Don’t quit that summer job just yet. After paying for tuition, fees, housing, food, books and supplies, the University has found another way squeeze a few more dollars out of students’ pockets.
Beginning this summer, incoming freshman and transfer students with less than 15 credit hours must attend an orientation session before they can step foot into a classroom. Attached to the new requirement is a minimum $60 fee that is added to the student’s PeopleSoft 8.9 account (see story, page 1).
Orientations are available as one or two-day events. The one-day event is $60 and students may bring a guest at no additional cost. The two-day event is $120, with $20 being added for each adult guest who wishes to attend.
Housing is also available for attendees of the two-day event. Students are permitted to stay at no additional charge; however, there is a $15 charge for each guest and they will not be allowed to stay in the same room as the student.
When all is said and done, should a student wish to attend the two-day orientation and bring both parents, they will be looking at a $190 bill.
At nearly $200, the effectiveness of orientation is not fully understood. Its purpose is to walk students through academic advising, give them an introduction to their prospective schools and to learn about campus life – all of which can be done at the student’s leisure without charge.
Each college has academic advisors who can be easily reached via phone or e-mail – both of which are found on their respective Web sites.
In the past, many students have gone without orientation and fared well in their college experiences. Newcomers may need a map or to ask somebody where their class is located during the semester’s first week, but these questions are easily answered.
Student services are also easily located, as there are many signs and advertisements posted around the campus throughout the year.
This is not to say orientation should be abandoned. However, if a student wishes to experience orientation, it should be at their will, not the University’s. With numerous costs already placed on the students, forcing them to pay for orientation doesn’t benefit them at all.
