June 30, 2009
New
Student Orientation is in full swing at St. John’s University and
students, faculty and administrators are all on hand to welcome the
new students and help guide them in their new role as students of
St. John’s University.
During the three-day orientation, students will meet their fellow
classmates, tour the campus, get acquainted with their academic
advisors in the Freshman
Center, visit the newly constructed Office of Student
Financial Services and participate in ice breakers and games as
part of their formal introduction to St. John’s.
“The program introduces students to their University family and
allows them to interact with faculty, staff and administrators who
will be instrumental to their success throughout college,” says
James Salnave, Associate Dean for Student Development.
Orientation sessions, which run until August 5 on the Queens campus
and August 24 on the Staten Island campus, are three days of
non-stop fun and excitement. The first day is University Day, when
the students listen to presentations about what each department in
the University offers including the Office of
Health and Wellness and the Department of
Public Safety.
The second day is Mission Day, when students are presented with “A
Taste of Service” and set out to participate in several community
service projects throughout the metropolitan area, including
stocking the food pantry at St. John’s Bread and Life soup kitchen
or watching children at Momma’s House, a home for young mothers and
their children on Long Island. Once the sun sets, students dance
the night away on the “All Aboard” Spirit of New York boat cruise
complete with DJ and two dance clubs.
It is a new St. John’s tradition to designate the third and last
day of orientation as Technology Day. All new students receive
their own state-of-the-art Lenovo ThinkPad X200 laptop and a
tutorial of St. John’s student portal, St. John’s Central.
“Orientation gave me a better understanding of the mission and
overall objective of St. John’s University. It was also a good
opportunity to meet current students and participate in a service
activity together. You could really tell that students genuinely
enjoy community service, and giving back to the community is a
large part of being a student here,” reflected Adbo Alkaifi, a
visual arts major in St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences who will be entering his sophomore year in the fall.
Parents and Guardians, You’re
Welcome Too!
Parents and guardians also have a chance to join their students and
live a day in the life of a college student during Parent
Orientation. This two-day orientation gives parents and guardians
an in-depth look at what they can expect during their St. John’s
student’s first year of college and an introduction to the
departments that ensure their student has a smooth transition into
college life.
For more information about the New Student Orientation, please
visit the
Orientation Web site or call the Office of New Student
Orientation (718) 990-5353.