Family/Guest Orientation

Family/Guest Orientation

Fairmont State University Orientation staff are proud to provide parents, family members, friends and other guests with a FREE Summer Orientation program designed specifically for them! Students and guests check-in together and participate in several activities together on Orientation day. At a point in the day, the Student and Guest programs run parallel and parents/guests are given special attention!

Below is a list of the special sessions and opportunities we offer families:

• Financial Aid/Scholarships Updates
• Public Safety and Campus Security Information
• Online Tools Workshop – we show you one-on-one how to maneuver through your student’s Unified College Account, familiarize you with Blackboard VISTA (where your student will submit homework, find grade postings, and more)
• Hear about the transition your family will undergo and how you can still play a vital, yet different role in your students’ life
• Housing/Commuter Info
• Tutoring/Special Needs Services
• Faculty/Family Seminar in which guests have face-time and open dialogue with professors 
• Enjoy a complimentary meal!
• Family members and friends are very important in this process and will have a big impact on the student’s college life. We hope to equip you through Orientation with all you will need to be ready for your new role! We are excited to partner with you to make you student’s college experience a success!

Mission Statement
The Orientation program hosted by Fairmont State University facilitates the transition of all incoming students and seeks to affect the schools' retention efforts through the following objectives:

• Outlining the schools' academic policies, procedures and expectations

• Providing a one-time, one-stop opportunity for students to finalize all business related to enrollment (completing placement tests, class schedule, textbook order; obtaining photo ID card; confirming arrangements with Financial Aid, Housing, etc.), eliminating inconvenient, repeated phone calls/visits

• Introducing students to support services and other resources offered by the institutions

• Fostering a sense of belonging by making students feel welcomed, connected to fellow students and faculty/staff, and comfortable with their new environment

• Making students aware of social and co-curricular opportunities, encouraging them to become an active community member

• Tutoring students and family members with regards to campus technology; familiarizing them with online tools such as Blackboard Vista and the student UCA Account