Dog Days 2012, Fresno State’s series of 13 day-long summer orientation sessions that provide incoming freshmen and transfer students with the tools for college success, begins Friday, June 15, and continues through July 20.

Check-in starts at 7 a.m. in front of the Joyal Administration Building and the program at 8 o’clock in the Satellite Student Union, north of the Joyal Building on the Maple Mall.

Fresno State expects to enroll 2,900 first-time freshmen and 1,900 transfer students for fall semester classes, which begin Aug. 22.

Students are assigned an orientation date according to their college or school at Fresno State, giving them the opportunity to meet with advisers, develop an academic roadmap, tour the campus and receive a student ID card. Students also connect with others who have the same major and register for fall semester classes.

All new undergraduates are expected to attend Dog Days, whose sessions are mandatory for freshmen, said Kenneth Ternate, coordinator of the program within the Division of Student Affairs. He said research indicates that new-to-campus students who attend an orientation session have better success because they stay in school, get better grades, graduate sooner and are more satisfied with their college experience.

“Dog Days helps students avoid feeling scared, lost and confused about starting college,” said Jessica Medina, special projects assistant for Dog Days.

The first topic of the day at each event is a video with a timely topic, “Managing Debt in College,” shown 7:45-7:55 a.m. in the Satellite Student Union.

After their introduction and a quick dance routine ice-breaker (8:15-8:35), the Dog Days orientation leaders guide students in small groups through activities and tours and share their own perspectives of campus life.

Parents and guests also attend the orientation where they can learn about academic requirements to complete a degree; about programs and services offered at Fresno State; and how they can best support their student.

Dog Days will be held:

  • Freshmen: June 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27 and 29; July 2 and 20
  • Transfer students: July 10, 12, 16, 18, 20

Freshmen students are encouraged to bring their English Placement Test and Entry-Level Mathematics Test scores if they have questions or holds on their account. If they have not yet taken those tests, students should bring proof of registration so that holds can be cleared to allow them to register for classes.

Parking for Dog Days participants is in Lot C (Shaw and Maple avenues) with a coupon code provided.

For more information click on Dog Days or call 559.278.4885.

(Copy by University Communications student news assistant Nicole Maul.)

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