By Manuel
Gamiz Jr., On-line Forty-Niner
The program, which began Monday, June 22, gives students the opportunity to learn about school services, correctly registering for classes and campus life at Cal State Long Beach.
Introducing students to CSULB by getting them on campus and empowering them with information and control of their education is what SOAR is all about, Zarn said.
"There is so much information that students need to know to get the plans for their degrees in order," Zarn said. "We will present it to them in a way that is cogent, and students can then follow along a linear path toward the completion of their degrees."
The first part of SOAR will provide students with information and advice about the registration process. Students will receive specific information about their majors and will have the opportunity to meet with department advisers.
Participants are given information about tuition, fees and other payments. The SOAR program also provides new students with the CSULB Catalog, Schedule of Classes and photo ID cards. Upon completion of advising sessions, the students may register for fall classes.
"We have a registration process that is normally pretty easy, but because of prerequisite checking, because of certain restrictions and because of transcripts that have not arrived, we can solve problems that students would have faced at home with no help," Zarn said.
The SOAR program helped to ease the tension of transferring to a new school, said liberal studies major Melissa Fichera, a transfer student from Santa Barbara City College.
"I had no idea what I was doing when I first got here," Fichera said. "Getting around campus was not much of a problem, but registering for classes was very difficult."
"[SOAR advisers] guide you everywhere you go, so it's not too difficult to get around. I think I would be at a disadvantage [if I did not participate] ... ," said computer science major Bruce Fraser, a transfer student from Saddleback Community College.
The second part of SOAR, which takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 18 for transfer students and Sunday, Aug. 23 for freshmen is designed to orient students to campus life.
"I understand that just to have the classes is great, but students need to think about ways that they can get access to services, internships, career development, student organizations and athletics," Zarn said. "This is what we try to introduce in part two of SOAR."
SOAR gives students the opportunity to get easy answers to difficult questions that may arise during the registration process at a new school.
"Students only have to come here one time. They don't have to make multiple visits to the campus, which cost money and time," Zarn said.