New student orientation gets underway

This fall’s new freshmen will get an in-depth introduction to campus life starting next week.

More than 7,000 new and transferring students plan to visit UW–Madison between now and mid-August during continuous two-day sessions of a summer orientation program for new and transferring students. The first session for new freshmen gets underway Sunday, June 18.

Related resource: SOAR Web site

The SOAR program, short for Student Orientation, Advising and Registration, introduces students and parents to UW–Madison, provides advising services for students and registers students for their first semester of classes on a campus that typically enrolls more than 40,000 students.

Peg Davey, SOAR director, says the program also helps new and transferring students learn about campus resources and expectations, and helps them make friends and meet other students, faculty and staff. Many parents of new and transferring students also attend SOAR sessions designed specifically for them. About 6,500 parents had signed up as of mid-June.

“We hope the parents learn about the campus, gain an understanding of how this transition will affect them and how they can support their students,” Davey says. “And we want students to be excited about coming here, and understand that they have opportunity and responsibility for creating their own experiences.”

For the first time, many SOAR activities for new freshmen will move from Union South to the recently reopened center of student services, the Red Gym, and the nearby Pyle Center and Lowell Hall, all on Langdon Street.

“What better venue for students to begin their UW–Madison experience than the Red Gym, our front door to the campus?” remarks Davey. “This new opportunity will improve the welcome and orientation of new students and parents.”

Housing officials have always hosted information sessions, but also for the first time this year, students will have a chance during SOAR to visit residence halls where they’ll live this fall.

Nearly all new students attend SOAR. The 30-year old program is coordinated by the university’s Office of Admissions; Campus Information, Assistance and Orientation; and academic advisors from all schools, colleges and the Cross College Advising Service. A leadership team drawn from these units does much SOAR planning.

“I continue to be amazed at how many staff, students and faculty pitch in to make SOAR work, and how much they enjoy it,” Davey adds. “And it is a wonderful leadership experience for students, who work at SOAR in many capacities. Student coordinators play a major role in planning and carrying out the student and parent orientation segments of SOAR.”