UNC Greensboro welcomes the newest Spartans to participate in the orientation program we call SOAR (Student Orientation Advising and Registration.) SOAR is an interactive program designed to get students excited and support their transition to UNCG by exploring and connecting with our people, programs, and resources. Through a variety of sessions, new students receive academic advising, learn about campus requirements and services, and form a strong connection to campus by experiencing the history and traditions of UNCG.
SOAR by the Numbers
8 in-person sessions in June for first years
320 students and 350 parent/family supporters per session
2 virtual sessions for transfer students in July
2 in-person sessions in August – one for first years and another for transfer students
SOAR offers separate two-day sessions for students and their guests (parents, guardians or family members), so incoming Spartans and their support systems can learn more about campus life. To create a sense of belonging and to meet new friends, students stay overnight in Jefferson Suites.
“SOAR reservations are ongoing through the summer, but we are encouraged by the reservations we’ve already received,” says Katie Tucker, associate director of New Student Transitions and First Year Experience. “By May 27, we were already up 13% for first years and 7% for transfers compared this point last year.”
Making Connections
UNCG’s New Student Transitions and First Year Experience team is always looking for new ways to engage with SOAR attendees. Last year, they launched Spanish interpretation services for families who prefer to receive information in Spanish. They will expand upon the service this year with state-of-the-art equipment at SOAR that will interpret in many languages.
Securing orientation leaders is also key to success. Spartan Orientation Staff (SOS) is made up of current students who serve as peer leaders. Mac Koffa is a fourth-year student who has been working with SOS for three years now. She says UNCG’s student involvement in SOAR is the reason why our orientation so accurately represents the Spartan experience.
“SOS is a diverse group of leaders with various involvement in the culture and community of UNCG,” Koffa says. “The student leaders represent UNCG as a Hispanic-serving institution and can identify with our large population of first-generation students. We work hard to make new students feel welcome, get them involved, and point them to important resources on campus.”
Award Winning Efforts
This past spring, SOS took New Orleans by storm at the Southern Regional Orientation Workshop (SROW), hosted by Tulane University. In addition to competing among 1,000+ participants from more than 50 schools, SOS members gained invaluable skills by attending workshops on student transitions, engagement strategies, and best practices in orientation.
Months of preparation and training helped UNCG walk away with multiple awards, solidifying our reputation as a powerhouse in orientation leadership:
Best Undergraduate Case Study – Ivan Tarpley & Mac Koffa
Best Communication in Graduate Student Case Study – Shauna Kaplan
2nd Place for School Spirit T-Shirt Design – Brian Flores Lopez & Fatima Raya
2nd Place for Song Performance & Choreography – Isaiah Akinbo & Mac Koffa
(Photo, submitted by Katie Tucker, shows the New Student Transitions team who traveled to New Orleans for SROW.)
Beyond the awards, SOS members returned from SROW with fresh ideas and innovative strategies to ensure an engaging transition for new students at this year’s SOAR. As one orientation leader, Mathew Ambrosino, shared: “I chose sessions that would personally help me with my small groups – hospitality, inclusion, leadership presence – all of which will make me a better guide for new students.”
Leading by Example
The New Student Transitions team also made waves at SROW, presenting three educational sessions:
“Dance It Out: Dance Floor Theory in Orientation” – Shauna Kaplan
“How to Become the Avatar: Master all 4 Elements of Intentionality and Inclusion” – Shauna Kaplan
“Laissez Les Bonnes Compétences Rouler: Let the Good Skills Roll!” – Ivan Tarpley & Mac Koffa
Koffa says presenting at SROW was “exhilarating,” and is proud of her Best Case Study award with teammate, Ivan Tarpley. “It wouldn’t have happened without the culture we’ve been immersed in at UNCG,” she says. “It feels great to be a winner.”
As a dance major, she brings choreography skills to SOAR and has gained confidence from her SOS experience. “I’ve been able to choreograph dances, connect with incoming College of Visual and Performing Arts students, and learn how to better showcase my personality, abilities, and passions,” she says. “Being in front of the entire new class of first years gives me an opportunity to work through my nerves, which helps with my performance skills as an artist as well.”
If you see student leaders like Koffa guiding groups around campus next month, thank them for their hard work. Research shows that a strong orientation experience directly impacts student retention and success. From their award-winning performances to their dedication to first-year student success, our New Student Transitions team is making UNCG shine—not just at SROW, but in shaping the future of every student they welcome to campus.
This is what leadership looks like. This is what success looks like. This is SOAR.
Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications and Katie Tucker, New Student Transitions & First Year Experience.
Photos by Sean Norona, University Communications.
