Summer orientation offers incoming students a glimpse of what awaits them at MC
Orientation leaders support incoming students and their parents as they learn what life will be like at Mississippi Christian University this fall during four orientation sessions on the Clinton campus this summer.
Jadi Foster, MC director of student engagement, said the new students – among the first to be known as Mississippi Christian University students – will benefit from the same rigorous academics, vibrant campus life and strong community that have defined the institution for generations.
“Our goal is to make the students feel connected, both to each other and to our current students on campus, and to the culture of MC and who we are as a university,” Foster said. “If they establish those connections, then they’ll be set up for success and can enter their freshman year feeling confident and excited for the year ahead.”
The MC Office of Student Engagement is offering three comprehensive, two-day sessions and one concentrated one-day session to help students prepare for college. The two-day sessions are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, May 27 and 28; Monday and Tuesday, June 1 and 2; and Wednesday and Thursday, July 22 and 23. The one-day session – recommended for transfer students – is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21.
The two-day sessions will include small-group meetings, large-group sessions, activities and academic registration. These sessions are the best way for new students to get the “big picture” of life as an MC student.
The single-day session is a condensed version of the two-day sessions. Students and guests will also have the opportunity to meet in small and large groups, learn about campus involvement and register for fall classes.
“The single-day session is for students who know how college works,” Foster said. “They’ve already been to college and they’re transferring in, but we still want them to feel connected to MC and to connect with others with whom they’ll be going to school on campus.”
Those most responsible for helping incoming students develop those connections are orientation leaders – an energetic group of undergraduate MC students who welcome, guide and support new students and their families through orientation. According to Foster, orientation leaders like Darby Renfro and Mac Roberts are the “glue” of the orientation process at MC.
Renfro, a senior political science major from Grenada, serves as orientation director after having spent two previous summers as an orientation leader. She considers summer orientation to be a vital part of the student experience at MC.
“This experience equips students to step boldly into the Mississippi Christian University family,” Renfro said. “New students experience campus life before Move-In Day in August, connect with orientation leaders and ask questions about what to expect at Mississippi Christian University. They meet other incoming students, chat with professors and explore departments within the MC community.
“Students leave orientation with a sense of belonging and excitement to enter the next four years of their lives.”
Roberts, a senior MC School of Nursing student from Brookhaven, said serving as an orientation director has changed the trajectory of his college career.
“My favorite part about orientation is getting to know students in a fun and exciting environment,” Roberts said. “I have been blessed to have incredible friendships come out of orientation.
“Incoming students will have the chance to meet current students and faculty and staff while gaining insight into their future home. Not only will they see the facilities on campus, they will also witness a community built upon faith and service. This is the most important part of why MC is the place to be: this is where they will excel, grow and rise.”
Orientation leaders greet the students and their parents as they arrive on campus and guide them to a fun, energetic welcoming session. 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 all MC offers. They visit and interact with representatives from Student Engagement, Residence Life, Career Services, Public Safety, Counseling Services and Campus Ministries to gain a deeper understanding of the resources to 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 including local churches and businesses – offer information and giveaways.
For the first time, the Orientation Marketplace will be two distinct events – a “Meet MC” event to showcase opportunities for involvement on campus, and a “Meet the Community” session to highlight local businesses, churches and philanthropies. Both will take place in Alumni Hall.
In the evening, orientation leaders entertain new students with a 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 class registration. Students 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.
For more information about summer orientation sessions, visit https://www.mc.edu/students/policies/events-activities/orientation.
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