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by JAY WAIDE
Intern News Reporter
Phase One and Phase Two of Appalachian State University’s orientation program are now developed and coordinated through the Academic Advising and Orientation Center (AAOC).
Previously the AAOC was responsible for Phase One of orientation, while the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership (CSIL) handled Phase Two of orientation.
“The development
and coordination of Phase Two is completely being handed over to
[AAOC],” Jim L. Street, associate director of CSIL said.
Street,
who has directed the Appalachian Orientation Leader Corps (APPOLCorps)
since 1996, is confident the transition will benefit incoming students,
APPOLCorps leaders and faculty.
“There are a lot of things that can be done now that the two offices have merged together,” Street said.
He said
the decision to shift responsibilities arose after a committee was
assembled and reviewed the orientation programs of Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, James Madison University, Radford
University and other models.
Even
though AAOC is now entirely in charge of the orientation process, the
office will still rely on advice from Street, R. Clinton Marsh,
assistant director of the AAOC said.
The
coordination between the offices allows Marsh and the APPOLCorps staff
to become familiar with Phase Two and develop ideas for the upcoming
orientation.
“Everything’s
kind of on the table,” Marsh said. “Nothing’s set, but we have plenty
of ideas right now. First and foremost we need to get a better
understanding of Phase Two.”
Marsh
said this is the first year Phase Two and APPOLCorps will incorporate a
program specifically designed for incoming transfer students.
“There’s a much larger emphasis on Phase Two for the transfer student,” Marsh said.
Jamie L. Plummer, junior elementary education major, is the transfer coordinator for APPOLCorps.
As the
first coordinator specifically appointed for transfer students, Plummer
said she will take a behind-the-scenes approach and provide support to
the leaders.
“The coordinators lay the foundation,” Plummer said. “It’s the leader’s job to build the house on the foundation.”
Plummer said this year’s APPOLCorps includes approximately 240 students, 50 of which returned from last year.
The
group will consist of nine coordinator groups – eight focusing
specifically on incoming freshmen and one devoted to transfer students.
“I think
for a student coming in, [the orientation process is] a connection, a
connection to the university,” Marsh said. “I think it’s also there to
give students a chance to get excited about the campus.”
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