UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Over the next nine weeks, thousands of students will become acquainted with Penn State through New Student Orientation sessions at University Park.
New students will arrive on their first day of NSO at lunchtime, participate in a full day of programming, stay overnight in an on-campus residence hall, and have a busy second day of NSO. The NSO program schedule received a facelift this year, which includes moving the Educational Planning and Preparation session to Day 1 of NSO.
“Moving the academic messaging to the first day of New Student Orientation has really helped us stress the importance of academics in the Penn State experience,” said Katie Motycki, associate director of New Student Orientation. “I think that students are better positioned to receive the other important messages that NSO delivers because we address the academic overview at the start.”
It’s also on Day 1 that they meet their leaders from the pink-clad Orientation Team, commonly referred to as OTeam. To cap off Day 1, students will have dinner, participate in small group discussions, learn about building their legacy at Penn State, and have fun during AfterDark activities at the Intramural Building and Pollock Commons.
“We are very excited to continue our partnership with Campus Recreation,” Motycki said. “This is our second year of hosting activities in the Intramural Building during NSO. It’s been great to expose the students to this awesome resource during their visit.”
Day 2 brings a host of activities to help students become familiar with life at Penn State from academic success, to getting connected with IT resources, and learning about life at University Park, culminating in college meetings and class scheduling at 1:30 p.m.
While students are scheduling their classes, their parents and family members are invited to join the OTeam, plus staff from Student Aid, the Bursar, Housing and Residence Life, and University Libraries in the One-Stop. This session is new to NSO in 2018 and allows parents and families an opportunity to meet individually with staff from these offices to have their questions answered.
NSO also has its own map overlay at the new map.psu.edu, where NSO attendees and their families can easily find their destinations for NSO events, dining and parking.
Penn State employees should take note that NSO parking is designated for lots 81 and 42. Eisenhower Parking Deck, which is under construction, is being used in an overflow situation. The top two levels of the parking deck have been closed since May 7 and will remain so until June 22. Single-level closures of other decks will continue throughout the rest of the summer. Work on Eisenhower Deck is expected to wrap up by Aug. 10.
To learn more about NSO, visit orientation.psu.edu.
The Office of Student Orientation and Transition Programs is part of Penn State Student Affairs and Penn State Undergraduate Education. Penn State Undergraduate Education is the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State. Learn more about Undergraduate Education at undergrad.psu.edu.