With larger session sizes and the new summer reading program,incoming freshmen will see changes to the orientation program thissummer.
Freshman Orientation Advising and Preregistration, or FOAP,includes all six two-day incoming freshmen orientation sessionsheld over the summer. FOAP begins with the first session June 10and concludes with the final session July 1.
The final chance for incoming freshman orientation for those whodid not attend one of the summer sessions is Aug. 16.
Orientation will undergo a few minor changes this year.
“I know we are up about 1,000 people this year as far asapplications to the University,” said Kelli Webber, coordinator oforientation and spring testing.
Because of this, the amount of students at orientation hasincreased from the traditional 560 incoming freshmen to 590.Another increase is in orientation leaders, made up of LSUAmbassadors. There are 23 Ambassadors this year, one more than theusual 22.
A new addition to orientation is the distribution of the summerreading book, “Fast Food Nation,” as well as a speaker on thesummer reading program. The program recommends that all incomingfreshmen read the book before they enter school in the fall.
Preparation for the sessions is currently underway. The 23Ambassadors serving as FOAP leaders moved into Herget Hall May 30and will stay there for the entire FOAP program. Herget Hall isalso where the students will stay if they choose to stay on campusduring their orientation visit.
Brandon Singleton, team leader of FOAP orientation, said theycurrently are putting together all the activities which will takeplace, and setting up Herget Hall with the theme “Viva LSU.”
“There will be a lot of early mornings and late nights for theAmbassadors until all the sessions end,” Singleton said.
Only around 150 incoming freshmen or less stay on campus duringeach session, said Webber, but there are benefits for doing so.
Singleton said staying on campus is a great opportunity forincoming freshmen to get to know some of their future classmates aswell as to get to know their orientation leaders on a more personallevel. It is also a time to ask the orientation leaders questionsand to get away from the exams and scheduling classes, SIngletonsaid.
Besides the typical scheduling of classes and placement exams,many activities take place throughout both days of FOAPorientation. The incoming freshmen can take ID pictures for theirTiger Card, attend an information fair with representatives fromvarious University departments, take campus and residence halltours and attend “Reality LSU” put on by the Dean of Students’office.
This is only the second year of Reality LSU, and the reactionlast year was positive with very high ratings given by the studentswho participated, said Angela Guillory, the coordinator of RealityLSU.
The 90-minute program includes powerpoint presentations, musicand skits, all depicting the theme throughout the program.
“The theme is basically ‘the last four years of your life andthe choices you made have led you here to LSU, and the next fouryears will guide your path to the future,'” Guillory said.
Topics discussed include alcohol, safety and predatory drugs,and the resources include the center for student leadership andinvolvement, student organizations and the health center, amongothers.
There are numerous benefits for freshmen who attend FOAPorientation.
“Orientation leaders help the students read catalogs, readschedule of classes books and give them tips on schedulingclasses,” Webber said. “A lot of students we see come throughorientation find their roommates for fall. It’s a wonderfulopportunity for them to bond with someone before they even gethere.”