierce, director of student
development.
After each term, teachers give out surveys to get feedback on how
to improve the class.
The survey itself allows students to voice their opinions on how
the course can be better taught or how it can be a better resource.
“Students overwhelmingly find the course helpful,” Lee
added.
According to Lee, 90 percent of upper classmen found the course
helpful at the start of their college career.
Lee said that a vast majority of students also found it helpful
later on in college.
At the beginning of every year, instructional services holds a training
seminar for interested faculty or staff who want to teach the course.
“If you care about students, than you put them where they
need to be in order to be successful,” she added.
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