By APRIL REYNOLDS

akr011@latech.edu

 

For the sixth consecutive year, Tech’s orientation program has been rated the highest in the state.

Vince Miller, director of orientation and special programs, said the overall experience of the program is probably the main reason this is the sixth school year Tech has received a high rating.

“Our program is the oldest in the state,” Miller said. “So I would say a lot of it is that we have worked out the kinks.”

Pamela Ford, dean of enrollment management, said these results, released by the ACT Student Opinion Survey, rate the college orientation programs of all 14 of the higher-level institutions in the state.

“It is a survey that the Louisiana Board of Regents has been paying to use for six years,” Ford said.

Miller, who has been orientation director since 2001, said Tech’s program focuses on considering the needs of students. He said the registration process for orientation was revised five years ago, and the requirement of students staying on campus over-night was recently removed.

“We try to stay fresh on those types of areas,” Miller said. 

Heather Austin, a 2005 orientation leader and a senior finance major, said she and her fellow orientation leaders advocated that students be active.

“We encourage then to get involved and meet as many new people as possible,” Austin said. “[This helps] with the transition of breaking away from Mom and Dad and getting into college life.”

Miller said other great aspects of Tech’s program are evening entertainment and the effort orientation leaders put into their skits.

“We offer evening entertainment, and it is really successful, especially with ‘Presents,’” Miller said. “Student leaders are committed to learning those skits and being entertaining to students.”

Blair Bahlinger, another 2005 orientation leader and a senior speech major, said her entire staff has a lot of energy and dedication to Tech.

She said they used this to get the freshman students excited about Tech, especially in “Presents.”

“I think ‘Presents’ is just a great, fun thing for them because it shows them that we can be laid back and have fun, especially since Ruston is such a small town,” she said.

Bahlinger said she also believes the complementary nature of the orientation leaders adds to the success of the program. She said the selection process results in “a good balance of personalities.”

Miller said this process is critical, where out-going, involved students with a deep-rooted love for Tech are chosen.

He attributes high ratings and the quality of Tech’s program to the 16 orientation leaders of 2005.

“Those student leaders make this program,” Miller said. “They make the first impression.”