Orientation program to be changed

by Jaclyn Roco
Arts & Entertainment Editor

The University of La Verne's freshman class, U100, once mandatory for incoming freshman students, is being temporarily postponed to make room for changes.

The administrators at ULV are working toward the designing process of a different type of experience, said Loretta Rahmani, dean of student affairs.

The goal is to have a new freshman year experience in motion by fall 2003, Rahmani said.

"The freshman year experience is a good, right thing to do," she said.

Administrators feel that the freshman experience is important; different types of models of classes are being looked at to find the right one for ULV.

There will be room for living and learning residence models, where freshmen will be able to enjoy their first year experience inside and outside of the halls, Rahmani said.

Classroom models may also be based on student affairs and student life programs.

Efforts to broaden the experience to upperclassmen are also being made.

We are trying to support students throughout all four years of college, said Brian MorganArmstrong, leadership development and transition program director.

A task force made up of students and faculty members will be enforced to help out with this process, he said.

"That's what we are doing by looking at different modelswe want to create something inclusive, something bringing people together," he said.

MorganArmstrong said he hopes that the new experience will better serve the whole community. Making the decision to postpone U100 was a difficult choice, he said.

New models may be academically based, Rahmani said.

The academic faculty and departments have a lot of participation in the process in finding and getting a connection for the university, she said.

Rahmani said the committee will try to reinvent the program if necessary. To rethink the whole experience, changes may include new classroom settings and different teaching processes, she said.

To help incorporate more changes, MorganArmstrong said his task force, in association with the faculty committee, is in need of six more students, two from each grade level, except seniors. For more information, call extension 4510.