Officials from the Student Orientation, Advising and Registration program announced changes to the incoming-freshmen orientation program at a forum Tuesday, which included new plans for parent-focused seminars.
The new program will feature conference-style breakout sessions for parents, at which they can discuss topics including helping their child transition into college.
"We want to help parents and guests with support and resources for how they can help support that transition and the impact it will have on them," said Carren Martin, executive assistant director of the Center for the First-Year Experience.
Martin said these changes, which have been continuous for the past two years, are important for students to make the most of their brief SOAR experience.
"We think the changes will give [first-year students] a more productive advising experience, and also more of a welcoming experience onto the campus," she said.
Another change includes expanding the program's space into Engineering Hall.
Martin said the program needs the additional space to accommodate the incoming freshmen Union South alone can not hold.
Martin also said SOAR will adopt stricter attendance policy, which requires students who arrive to a session significantly late to repeat it.
