New students get first taste of campus life this week

If you want to preview next year’s freshman class at UW–Madison, now’s the time to come to campus.

More than 5,800 students and their parents plan to visit UW–Madison between now and Friday, Aug. 13, during continuous two-day sessions of a summer orientation program for new and transferring students. The first session for new freshmen got underway Sunday, June 20.

Getting oriented with SOAR Facts about UW–Madison’s summer orientation program

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.

“Most of all we want them to be excited about coming here, and understand that they have opportunity and responsibility for creating their own experiences,” Davey says.

A higher-than-usual number of parents also have accepted UW–Madison’s invitation to attend SOAR sessions designed specifically for them. Davey says an even number of students and parents typically attend SOAR, but this year many are bringing both parents. Nearly 6,600 parents had signed up as of mid-June.

“We hope that they learn about the campus, gain an understanding of how this transition will affect them and how they can support their students,” Davey says.

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.

This year, the direction of SOAR has been transferred to the Office of Admissions to strengthen its connections with other student service leaders. The move is part of a strategy to establish a more effective, integrated home for the leadership of SOAR, says Robert Seltzer, UW–Madison director of admissions. Davey, who previously worked as part of the Office of the Provost, moved with the Office of Admissions to its new facilities at the Red Gym.