Lisa Pappajohn is an academic advisor with Advising Services, and coordinates the Orientation Leader component of Student Orientation. She believes participating in this program is a great way for students to develop leadership skills.  “The wonderful Orientation Leaders I work with and the opportunities to see them grow is one of the most satisfying parts of my job,” she says. 

Let’s take a look at one student and see how the orientation program has helped contribute to her learning and personal development. Zoe (Katherine Schneller), who is planning to major in Communications, states, “I had never set foot on the Gorham campus until orientation days, since all my classes are in Portland.  During orientation training, I learned some things about USM that I didn’t even know.” She adds, “Lisa has helped me to be more open to others.  New students recognize me on campus and say, hi.”

Zoe has also gained confidence in helping others. While assisting advisors in developing a semester course schedule for students, she remembers, “I worked with a student whose parent convinced her that she had to take classes in a major that she wasn’t even sure about.  I suggested that she take core classes instead so there would be more time to explore options.”

Zoe feels she contributes to other students’ learning, partly because of Lisa’s support and encouragement.  “In class,” she explains, “I feel like a role model. Being a junior, I am older than some students and have established a routine to get my work done, and feel serious about it.  I think others notice this in my courses.”

Lisa feels the benefits of watching someone else grow inspire her work too:  “When I see a student have the ability to do something new, like Zoe, to see her step out of her comfort zone, take on new skills, become surer of herself, and find more connections on campus, I also feel engaged in my job.”

Curious about More?

Spotlight Series Background and Purpose:

The Professional Staff Senate, http://www.usm.maine.edu/prosen/index.htm,  hopes to encourage campus conversations about student retention by initiating the first in our occasional SPOTLIGHT series.  These interviews will highlight students and staff engaged in learning opportunities.  We hope this and future examples will remind you of some deed or word you or another employee has done or spoken to inspire a student, directly or indirectly.  Today the spotlight shines on the Orientation Leader Coordinator, who prepares a student for her leadership role.

Student Engagement Information

The qualities of enriching educational experiences, like the orientation program, are detailed in the Benchmarks of Effective Educational Practice . These benchmarks come from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) that captures important aspects of the student experience.  Their website is: http://nsse.iub.edu/pdf/nsse_benchmarks.pdf

USM Student Orientation

USM Integrated Marketing Plan

For more information and additional success stories, please visit: http://www.usm.maine.edu/publications/integratedmarketing/