Why is SOAR necessary for incoming freshman?
Dr. Denise Rode, in her chapter of the National Orientation Director’s Planning Manual (2004), notes that “orientation programs stand at the intersection of an institution’s recruitment efforts and its retention strategies.” Orientation programs like SOAR help students in making a successful transition to university life by providing the following: • information on campus support services and how to effectively utilize them • information on expectations we have of students as new members of our academic community • opportunities to enhance their social integration into the university community Providing an experience that helps them feel a connection to their campus community has been shown to increase retention of students, especially during the critical first weeks on campus when many make the decision whether they will return for another semester or year. Programs like SOAR serve as an important institutional resource for retaining students and assisting them in developing into educ
