|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
For
Jounalists ![[GO]](../images/gobtn.gif){kind=small}
|
|
 |
|
|
University of Virginia Debuts Summer Orientation on July 8 June 30, 1999 -- More than 3,000 first-year and transfer students have signed up to attend the University of Virginia’s new summer orientation program. The first of nine two-day sessions designed to acquaint in-coming students and their parents with U.Va. begins July 8. More than 430 students and 490 parents are expected on grounds during the first session. During summer orientation, entering students will take language placement tests, meet with academic advisors to plan course schedules, register for fall courses, and learn from upperclassmen about student self-governance and extracurricular activities at U.Va. They will also hear from U.Va. officials about health and safety issues and gain their e-mail addresses and student IDs. During orientation, the new students will reside in Hereford College. They will have a chance to meet future classmates during many scheduled orientation events. One of the main goals of summer orientation is to help students feel at home at U.Va., according to Eleanor Sparagana, director of the Office of Orientation and New Student Programs. "They’ll be returning to a place that’s familiar to them in the fall, and they will more quickly be able to adjust to academic and intellectual life at the University," she said. An optional parent orientation will run simultaneously with the new student orientation. Parents will attend panels and view videos that describe academic and social life at U.Va. In addition, two resource fairs will provide parents with information about University services. As part of parent orientation, a speaker series open to the public will address a variety of topics in higher education. The schedule of speakers is: July 8 : "Defining the Roles: Parents, Students and the University" Annette Gibbs, director of the Center for the Study of Higher Education July 12: "Architecture at the University of Virginia: Ancient and Modern" Murray Howard, curator and architect for the Academical Village July 15: "A Parent’s Perspective of Challenges Facing Higher Education in Virginia" James Dyke, attorney and former Secretary of Education for Virginia July 19: "Paying for College: How College Finance is Changing" David Breneman, dean, Curry School of Education July 22: "The University Grounds: Past, Present and Future" Samuel (Pete) Anderson III, architect for the University of Virginia (Lecture and slides will be in Newcomb Hall Ballroom at 10:15 a.m.) July 26: "Coaching and Parenting Long Distance" Linda Bunker, Parrish Professor of Education, Curry School of Education July 29: "Dealing with Alcohol and Binge Drinking on College Campuses" Mark Earley, Virginia Attorney General Aug. 2: "The Library of Tomorrow" Karin Wittenborg, University librarian Unless otherwise noted, all speeches will begin at 10:15 a.m. in Old Cabell Hall Auditorium. In addition to summer orientation, students will participate in an enhanced fall orientation after arriving on Saturday, Aug. 28. Because the summer program will handle such basics as providing students with e-mail addresses and ID cards, the fall orientation will focus on academics, Sparagana noted. "The fall program will allow students to meet with faculty members and focus upon the intellectual life at the University," she said. Interest in the new summer orientation program has been high, Sparagana says. Approximately 3,065 students, slightly more than 86 percent of the entering class, have signed up to attend. About 3,070 parents are expected. For more information, contact Eleanor Sparagana at (804) 982-4555 or eas8n@virginia.edu. Contact: Katherine Anderson, (804) 924-1400. |
|
|
FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: please contact
the Office of University Relations at (804) 924-7116. Television
reporters should contact the TV News Office at (804) 924-7550. |
 |
|
Top news site edited by Jane
Ford (jford@virginia.edu); maintained
by Karen
Asher (kac@virginia.edu); releases posted
by Suzanne Raileanu (sr3r@virginia.edu). |