Michelle Norton
Staff Writer
The first orientation for fall 1998 incoming freshmen, held Friday at the University Center, offered students and administration a glimpse of what to expect next semester.
Designed to save time for both students and staff, University of Houston orientation sessions allow students to meet with academic advisers, register for classes and receive Cougar OneCards.
"Orientation minimizes the problems that students face during the course of the fall semester," said Assistant Dean of Students Kamran Riaz.
The orientation sessions are divided into three categories - freshmen, transfer and family and guests - and provide students with the opportunity to tour the campus as well as learn about the services unique to UH.
According to Riaz, transfer students' orientation lasts only one day while freshmen attend a two-day session. "Transfer students already know about college, while freshmen know little, if any, information," he said.
During freshman orientation sessions, students are introduced to the college experience. Unfamiliar with a university environment, they attend social functions by local sorority chapters, view plays by current college students and sleep overnight in one of the residence halls.
Unlike freshmen, transfer students only learn about the basic services offered at UH, like the Voice Information Processing enrollment service. Other information presented to transfer students includes what credits they will be able to transfer from their previous schools.
Based on the demand and students' need of sessions, the number of sessions available varies. As compared to the number of sessions held last year, Friday's orientation may indicate a need for more sessions.
Ed Apodaca, associate vice president for enrollment management, counted approximately 400 students Friday. "We have already accepted 5,300 applications from interested students and expect about 3,200 students to enroll," Apodaca said.
Enrollment Management projects 32,200 students enrolled in the fall, an increase of between 600 and 800 students.
According to Riaz, in 1997 approximately 2,000 freshmen and 1,000 transfer students signed up for orientation, totaling 3,000 students in attendance. In the fall of 1997, according to admission rates by Enrollment Management, 2,906 freshmen and 2,917 transfer students enrolled at UH.
Expecting orientation attendance to reflect enrollment projections, Riaz maintained that orientation numbers should be higher for this year.
According to Enrollment Management, UH is expected to enroll 8,586 new students, including 3,148 freshmen and 3,031 transfer students.
Orientation sessions for both freshmen and transfer students will continue through the summer.
Transfer orientation sessions are scheduled for June 26 and July 24. Freshman students will attend sessions on five separate dates through July 31.