HOW MIGHT UMD IMPROVE ORIENTATION FOR NEW STUDENTS?

ANNIE- I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE FUN ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN. ACTIVITIES THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO GO. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE GAMES, MAYBE EVEN CONTESTS. THE DANCE WAS FUN BUT MAYBE A REAL DJ AND A COOLER SPOT. MORE OF A CHOICE IN ACTIVITIES: CONTESTS, OBSTACLE COURSES, AND FUN GAMES. BULLDOG WELCOME WEEK NEEDS TO BE AWESOME, BECAUSE IF IT IS NOT FUN FOR STUDENTS, THEY WILL NOT WANT TO STAY. THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO ARE KEY FOR A STUDENT BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO CHANGE THEIR MIND ABOUT THE COLLEGE AND WHETHER IT IS ENJOYABLE OR NOT.

MEG- I THINK THAT WHEN THEY SAY YOUR ROCKSTAR GROUP IS REQUIRED THAT IT'S STUPID BECAUSE I DID NOT GO AND I DID NOT GET IN ANY TROUBLE. I THINK MORE STUDENTS WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THEIR ROCKGROUP IF THEY PROVIDED YOU WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION AND HAD SCHEDULED ACTIVITES PLANNED THAT WOULD BE FUN AND ENJOYABLE. THE FIRST FOUR DAYS OF WELCOME WEEK WERE SO UNENJOYABLE FOR ME I ALMOST DECIDED TO GO BACK HOME. THANKFULLY I DIDN'T. ROCKGROUPS SHOULD BE REQUIRED BECAUSE ITS A GREAT AND EASY WAY TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

ELLIE- I THINK THAT THE HOUSING AND MOVE-IN FOR THE FALL SEMESTER OF 201O AND UMD WAS VERY COMPLICATED AND NOT THROUGHLY THOUGHT THROUGH. A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS DID NOT HAVE PERMANENT HOUSING OR THEY DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE ON-CAMPUS, DUE TO THE SHORTAGE OF DORM ROOMS. INSTEAD, THEY ARE ALL LIVING AT A HOTEL FAR OFF CAMPUS CALLED "THE EDGE". THE MOVE-IN PROCESS WAS VERY EFFICENT. MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE VOLUNTEERING WERE HELPFUL AND MADE THE MOVE-IN VERY FAST.