First-year students at The University of Iowa won’t be lost when classes begin in the fall. That’s because our new On Iowa! program will welcome them to campus like never before, immersing them in the culture and introducing the traditions that define the Iowa experience.
For three days—Aug. 19–21—students will receive a comprehensive introduction to university life and an education about the skills necessary to succeed within the classroom and beyond.
“It’s the chance for students to really get connected to the University and with their classmates early, when it’s all about them,” says Sarah Hansen, director of assessment and strategic initiatives in the Office of Student Services. “This whole experience is structured to be appropriate for incoming first-year students.”
During On Iowa!, students will get to know classmates, interact with current students, and become familiar with the expectations of The IOWA Challenge.
“It will be a chance to work with experienced students in small groups to really get to know the campus and what it means to be a successful Hawkeye,” Hansen says.
Goal setting, safety, and wellness will be emphasized, but there will be much more, including an opportunity to take the field at Kinnick Stadium, where a photo will be taken of the Class of 2015. A surprise keynote speaker is scheduled for Friday evening, while a convocation on the Pentacrest and a block party at the home of UI President Sally Mason will cap off the event on Sunday afternoon.
On Iowa! complements and builds on the foundation laid at Orientation, which offers 14 one-and-a-half-day sessions throughout the summer. Orientation has been restructured to dovetail with On Iowa!. Students will meet academic advisors and plan schedules for the fall.
“It will be academically focused,” says director of orientation services Jon Sexton, “but on the first day our primary goal is to give students the opportunity to get to know campus as well as each other.”
There will be games and activities, including Explore Iowa, which will challenge students to seek out different landmarks on campus. And they’ll get to check out our state-of-the-art Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, which opened in 2010.
Because we’re offering more sessions, Orientation groups will be much smaller—around 300 students, compared to more than 450 in the past.
“Students are going to get more individual attention, more time to ask questions,” Sexton says. “It will be a much more personalized experience.”