Union College News Release 7-17-09: Union College Hosts Final Orientation July 25

Samantha Sayer, an incoming Union student, gets caught up in an icebreaker at summer orientation.

Union College Hosts Final Orientation July 25

Union College will host its final new-student orientation Saturday, July 25, giving accepted students one last chance to “turn it on, leave it on.”

With a retro-MTV theme that takes students back to the ‘80s and the dawn of the music video era, Union’s summer orientation program serves up a combination of pop-culture fun and college-prep seriousness.

Personalized signs bearing the retro-MTV theme welcome students to Union College’s orientation program.

“There’s so much to do to help prepare new students for their first semester,” says Jerry Jackson, Union’s dean of enrollment management. “We get it all done, but we want them to enjoy the process. It’s fun, but it’s fun with a message.”

When students arrive, they’re greeted with personalized welcome signs designed using MTV-style graphics. A jumbo-sized remote control is attached to each sign.

“Right away, we’re telling them they’re in control of their experience here,” said Jackson. “We’ll be there for them all the way. But, ultimately, they have to own their college experience and make it work for them.”

For Samantha Sayer, an incoming Honor’s Community student from Berea, the message went even deeper.

“I felt like they were inviting me to stay and inviting me into their culture,” Sayer said of the themed program. “Getting the remote was like getting the key to the city.”

It can’t be all fun and games. Union’s Dr. Russ Sisson advises new students as they register for classes at Union.

A video montage created by Union’s student ambassadors and shown to new students and their families continues the theme. The video includes spoofs of MTV programs “Room Raiders,” “Rob & Big” and “Made.” In the Union version, “Room Raiders” becomes “Dorm Raiders;” “Rob & Big” features an unlikely pair of Union students who become close friends, similar to the real Rob and Big; and “Made” focuses on transforming a new student into a Union Bulldog.

Though the parodies are definitely intended to earn a few good laughs, they also help put new students at ease during a stressful transition in their lives.

“It was all hilarious,” said Sayer. “I spent 13 years in one school with the same 75 people, so I was nervous about coming and meeting all these new people. But I had a fantastic time.”

Students can still apply for admission to Union College and participate in the final orientation session on July 25.

Union College is a private liberal arts college related to The United Methodist Church and located in Barbourville, Ky.