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Title: Orientation Attendance
Subject: Student Life, Undergraduate Orientation                                
Policy No: SL:2017:01                                                                                          
Applies: University-Wide  
Issuing Authority:   Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
Responsible Officer:   Senior Director of Orientation and Student Leadership Programs
Adopted: 11/1/2012
Last Revision: 303/15/18
Last Reviewed: 303/15/18

 I. PURPOSE

1. This policy requires all entering undergraduate students to attend a new student orientation program.
2. New student orientation conveys important University policies and procedures, introduces students to available recourses and services, and provides the opportunity for interaction with other new students, current students, faculty and staff. Students may complete testing, advising, and enrollment as part of the orientation program or independently.
3. Orientation supports students in transition and meets various regulatory requirements. Substantial research is available on the student transition from high school to college and the unique needs of transferring students. Healthy adjustment to a new living and learning environment, and familiarity with University expectations regarding academic expectations and appropriate student conduct in their new community are important to their success. The University offers a multitude of resources to support student success, but it is difficult for students to be aware of all of our programs and services or know how to access them without explanation. Orientation seeks to provide this by: 
   1. Informing students of the key components to academic success as they begin their collegiate academic careers;
   2. Informing students of the academic as well as personal and professional conduct expectations of the University;
   3. Assisting students in meeting other students, faculty, staff and administrators;
   4. Providing a forum for students to interact with campus service providers and have their questions answered;
   5. Increasing students' awareness of who they are as learners and the importance that this plays in reaching their capacity for active and intentional learning;
   6. Teaching students about making healthy choices in their lives.
4. These objectives are important to student learning and success, and greatly impact student retention.
5. Additionally, orientation is one aspect of the University’s compliance with federal regulations, including, but not limited to, the following:
   1. Equal Opportunity: gender, race, religion, national origin, physical handicap (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504; Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)
   2. Program Non-discrimination: age, gender, national origin, physical handicap, race (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972; Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504; Age Discrimination Act of 1975)
   3. Privacy of Student Records: access to records (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974)
   4. Copyright (Copyright Act of 1976)
   5. Environmental Compliance (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976)
   6. Consumerism: academic programs, financial aid, persistence/graduation rates, tuition (Education Amendments Act of 1976; Student Right-to-Know Act of 1990)
   7. Campus Crime Reporting: crime statistics (Campus Security Act of 1990)
   8. Drug Prevention (Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988; Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989)
6. Many of these regulations have notification requirements, and we provide access to this information and explain Rowan University’s reporting and policy enforcement procedures during orientation.

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