Making sure that new students are prepared for the adventure before them is one thing, catering to them is disadvantageous.MATC had over 22 new student orientations in August alone. This doesn’t include orientations that happened in June, July, and even last spring for this fall. While other colleges have much less, some as few as one, for some reason here they feel we need more.
While probing as to the reason, the one that kept resurfacing was the type of students at MATC, and the desire to make sure each and every student has had a chance to go to an orientation. I found this both insulting and unrealistic.
At this point in our lives, we should be self-sufficient enough to be able to find the assistance we need to sign up for a program and enroll in classes.
At Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) they have program counselors that assist those interested in a particular program to sign up for that program and enroll in the proper classes. Maybe this is our problem.
Many students have complained about confusing misinformation or lack of communication from advisers and counselors.
I personally had a counselor enroll me in a class that was absolutely unnecessary. Maybe if we students had well-informed counselors to assist us, the endless orientations would no longer be needed.
Another option is to open up this position to returning students. Many of us know what needs to be done and could use the money. Even if this could be worked out where we volunteer our time in exchange for tuition, it still would be worthwhile.
This could be a low-cost option that benefits new and returning students, and the college as a whole.
Other community colleges offer many less orientations. WCTC offers four in August, and one in January. They are not required, and if you miss them, then you can contact your program counselor and they can assist you.
This kind of option seems far more realistic. When we finally get the job we’ve been training for, they’re not going to offer ten different orientation options. They are going to say orientation is on this date; be there. And, as the adults that we are, if we want the job, we’ll be there.
College is a time that we stop being treated like the children we were, but instead be trusted with responsibilities. There is no reason to offer that many orientations.
They can offer up certain dates, inform us of those times and we either show up or we don’t. If we don’t, then we realize that we need to find that information on our own.
We are adults. Treat us as such, and expect us to act like we are. We live in a global economy; it does us no good to cater to us in a way the world won’t.
