Orientation events welcome students to campus, community

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: 907-474-7902
08/27/08

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will welcome more than 700 new students this weekend at the kickoff of this year’s new student orientation activities. The four-day event, which runs Sunday, Aug. 31 through Wednesday, Sept. 3, will include workshops and activities for new students and their families, as well as opportunities for UAF and Fairbanks community members to welcome students to the 2008-2009 academic year.

"Incoming students’ participation in orientation will be invaluable in preparing them for their collegiate career," said new student orientation coordinator Terin Walton-Rantz. "We want to give them all the information they need to find resources across campus, secure student success at UAF and fall in love with the university they chose to attend."

Highlights of this year’s orientation events include workshops on making sound financial choices in college, a special late-night shopping event at West Fairbanks Fred Meyer, a concert by Salem and a show with hypnotist Daniel James. A full schedule of events, as well as information on how to register for orientation, is available online at www.uaf.edu/orientation.

Campus residence halls will open for students to begin moving in at 8 a.m. Sunday. Student move-in includes "Rev It Up" activities in Hess Recreation Center in the Moore-Bartlett-Skarland complex from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is designed to be a one-stop resource for incoming freshmen. It includes information on academics and student life, and alumni and community volunteers will be there to help students move into their new homes at UAF. This year, more than 1,000 students will live in campus residence halls. Hundreds more will live in campus apartments.

Rev It Up activities are often the first impression a freshman has of the UAF community, said Jamie Abreu-Napolski, first-year experience coordinator for UAF.

"To meet a faculty, staff or community member willing to help them lug their items up to a room is a lasting positive impressing," she said. "It allows them to see faculty, staff and community members in a different light and allows us to make a lasting impression of a helpful community and university.

The weekend’s events will also include family orientation on Sunday, Aug. 31. Student and Enrollment Services offices, such as the business office, financial aid, residence life and the registrar’s office, will be open for essential services Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Classes at UAF begin Thursday, Sept. 4.

CONTACT: Terin Walton-Rantz, new student orientation coordinator, at 907-474-2760 or via e-mail at terin.waltonrantz@uaf.edu. Jamie Abreu-Napolski, first-year experience coordinator, at 907-474-1885 or via e-mail at fnjra@uaf.edu. Marmian Grimes public information officer, at 907-474-7902 or via e-mail at fnjra@uaf.edu.

ON THE WEB: http://www.uaf.edu/orientation/

MLG/8-27-08/023-09