Fresno State began welcoming its incoming freshmen and transfer students to campus for Dog Days: New Student Orientation — a program designed to help students and their families transition to Fresno State, preparing them for personal growth and success.
Orientation sessions will be hosted on various dates in June and July at the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union at Fresno State.
During Dog Days, students will meet with academic counselors and advisers, and register for classes. They will also hear from a variety of campus experts about programs and resources available on campus.
Each student can bring a guest to orientation. Guests will also have access to informational sessions to learn more about the university and ways to support students. Spanish sessions are available for guests.
Throughout orientation, students are guided by Dog Days orientation leaders — experienced students who serve as mentors for incoming students through the Office of New Student and Family Programs. This office oversees Dog Days, the Transfer Success Center and MentorU.
“Orientation leaders are the first to meet incoming students on campus,” said Elizabeth Haro, student coordinator for the Office of New Student and Family Programs. “My [student] co-coordinator and I ensure orientation leaders are prepared and ready to create a welcoming environment for students and families. It’s a rewarding experience to see students and families interact, enjoy the campus community, and watch orientation leaders become confident, fierce leaders.”
Originally from Woodlake, Haro is a first-generation student who graduated from Fresno State with a degree in psychology this past spring. She will continue her work with the Office of New Student and Family Programs through the summer, before joining the workforce.
Haro has contributed to the office in various capacities over the past three years — first, as a Dog Days orientation leader, and more recently, as a co-coordinator for the program, for which she designs and implements training curriculum for newly hired orientation leaders.
Erika Castanon, coordinator of Dog Days and first-year programs, said of Haro, “Ellie’s best qualities include her being very kind and compassionate toward others. She also has a very disciplined work style — meeting deadlines on time, always looking to see what else can be done. Anyone who meets Ellie will see how helpful she is and how concerned she is with getting them what they need to be successful.”
In addition to her role as a Dog Days student coordinator, Haro held a second job on campus at the Learning Center. Haro said in this position she was able to connect with staff members who became mentors, helping her realize her goal to pursue a master’s degree in education after a couple of years of work experience.
Haro said, “I don’t think I’ve given myself enough credit for how much this accomplishment [means] for me. As a first-generation student, I went through college working two jobs and paying tuition out of pocket. It became a routine, and I never processed how difficult it was. Now that [I’ve walked the stage], it’s hitting me how much of an accomplishment it is to graduate with honors while working and being on my own.”
To connect with orientation leaders like Haro, or learn more about the Office of New Student and Family Programs, visit https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/nsfp/.
