What are the best ways to onboard new students?

It is obvious a student experiencing anxiety while shifting to a new system. An orientation program that makes the child familiar with the system, buddy, resources, facilities, rules of a new system. And most important when this orientation is delivered by higher authority makes a huge impact on student for the system. A detail campus tour to reach out every facility of a system helps a child go comfortable with time.

Onboarding new students effectively is crucial for setting them up for success in their academic journey. Universities should provide new students with a dedicated portal or student area with specific onboarding information such as campus maps, academic calendars, accommodation details (if applicable), FAQs and contact information for key departments. It is also important to develop events such as webinars, tutorials, and intro days to assist new students.

It's important to personalize the onboarding process. This is where application data can help you. Use this data to personalize the experience. For example, when students check-in for new student orientation, acknowledge their interests they entered in their application immediately. Tell them that you see that they are interested in majoring in business and how you have a business advisor to help them. You also want to tell them that you appreciate how they traveled to campus from their hometown. Help them feel seen and appreciated from the very start. Student workers need to thank them for attending, while saying their name and giving them eye contact and a smile. This goes a long way with creating a sense of belonging.

These are great foundations for onboarding, but I believe that prioritizing tailored experiences in the onboarding process is paramount to student success. That may seem challenging or even impossible, but with the right onboarding software institutions can tailor onboarding easily. By allowing students to schedule meetings with academic advisors, find mentors, join student groups, and more all from a centralized platform, you can create a personalized and efficient transition. I feel like this approach helps students feel better prepared, but also empowers students to take ownership of their academic journey.

En mi opinión, se requiere de la incorporación de responsables del departamento de orientación en cualquier protocolo para la adaptación de nuevo alumnado. El contraste con los equipos docentes será otro pilar para que estos programas de orientación cuenten con la información necesaria para ser certeros en la adaptabilidad.

In my country, Ghana, this is one thing lacking in higher education. Even though faculty sometimes reach out to students, you barely find professors, and sometimes support staff, in their office during the stipulated times they have stated for such purposes. Nevertheless, I think you should not be limited by such circumstances. In my experience, emailing faculty and letting them choose the date, time, and venue for such sessions works well. Even if they have to reschedule, they mostly reach out to you without you having to ask, and most of the time, they give you the option to choose. Such counseling sessions have been the cornerstone of my success so far in my position.

En estos procesos de asesoramiento, desde mi amplia experiencia como docente, me ha resultado muy útil contar con iniciativas cooperativas en las que la incidencia de otros compa?eros puede ser un factor diferencial para que pueda llevarse a cabo una correcta adaptación.

When it comes to onboarding new students, academic advising plays a crucial role. It should be accessible, timely, and personalized to ensure a smooth transition into university life. Offering one-on-one sessions where students can discuss their academic goals and concerns can make a significant difference. Providing resources and guidance tailored to individual needs fosters a sense of support and belonging. Remember, a well-executed advising process sets students up for success from day one!

A orienta??o acadêmica desempenha um papel fundamental no auxílio aos novos alunos para que possam estabelecer suas metas educacionais, selecionar os cursos adequados e acompanhar seu progresso. Além disso, ela pode oferecer suporte acadêmico, orienta??o e encaminhamentos para outros recursos disponíveis. A condu??o desse processo pode ser feita por professores, funcionários ou mentores de pares, dependendo da estrutura e do modelo da institui??o de ensino. é essencial que a orienta??o acadêmica seja acessível, oportuna e personalizada, visando estabelecer uma rela??o de confian?a e colabora??o entre o orientador e o aluno.

Some universities do a very good job at engaging youth at younger ages, to expose them to various STEM and Arts-related opportunities. We shouldn't assume that all students want to attend university, whether they be 2-year or 4-year institutions. However, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't use all resources possible to equip children and youth with hard skills that they can apply in whatever field, academic or vocational, that they pursue. We can use mentoring programs help bridge the gaps between higher education institutions and the communities that source students from (yes, that language is intentional), so that programming and pedagogy are directly informed by and accountable to historically marginalized communities

I have found that learning communities tend to be successful in creating positive outcomes for students - especially first year students. Living-learning communities are even more impactful. One approach that I have seen work well is creating first year experiences and block scheduling around special interest groups that allow students to self-select into a group based on a topic or issue that is multidisciplinary in nature (innovation and entrepreneurship, social media impacts, etc.). Students in the SIGs take first year classes together and have class or seminars centered around discussion their SIG topic/issue. It's a great way for the students to bond and integrate their learning and develop critical thinking across multiple subjects.

When welcoming new students, fostering learning communities is key. These communities provide a supportive environment where students can connect with peers who share similar interests and goals. From my own experience, being part of such communities enriched my learning journey immensely. They offer opportunities for collaboration, discussion, and mutual support, enhancing both academic and personal growth. Encouraging students to participate in these communities helps them feel valued and engaged right from the start, setting the stage for a successful academic experience.

En el centro en el que llevo ejerciendo labores directivas desde hace 18 a?os, hemos ido perfeccionando medidas de acompa?amiento a los alumnos de nueva incorporación. La intervención y mediación de alumnos que ya están adaptados es lo más efectivo. Su intervención en los protocolos y que el dise?o de estos sea flexible resulta fundamental para que las adaptaciones resulten un éxito. Os animo a implementar estas medidas.

Comunidades de aprendizagem s?o grupos de estudantes que compartilham interesses acadêmicos ou temáticos comuns, participando de cursos, atividades ou vivências conjuntas. Essas comunidades têm o potencial de aprimorar o desempenho acadêmico, o engajamento e a reten??o de novos alunos, promovendo um ambiente que estimula o senso de pertencimento, colabora??o e apoio mútuo. Elas podem ser formadas com base em critérios diversos, como áreas de estudo principais e secundárias, disciplinas específicas ou temas de interesse, e podem envolver diferentes partes interessadas, como professores, funcionários e parceiros externos.

Social media serves as a double-edged sword in student onboarding. While it aids in integration, it poses significant distractions, particularly for those lacking self-regulation. Efforts should focus on optimizing social media use to ensure effective information dissemination amidst algorithmic complexities. Institutions should not only promote networking benefits but also specify official communication channels during orientations. Clarity on preferred platforms enhances onboarding efficacy not only for the institutions for the students.

En definitiva, me gustaría ampliar el debate hacia la incidencia de los propios alumnos en los procesos de adaptación de nuevos compa?eros.

Mi aporte invita a contemplar la importancia de la empatía, la oportunidad de valorar realmente al estudiante estando atentas/os a lo que expresan más allá de lo que dicen, cómo asisten al espacio áulico y plantearnos (desde la docencia) un acompa?amiento real desde lo humano y pedagógico (por supuesto reconociendo las limitaciones de la cantidad de estudiantes).