Before attending classes on September 5 at Central Connecticut State University, all first year students must participate in an orientation program during the summer.  This year’s incoming class will experience a full day’s program.

This summer’s orientation program will provide incoming students and their parents with a preview of college life.  This program has been designed to familiarize students with the university environment as well as to provide the opportunity to develop support networks to fulfill academic and social needs.  Students can tour the campus, buy course textbooks, check out the Student Center, meet with professors, and do a lot more.  For family members who attend orientation, a special session is offered where parents can get tips on transition issues and meet the faculty and staff.  In addition, students and guests are able to enjoy a college luncheon.

“Besides where to eat, students want to know their way around campus and take care of  housekeeping tasks in advance.  Our orientation program will help students begin their year prepared and with confidence," says Amanda Gionfriddo, one of the student orientation leaders at the university.  Along with faculty and staff, ten orientation leaders have been trained to assist in guiding students and parents during the six orientation programs scheduled for June and July (June 28, July 2, July 12, July 16, July 19 and July 24).  The orientation programs will run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The orientation program at Central also helps to make parents feel more comfortable about their student’s transition.

One growing responsibility with which students struggle during their college career is the “financial facts of life.”  This summer the Orientation and the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA) staff will collaborate in featuring a workshop on Financial Literacy.  Mark Zampino, from CSCPA, and Camille Murphy, from Murphy, Sloman & Company, will present strategies for achieving financial literacy.   Specific areas that will be addressed include budgeting, paying bills, credit card debt, student loans, and more.  CSCPA will distribute to each student a CD entitled “Me, Myself, My Money,” which will address the topic of financial literacy in greater depth.

Who are the first-year students at Central?  If this year’s class resembles the 2006 incoming class, according to the CIRP Freshmen Survey, these students will be of traditional college age, live within 50 miles or less from the university, and will have maintained a B or better grade average in high school.  Their reported reasons for choosing Central are the University’s excellent academic reputation and the reasonable cost of tuition and fees.  Students in turn expect to cover some of their college expenses through private grants and student loans.     

We look forward to summer orientations. It is a great opportunity to show new students that we care about them and to connect them with offices and staff that will help them meet their university needs.  For additional information contact Ramon Hernandez at Central at 860-832-2372 or advisingmail@ccsu.edu.

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