Summer orientation kickstarts every new student’s Mississippi College story

Student orientation leaders perform a routine to welcome incoming freshmen and transfers and their family members to Mississippi College during summer orientation.

The first time Caroline Cook attended summer orientation at Mississippi College, she injured her knee, which required her to get stitches.

That’s when the future nursing major from New Albany discovered how special the Christian University and its representatives are.

“Every orientation leader checked on me and even drove me around on a golf cart the rest of the day,” Cook said. “I felt so cared for and very prepared to start classes. All of my questions were answered and I was ready for the fall.”

Now a rising senior, Cook is paying her experience forward by serving as an orientation student director, working with different departments on campus to create a memorable orientation experience for every incoming undergraduate and transfer student.

This summer, the Office of Student Engagement at MC is offering three comprehensive two-day sessions and one concentrated one-day session to help incoming students prepare for college. The one-day session took place on Tuesday, May 27. Two-day sessions are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, May 28-29; Monday and Tuesday, June 2-3; and Wednesday and Thursday, July 23-24.

Jonathan Ambrose, MC vice president for student experience and dean of students, said the sessions are among the students’ most important moments because they set the tone for everything that follows in their collegiate journey.

“Orientation gives new students the chance to meet our people, explore our campus and begin to understand what it means to be part of the MC family. It’s our first opportunity to welcome them fully, support them intentionally and show them that they’re not just enrolling in classes.”

Orientation leaders greet the students and their parents as they arrive on campus and guide them to a fun, energetic welcoming session, where they will hear from Ambrose. Attendees then break into small-group sessions, where they receive all the information a new student could need, from registering for classes to becoming involved in more than 50 campus organizations.

Each group participates in tours of the Clinton campus and learns about the valuable services MC offers. They visit and interact with representatives from Student Engagement, Residence Life, Career Services, Public Safety, the Counseling Center and Christian Life to gain a deeper understanding of the wealth of services that can help them create a well-rounded educational experience.

A mainstay of summer orientation at MC is the Orientation Marketplace, an “opportunity fair” in Alumni Hall. About two dozen organizations at MC – from the Student Government Association to Residence Life – and the surrounding community – including local churches and businesses – set up information tables and offer giveaways.

“The Orientation Marketplace is a great opportunity for new students and their guests to explore ways to get involved on campus,” Ambrose said.

After dinner, orientation leaders entertain the audience with a popular, satirical theatrical performance dubbed “Inside Scoop,” a mix of video presentations and live-action skits with information about campus life in relatable vignettes.

A morning worship session led by orientation leaders and other MC students kicks off Day Two, followed by the most anticipated aspect of orientation: class registration. Students and their parents meet with academic advisors, departmental leaders and professors before selecting their first slate of classes at MC.

Summer orientation closes with an informal farewell gathering, where students receive a keepsake to remind them that their university home will be awaiting them this fall.

No matter which session they attend, Cook said the new students can expect to leave campus with plenty of information to make their transition to full-time college students at MC as seamless as possible.

“Students should walk away from orientation at MC knowing that they are loved and valued, and that our campus cares for them,” she said. “Students will leave orientation prepared and excited to start school in the fall. It is the kickstart to each student’s MC story.”

For information about MC’s New Student Orientation, visit www.mc.edu/students/policies/events-activities/orientation.