|
SOAR
offers introduction to CSULB
By
Melissa Duque
Daily Forty-Niner
It
is that time of year again, when signs for
SOAR parking are found all over. campus.
Freshmen and transfer students are getting
ready for the fall session as the school
prepares itself for the influx of students.
The
division of student services under the Student
Transition and Retention Services department
runs SOAR. According to the SOAR Web site,
SOAR is a "comprehensive student orientation,
advising and registration program that is
intended to ensure the smooth transition
of first-time freshmen and transfer students
to California State University, Long Beach."
The
program is composed of two parts: advising
and registration, as well as an orientation
to campus life. SOAR provides an opportunity
to register early for classes and advises
students on what the general education requirements
are for CSULB.
"The
main reason I did SOAR was to get my classes
at the earliest point in time possible,"
said Kristin Sachiko, a freshmen English
major. "I really wanted to walk around
the campus and get a feel for the place,
which SOAR allowed me to do."
As
part of SOAR, there is the opportunity for
students to stay over one night in the dorms
so the participants may get a better understanding
of the campus. Presentations are given from
various organizations including the Associated
Students Incorporated and some of the Greek
houses.
"The
overnight is a great opportunity for the
students to get to meet each other and get
to make connections, which is something
a lot [of] people can't do right from the
start," said Michelle Cooper, an orientation
leader. "When students see their orientation
leaders or other participants at SOAR on
campus it's a comfort for them."
However
not all students enjoyed the SOAR program.
Christopher
Hoskins, a junior aerospace engineering
major said, "I think SOAR could've
been a lot more useful if they focused more
on how to register rather than trying to
recruit everyone into clubs and fraternities.
I spent more than half the time listening
to recruitment pitches from those groups."
"They
needed to have spent more time orientating
and explaining how to register," said
Hoskins. "I think the majority of the
orientating needed to go to CSULB was covered
in University 100."
In
an attempt to get students to be more aware
of their campus, SOAR has a separate approach
for those students participating in the
overnight.
Students
are given a card and a list of places that
they could learn more about. The students
pick a location and with a group get the
opportunity to meet those involved, sign
up for more information and then get a stamp
on their cards that say they completed it.
On Tuesday June 22, some participants interested
in Associated Students were greeted in the
office by Treasurer Rebekkah Smith and Administrator
Lauren Leahy and given a tour.
"I
had a great time volunteering and that's
why I continue," said Cooper. "What
I do is vital because it's a great service
for the school to tell the students how
much I love the school and for them to understand
Beach Pride."
To
become involved with the SOAR program, students
can volunteer to be orientation leaders.
Applications are available at the SOAR office
and on their link on the school Web site.
|
