New students take first step toward academic success with orientation program
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — About 5,300 new students are participating in the Purdue University Boiler Gold Rush student orientation program through Friday (Aug. 19).
"Students truly enjoy having fun during the Boiler Gold Rush program, but in addition to that, every aspect of the program is strategic and is laying a foundation for student success," said Daniel Carpenter, interim director of Student Access, Transition and Success Programs. "Research shows that students who participate in these programs are more likely to succeed in school and graduate. At Purdue, we've seen higher retention and graduation rates for students who participate compared to those who do not."
Boiler Gold Rush began this weekend, with 470 student volunteers helping students move into the residence halls. The students spend the week in small teams as they participate in a variety of activities such as campus tours, UnionFest, and Late Night at the Recreational Sports Center. Other activities during the week include information sessions about residence halls, academic life, athletics, student life and campus resources. Students also will learn about campus initiatives such as the AlcoholEdu educational program and the Common Reading program.
"There is a lot of information to share with students as we help them acclimate to campus," Carpenter said. "We use an enthusiastic format that is student driven. Our new students are introduced to some of Purdue's top students who are strong campus leaders and who represent a diverse group of interests and areas of campus life."
Students work with Student Access, Transition and Success Programs to plan programming, and 470 current undergraduate students serve as the student leaders who actually deliver the program.
The event concludes with the Boiler Up! Community Action Day at noon Friday (Aug. 19). There are 23 agencies offering a variety of projects for students to select. Activities include landscaping at Almost Home Humane Society, washing disaster vehicles for the American Red Cross, preparing gardens for Feast of the Hunters Moon and sorting clothes at Trinity Mission.
Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu
Source: Dan Carpenter, 765-496-3618, dwcarpen@purdue.edu