It’s one of the greatest times of the year. Buzz and anticipation fill the air as students, families, faculty, and staff look forward to what a new school year could possibly bring.
It’s one of the greatest times of the year. Buzz and anticipation fill the air as students, families, faculty, and staff look forward to what a new school year could possibly bring.
It all becomes a little more real during Methodist University’s New Student Orientation (NSO), which is scheduled for Aug. 12-14. The three-day experience prepares students for the upcoming semester, giving them a chance to make connections with other students, faculty, and staff.
“New students will learn about the important resources that are available to them as they make the adjustment to college life and the demands of academic rigor. We’ll also make sure they learn about the values and traditions of Methodist University, all while having fun,” said Dr. Todd Harris, senior associate dean of students at MU.
When students arrive on campus, they’ll be able to check-in, receive a Student Track that lays out the entire schedule, and be assigned to a small NSO group – allowing them to spend time with a select group of students. Each NSO group will be led by current MU students.
“Personally, I did not have the opportunity to go through a traditional NSO due to COVID-19. But I would’ve loved to participate in it because there is so much to learn. As an NSO leader, I hope to show the incoming freshmen what Methodist University has to offer and encourage them to get involved because our school has something for everyone,” said NSO captain Madison Brunson, an MU junior majoring in Human Performance Psychology and Clinical/Counseling Psychology.
While many of the previous NSO traditions like the University Fair, bingo, and breakout groups will continue, there’s also a lot of new events incoming Monarchs can be excited about.
A few of the notable additions for this year include:
- Playfair (allows new students to participate in fun, engaging ice breakers)
- Student Organization Fair (gives new students a chance to learn about organizations they can participate in while engaging with upper-class MU students)
- A Year in the Life of a Monarch (provides students and parents an idea of what their first year at Methodist University will look like)
- Community of Care (shows students how the University works to support their well-being and how students can support each other)
- Here to Hear (offers guided conversations that are designed to promote principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion)
Methodist University’s NSO isn’t just for the students. The University also provides a Parent Track, granting parents a chance to learn more about MU.
“Parents will be exposed to the myriad resources available to students, so that they are able to guide students from home when their student needs help,” said Harris. “They should also leave having had the opportunity to make a connection with staff on campus and feel comfortable that Methodist is a university that cares for the individual student. “
Students and parents can access the schedules, learn more about parking, or even watch videos to better prepare you for Methodist University by visiting our NSO webpage. Once NSO is completed, you can also access photos from this year’s NSO by following our Flickr page.