This message is sent on behalf of Dean of University College for Academic Success Jayne Richmond.
Dear Colleagues,
We hope you are doing well and adjusting to this very challenging time. Soon, we hope, you will be able to breathe and pat yourselves on the back for the great job you have done managing through this crisis. We in University College for Academic Success have been hard at work designing a virtual “welcome to URI” for our new students and their families for Fall 2020. Our goal is to make Orientation as individualized and welcoming as possible. We have designed a four-part process that begins in May.
1) Students will be invited to an online orientation platform that will begin the introduction to URI, guiding them to information and services they will need for a successful transition to college life. Each student will be paired with an Orientation leader who is specifically assigned to them for chats and to respond to questions that will help ease new students into the Orientation process.
2) Throughout May and into June, we will begin the course registration process for Fall classes. Orientation advisors for each major (both our UCAS full-time advisors and faculty advisors who work with Orientation) will use an online platform to provide a meaningful small group advising experience. Students’ needs and interests will be gathered, and advisors will then register students. This will be followed by an opportunity for students to meet virtually one-on-one with their advisor as needed.
Students will be provided important information for success in both in- and outside of the classroom through the online orientation platform. We are also designing opportunities for students to connect with each other, as they work with their advisors and learn about their courses, their learning communities, and their residence halls. Advisors and Orientation Leaders will be available for chats to supplement the information students are learning about involvement, honors, disability services, health services, housing, dining, athletics, and more.
3) Prior to the start of the Fall semester, all new students will be invited to the University for special welcome activities, before the other students return. This will include move-in activities, workshops, and events designed just for new students.
4) We will continue to provide the support that students may need in this unique time of recovering (we hope) from social distancing. URI 101, a one credit course designed around each major with a focus on academic planning and academic success strategies will be adapted to provide additional support as may be needed. We will continue to re-evaluate its content in order to best support our students.
We are currently reaching out to all campus partners to collect important information for both students and their families. This will be branded with URI colors and designed for consistency. This will be added to our online platform.
Please let us know if you have any questions or if you would like to participate in this process. We greatly appreciate the support and understanding of our purchasing, budget, legal, assessment, student affairs, and all other offices that are helping to make Orientation as successful as possible.
Be well and Go Rhody!
Jayne Richmond, Ph.D.
Dean, University College for Academic Success
Kristina Perrelli, Ph.D.
Director, New Student Programs
Email address: kmperrelli@uri.edu
Phone: 401-874-9529