Aug. 24, 2010
The Catholic University of America will welcome more than 1,000 new students and their families on Aug. 26 for the start of Orientation 2010.
Members of the Class of 2014 - the largest in CUA history - will participate in "Doors Opening," a four-day program that enables new students to become familiar with the campus, meet their academic advisers and get to know their residence-hall roommates and neighbors before beginning classes on Monday, Aug. 30.
"Our dedicated orientation staff has been preparing all summer for the arrival of the newest members of the Catholic University community," says Kathryn Jennings, associate dean of students. "We've enhanced the Orientation experience this year for freshmen and transfer students to help them get started on the road to success at CUA."
With support from Jennings, the 2010 student Orientation coordinators - senior Rachel Gazzerro, a double major in English and French from Warwick, Md., and junior Andrew Laux, an architecture major from Newtown, Pa. - have been planning both Orientation and CUA's Orientation Extended program, which runs for the first six weeks of the fall semester.
Seventy-two CUA student volunteers are serving as orientation advisers this fall. Dressed in red polo shirts with the CUA logo, they are available to assist new students and their families by answering questions and providing directions to different buildings on campus.
On Aug. 26, Catholic University's president, John H. Garvey, will address the new students and their families at the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center during three 45-minute sessions at 3 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. that are open to all CUA students, faculty and staff.
Orientation events on Aug. 27 include break-out information sessions by individual CUA schools, the student resource fair in the Pryzbyla Center, Great Room A, where new students can learn about organizations and activities, as well as Mass in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Great Upper Church, at 4:30 p.m.
During Orientation, students and parents will also participate in sessions on financial aid, career services, safety and on-campus job opportunities.
Weekend activities for the students include Movies on the (CUA) Mall, an ice cream social with Campus Ministry's House, a "Cardinal Carnival" and excursions to Washington, D.C., monuments, the National Zoo and the neighborhoods of Georgetown and Chinatown.
This fall, Catholic University has enhanced its Orientation Extended program, offering more activities to help first-year students make a smooth transition to CUA. Orientation Extended will offer 154 programs, and 30 students (more than double last year's number) will have the chance to win prizes. Two winners will have the opportunity to share a meal with Garvey and his wife, Jeanne.
For more information on Orientation, visit http://orientation.cua.edu .