This presentation explores how student staff in orientation programs help support both incoming students and their parents or supporters during the transition to college by building trust, easing anxiety, and improving communication through empathy and emotional awareness. It highlights the dual impact of these interactions—strengthening family confidence in the institution while also fostering professional and personal development in student leaders.

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This presentation explains how incorporating “choice” or passive programming options in orientation and transition programs improves accessibility, inclusivity, and student engagement by allowing participants to engage in ways that meet their individual needs and preferences. It also connects these design choices to broader equity and accessibility goals, emphasizing that intentional flexibility in programming benefits all students while strengthening institutional practice.

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This presentation outlines the University of Oregon’s “Your Story, Our Story” orientation program, a structured DEI-focused activity designed to help incoming students reflect on their identities, share experiences, and build community through guided large- and small-group discussions. It emphasizes the importance of intentional staff training and facilitation strategies to create inclusive, opt-in spaces where students can safely engage in conversations about identity and belonging during their transition to college.

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