Heathyr Johnson among new KU orientation assistants, coordinators

2014 Mar 19

The University of Kansas Office of First-Year Experience has announced 17 new orientation assistants and two orientation coordinators for the 2014-2015 year, including Heathyr Johnson, of Olathe. Johnson, an orientation assistant, is the daughter of Anna and Steven Johnson and a graduate of Olathe East High School. She is a senior in secondary English education.

Orientation assistants are students whose job is to make the transition to KU a positive and engaged experience. These OAs will guide first-year students and their families through their orientation, assist with advising and enrollment, answer questions and offer their perspective on life as a Jayhawk.

Orientation coordinators are former orientation assistants selected to assist the Office of First-Year Experience in helping new students and families through the transition to KU. OCs are selected based on their past contributions to the orientation program, knowledge of the university, and their record of academic success and campus involvement.

Students beginning KU in the fall 2014 semester will attend orientation and enroll in classes starting in April for transfer students and June for freshmen. Orientation programs continue throughout the summer. OAs and OCs will serve more than 10,000 new students, parents and guests as part of the orientation program.

First-Year Experience works in partnership with new students to create environments that help them discover, engage and belong at KU. Established in 2012, First-Year Experience houses transition programs like Orientation and Hawk Week, and Hawk Days, as well as academic engagement programs such as the KU Common Book, University 101, First-Year Seminars and Learning Communities. These programs contribute to the KU’s goal to increase year one to year two retention to 90 percent and the six-year graduation rate to 70 percent. First-Year Experience provides resources to help both freshmen and transfer students to have a successful start at the university and to support their process of earning a degree.