Liberal Studies Advisors Ease Transition to College Life during SOAR
Every summer Liberal Studies Department advisors Nancy de Haro, Gabriel Rodriguez, and Aleah Garnica (not pictured) work to ease the transition to university life for College of Education Liberal Studies first-time freshmen and transfer students through CSULB’s Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) program. SOAR is the university’s orientation program designed for first-semester freshmen and transfer students. Historically, the program has been an in-person, high-energy, all-day event with students meeting advisors, setting semester schedules, meeting peers, participating in activities, and having a university orientation. This summer however, SOAR needed to switch modalities and offer incoming students these experiences virtually.
The College of Education’s Liberal Studies advisors were well-prepared and positioned to meet this change. In winter 2019, the Liberal Studies Department, along with a few other departments across campus piloted an online SOAR event specifically for transfer students. With SOAR moving exclusively to a virtual modality this summer, Liberal Studies advisors were able to swiftly and adeptly pivot relying on their early experience gained through the virtual winter SOAR pilot.
For the new virtual modality, all students admitted for Fall 2020 were required to enroll in three online programs including a pre-SOAR program of online course modules meant to introduce students to the campus community, provide valuable resources and services, share degree requirement information and give an overview on how to register. A second course module introduced students to their major and department, their program requirements, and provided general recommendations for class scheduling. These two online modules were made available in May 2020 giving students ample time to read through the information at their own pace before attending the virtual SOAR workshop or enrolling in classes.
CED’s Liberal Studies advisors worked carefully to track and contact incoming students with personalized course recommendations. Online guides and outlines, in addition to a newly updated prospective student webpage, were offered to supplement instructions and recommendations. Students could email their advisor as needed and advisors reviewed schedules daily to provide course recommendations to their students.
Though different than previous years, this summer’s SOAR program provided the same excellent student support and service, and helped cultivate excitement and enthusiasm within the College of Education’s newest students.
