Call for Programs for Fall 2000 New Student Orientation: April 21

The New Student Orientation Operations Committee, under the auspices of the Council of Undergraduate Deans, will be preparing the Calendar of Events for the Fall 2000 New Student Orientation Program (NSO). The Department of Academic Support Programs coordinates all orientation activities and produces the calendars of orientation programs (University-wide programs only) for undergraduate, graduate and professional students and their families.

The NSO Program Description and Planning Guide, which highlights the ways in which the Penn community can support the University's orientation of first-year students is available on the web at http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~nso/ and will be sent to the University community. If your office or organization is planning to sponsor a program, please complete the registration form and return it by April 21, 2000. We also have tentative schedules and the appropriate registration forms to assist you in your planning efforts on the website.

Under the leadership of Dr. Kathy McCauley, chair of the NSO Steering Committee, this year's New Student Orientation Program has been reorganized significantly. Based on recommendations from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education (SCUE) and the Undergraduate Assembly (UA), the Council of Undergraduate Deans decided to lengthen NSO by three days. Therefore, the official move-in day for first year students for Fall 2000 is Thursday, August 31 (previously announced as September 2). The first day of classes will be the following Thursday, September 7 (previously announced as September 6) in the Academic Calendar. This new design gives us more time to provide students with a richer and more stimulating introduction to Penn through our New Student Orientation Programs.

In addition to this one-week introductory period, programs can be scheduled during the New Student Orientation six-week First Year Series scheduled from September 11 through October 20. New Student Orientation week and the First Year Series are opportunities for you and/or your department to sponsor one or a series of programs, so that as many new undergraduate, graduate and professional students will be able to attend as possible. All programs will be advertised to first-year students through the Calendar of Events produced by our office. Feel free to sponsor as many programs as you wish. Please note: The newly renovated Perlman Quadrangle (Logan Hall, Silfen Meeting Rooms, Houston Hall and Irvine Auditorium) will be available for programs. We will be working with the Office of VPUL Events Management to make room assignments for this space as well as other spaces on campus. Please refer to the section on Scheduling Information in the program description for more information. VPUL Facilities and Events Management will be responsible for assessing charges and notifying you directly of expenses for which you will be responsible.

Also note that we are under very tight schedule constraints. We must adhere to all schedule deadlines. Unfortunately, registration forms received after the deadline will not be included in this year's Calendar of Events. Therefore it is imperative that you adhere to the deadline. You will be notified of the status of Program descriptions and room assignments by June 10.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Student Orientation Programs Office at (215) 898-4276 or Sharon Smith at (215) 898-1446. Please mail your registration forms to Student Orientation Programs, Suite 102, 3820 Locust Walk/6134 by April 21, 2000. If you prefer, you may register your programs through our website at http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~nso/.

Thank you for your support and enthusiasm for New Student Orientation. We look forward to working with you as we prepare for another exciting year.

--Department of Academic Support Programs, New Student Orientation Programs


Almanac, Vol. 46, No. 28, April 11, 2000

| FRONT PAGE | CONTENTS | JOB-OPS | CRIMESTATS | FOR COMMENT: Electronic Privacy Policy | TALK ABOUT TEACHING ARCHIVE | BETWEEN ISSUES | APRIL at PENN |