A marathon month for the orientation coordinator

Surprise academic major changes first thing in the morning. Twelve hours of dashing around campus. A friendly smile and "welcome" for hundreds of students and families. For Kim Ferguson, orientation coordinator on the new student programs team, it's a typical day in June.

Her first day on the job, just over a year ago, was the day before first-year orientation started. As orientation staff prepared for the jam-packed days ahead and she learned the ropes, she remembered her time as an Iowa State student and felt thankful for the energy and effort of the employees who make orientation a success.

"I was a Cyclone Aide so it was all flooding back to me during that first month," she said. "It was a great experience jumping in to help and learn at the same time."

This year, Ferguson played an instrumental role in planning the fall orientation experience for students who started this spring as well as the summer orientation for an estimated 5,700 students on campus this month getting ready for the fall semester.

Though she is the primary coordinator for in-person orientation, planning and executing orientation is an all-hands-on-deck project for the new student programs team and more than 200 employees across campus working on orientation, she said.

"In my role, I'll address things that pop up during orientation, like students registering last minute, providing support during sessions and working with the college orientation coordinators," she added. "Each of us on the new student programs team supports specific events or areas. Everyone is involved in the orientation process and making it a success."

8 a.m., Check-in and registration

Ferguson starts her day at orientation registration in the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center. Bouncing between the check-in table and registration room where Cyclone Aides are handing out schedules for the day-and-a-half-long sessions, she greets a steady stream of students, families and guests.

When they arrive, students and families glance around the lobby before approaching the check-in table. Their faces relax as Ferguson offers a warm welcome, answering questions about the schedule and where to go next before they head to the registration room. She makes quick phone calls to college orientation staff between conversations to share updates about academic major changes and attendance so there are no surprises when students arrive at their college sessions that afternoon.

"Typically we have a staff member in the registration room with the Cyclone Aides and another at the check-in table to help with questions from students and families," she said. "Changes to academic majors are common so we help coordinate with the college when a student makes a change so they know where to go."

Ferguson visits with a new student and family members during orientation registration at the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center. — Kim Ferguson (left) visits with a new student and family members during orientation registration at the Hixson-Lied Student Success Center.

1 p.m., Session for families

Ferguson stands near the entrance to the Great Hall as parents and guests listen to a speaker and panel at the family session. She welcomes a few latecomers and gives instructions to the Cyclone Aides handing out prizes during an icebreaker activity. She scans the room, keeping an eye out for visitors with a question or a signal for assistance from the presenter.

Ferguson helps organize Being New at ISU and Key Topics for Family Members and provides a helping hand while Cyclone Aide advisors and new student programs and admissions staff present about safety, housing, wellness and other information for the incoming Cyclones and their guests. Ferguson said many of the sessions offered at orientation are designed for loved ones seeking guidance during this transition.

"Key Topics for Family Members is really geared toward supporting families, providing facts they want to know and helping them support their student during orientation," she said. "We try to tailor our content to what parents and families want to know, and it's also helpful for them to hear from current students during our Cyclone Aide panel so they can learn about what worked for these students as they prepare to support their own student."

Ferguson, right, presents a gift Iowa State youth tee shirt to Landon Motter, 6, of Des Moines, while his father, Scott, mother, Kaitlyn, and incoming student and big sister, Mariah Motter look on during orientation registration. — Kim Ferguson (lower right) presents an Iowa State youth T-shirt to Landon Motter, 6, of Des Moines, while his father, Scott, mother, Kaitlyn, and incoming student and big sister, Mariah Motter, look on during orientation registration.

6 p.m., Dinner

After a full day of attending informational sessions and connecting with their colleges to prepare for advising and fall course registration the following day, students and families relax at dinner where they can chat with Cyclone Aides. Ferguson is on hand to help students feel comfortable and confident as they wrap up the first day of orientation and look ahead to a shorter, but still busy, day two.

Being present throughout the day and at later events -- dinner, evening activities at the Lied Recreation Center and ice cream at Maple Hall -- reflects the new student programs team's commitment to personalizing the orientation experience for each student. Ferguson also credits the Cyclone Aides for contributing to an atmosphere where connections flourish and incoming students feel more at ease as they prepare to become Cyclones in the fall.

"The new student programs staff is really passionate about being supportive and fun and helping students feel confident navigating their college experience," she said. "It's about meeting students where they're at. We tell them, 'This is a big step but there are people here to support you.'"