Mission & Goals

MISSION

The Office of Student Orientation and Transition creates an introduction to the University of Maryland community to new students and their supporters. As students transition to their new environment, we guide them along their educational journey through our programming and courses to prepare them for success on campus and beyond.

STRATEGIC GOALS

The Office of Student Orientation and Transition has adopted the following goals in an effort to fulfill the mission. These strategic goals are:

Build a foundation of community and resources for new students

• We create a foundation of Terrapin pride and introduce new students to their campus environment.
• We foster a sense of community through engaging activities that encourage students to form connections.
• We provide opportunities for students to learn about campus resources that promote student success in and out of the classroom.

Prepare supporters to assist new Terps in their transition through education and engagement

• We set expectations for supporters by providing next steps and techniques to ease their Terps’ transition.
• We empower supporters to become strong advocates for their students' success by introducing them to campus resources.
• We encourage supporters to develop a sense of community among each other and campus partners.

Empower students to engage in opportunities that promote personal and professional growth and development

• We train instructors and peer educators with a holistic approach to support student success.
• We create courses and programming based on student’s transitional needs to improve retention and sense of belonging.