New Student and Family Transitions prepares to welcome Class of 2030 

Each summer, Orientation welcomes the newest class of Jaguars through thoughtfully designed sessions that provide a seamless transition into campus life. Incoming students connect with faculty, staff and peers while learning to navigate the resources, community and systems of support that define the Augusta University experience. 

“Orientation is the first time a student gets to say, ‘This is my campus, these are my people,’” said Mark Myers, director of New Student and Family Transitions. “That sense of belonging doesn’t happen by accident, it happens because we’ve built every session around connection. We want students walking away knowing they have a community here, and we want families walking away knowing their student is in good hands. That’s what drives everything we do.” 

But long before students and families arrive on campus, the Office of New Student and Family Transitions is already hard at work. Throughout the spring semester, NSFT carefully maps out each session and track, ensuring every moment serves a purpose. At the center of that preparation are 30 orientation leaders, who spend the semester learning and practicing leadership, communication, teamwork and conflict resolution skills as they prepare to guide new Jaguars and their families through their orientation experience. 

“We want our student leaders to be gaining leadership skills not just for this role, but for their future careers and the rest of their lives,” said Jenna Sims, assistant director of New Student and Family Transitions. “I want them to not just prepare for giving a tour, but to be able to think on their feet, make decisions and be strong problem solvers because you can’t train for every possible scenario. This is what will make them more effective leaders in the long run.” 

When recruiting Orientation leaders, NSFT looks for a wide array of majors and class years to help represent Augusta University’s colleges and schools. One of those students includes Daniya Sajjad, an undergraduate third-year political science student, who was inspired by her own Orientation experience to step outside her comfort zone and take on a leadership role. 

As she prepares for this summer, she looks forward to strengthening her leadership skills and embracing accountability. Sajjad explained that Orientation leaders intentionally assess their strengths and areas for growth to ensure they are prepared to support the new students from a wide range of backgrounds.  

While Orientation Day may feel like a whirlwind of excitement and information, she advises new students to listen to their leaders and take note. 

“Listen to what experiences your OL has gone through because you can learn from them,” she said. “You can learn how you’ll pick your classes, what to pay attention to in class and how to take notes. Going into college, it’s also important to understand that there is a balance of school and personal life. It may feel like assignments are being thrown at you but understand that there is a balance and finding that balance is different for everybody. It’s important to find that for yourself.” 

Because Orientation leaders have navigated the challenges of college, they provide guidance and mentorship not only to incoming students but also to one another. Brian Hallman, an undergraduate fourth-year biology student and a student coordinator, is returning for his second summer with the office and values the hard work put into building the team, resulting in individuals who can learn and grow together.  

“It’s important that we have this spring semester to train before greeting these students this summer,” Hallman said. “The leadership class helps us know that there’s not just one type of leader – some people are outspoken, some people lead by emotion and some people lead by logic. This allows us to dissect our skills and find out where we will thrive.” 

Hallman approaches Orientation through the lens of a new student. He understands they are feeling anxious and potentially comparing themselves to others’ endeavors, majors and extracurriculars. His empathetic leadership style helps them navigate those emotions so that they can look forward to their first day of classes. 

“Not just me but the entirety of New Student and Family Transitions works hard because we see these new Jaguars as a great importance, not just so we can sell them on AU but because their presence and their future is important to us,” Hallman said.  

As New Student and Family Transitions prepares for Orientation, work still continues behind the scenes for LEAP Week, the university’s extended Orientation program that takes place in August just before classes begin, as the office builds intentional programming to transition new Jaguars into the campus community. According to Sims, this year’s programming will further expand on last year’s activities which included unique outings like kayaking, ax throwing, mug painting and splatter painting with local businesses. 

While the schedule has yet to be finalized, she is excited for what’s to come and encourages incoming students to keep an eye out.  

Stay up to date with NSFT’s Orientation and LEAP Week schedules by visiting the office’s website or the Jaguar Family Hub.