Welcoming our new Owls
Interview by Kelsey Gullege
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These OTP initiatives will be spearheaded by the department’s director, Dr. Jake Gross, who has been managing operations for the past six years.
Q. How does Orientation and Transition Programs specifically help first-year students?
A. Students get what they need out of orientation. Some students are first-generation students and do not understand the credit hour system, so we try to engage those students in conversations about basic academic issues. We try to be all things to all students as much as we can, but, ultimately, our mission is to assist students and their family members in making a successful transition to Kennesaw State. This will allow them to meet their goals and eventually graduate from KSU. There are elements of school spirit, school traditions, and pride that we
try to include; however, those are not our
primary focus. We always try to be open,
evolving what we do to meet the ever-changing
needs of students and parents, and we try to
anticipate what those needs might be.
It is a busy year for the Department of Orientation and Transition Programs (OTP). In January 2015, as a result of the SPSU/KSU consolidation, OTP officially joined University College. Starting this summer, the department will launch efforts to enhance the new student and transfer orientation experience, manage multiple orientation dates, and navigate between two campuses.
Q. What is included in the transfer student orientation?
A. Transfer student orientation has
been an encouraging experience for our staff over the past two years.
Previously, we made excuses for transfer students in that we would say, "Oh, they are too busy; they do not want to be here, so let's just give them the basics.” However, two years ago, we realized that they need just as many programs and services as the first-year students. The only difference is in the academic advising of the first-year requirements. We had some conversations in our small groups and developed a more specialized academic advising session because each student comes in with his or her individual needs. Transfer students are in a period of transition in life and academically, not the high-school-to- college transition but rather an institution-to-institution transition.