Naugatuck Valley Community College Student Activities Director, Karen Blake, collaborated with leaders campus-wide to produce a series of virtual orientation modules that guide students to find college resources. The modules will present interactive information for new and returning students of NVCC. Noting that “we are driven by the need to keep our students informed and engaged in the process of starting a new semester or even a new career in college for the first time," Blake based this fall’s orientation on the successful model developed during the pandemic when students could not come to campus for orientation.

Sent to students via e-mail in a series of three installments, students will receive NVCC’s Fall 2021 Orientation consisting of daily modules beginning August 3, 2021.  The modular series features welcome messages from NVCC CEO, Lisa Dresdner, Ph.D., Dean of Student Services, Sarah Gager, and Dean of Academic Affairs, H. Justin Moore, Ph.D., and it includes technology that supports the need for basic student information that would normally be presented at a traditional on-campus orientation event.   

Each module provides students with valuable information, including “how to” steps for activities like setting up and accessing college email, using technology that faculty use in the classroom, guidance on support services available, and fun activities in which to participate. Knowing that students like the ability to quickly access short and concise videos, Rob Sheftel, Director of The ACE, made sure to include links to videos he and his team developed to familiarize students with the various instructional modalities: (ACE). Academics/Academic-Programs/Instructional-Methods  
Blake, author of the virtual orientation, commented, “Based on the success of the virtual Orientation last fall, we are confident that the information and resources in this series effectively orients and prepares students to begin their fall semester.” 

To start the semester off on a successful note, students are reminded to complete all three modules at once, preferably before the start of classes on August 26, 2021.