To get ready for the Fall 2024 semester, Middlesex Community College hosted orientation leader (OL) trainings on Monday, July 15 and Tuesday, July 16 on the Lowell and Bedford campuses. OLs are MCC students or recent alumni who interact with incoming students and guide them in the beginning stages of their academic journeys.
“I highly recommend that students attend orientation,” said Hency Patel, an MCC Business Management student from Lowell. “The Orientation Leaders are detailed with their explanations and answered every question I had. I also enjoyed meeting a diverse set of people and making new friends. Everyone in the MCC community is kind.”
OLs are a valuable resource for incoming students. They are available to assist with questions or to provide tips on navigating the college experience. Tasks include giving campus tours and teaching students how to use the MCC portal and mobile application.
“The Orientation Leaders showed me how to use Blackboard and discussed the online resources Middlesex offers,” said Alicia Wheeler, an MCC Communications student from Lowell. “They were friendly and helped me get to know the college better. After the introduction, I felt very welcomed.”
Run by MCC’s Office for Student Engagement, the training helped orientation leaders build their confidence and review classroom management and problem-solving abilities, as well as learn how to facilitate group discussions.
“Our orientation leaders come from many different backgrounds,” said Linda Thiem, MCC’s Coordinator of Student Engagement and Multicultural Programming. “Many of our incoming students may relate to them. The connections they make with our orientation leaders, their instructor, or other resources can shape a student’s college journey.”
Before Natalie Ray participated in orientation, the idea of college made her nervous. An MCC Chemistry Transfer student from Tyngsborough, Ray found a mentor in an OL. In addition to learning about resources at Middlesex, this connection encouraged her to feel confident and be active in the MCC community.
“Students are more likely to succeed in college with a support system,” Ray said. “It is harder to progress by yourself. By coming to the orientation, students will build a strong foundation of people that want to see them succeed.”
Through MCC’s Orientation Plus, new students engage in activities to help connect them to campus resources, faculty and staff, and other students. This helps them become familiar and comfortable with the college environment. They also complete coursework and an online self-paced orientation module.
“MCC’s Orientation Plus made me more familiar with the school’s resources,” said Steven Ssepuya, an MCC Cybersecurity graduate from Lowell. “Navigating college became easier and made the transition to college smoother. Once I saw how a past orientation leader made the position look fun, I wanted to get involved.”
The First Year Experience (FYE) is also part of the Orientation Plus experience. These one-credit courses assist students with their study and time management skills. To lead students towards success, they will also learn about professional behaviors and habits and how to get involved with co-curricular activities.
“Orientation Plus is designed to help students be successful in their first year of college,” said Noreen McGinness Olson, MCC’s Assistant Dean of Student Success. “By providing a supportive, nurturing environment complete with engagement programming, peer support, and educational guidance, students can achieve all of their academic and personal goals.”