The mission of the Orientation and Reg2Go Programs is to encourage student success by assisting new students through the enrollment process. The programs keep students engaged and excited about their education with the guidance of professional and knowledgeable staff. The programs help to create a respectful, welcoming, and comfortable campus for students to feel connected and supported.
The goal of Orientation is to provide a smooth transition to Butte College for new students. After completing the Orientation Program, new students will be familiar with the registration process, be able to locate their classrooms, and be familiar with the student services available to them. The Orientation Program utilizes highly trained Butte College students as Orientation Leaders. The leaders provide information about student services, help set up My BC/Portal accounts, and lead campus tours during Orientation. Over 3,000 new students will attended Orientation during an academic year. The Reg2Go Program is designed to facilitate and assist high school seniors in their transition to Butte College. The Reg2Go Program consists of three components: Classroom Visits, Assessment/Orientation, and Counseling/Registration. Through the Reg2Go Program, seniors are able to meet their matriculation requirements and register for classes before they graduate from high school. Over 1,300 seniors from over 35 high schools will participate in the Reg2Go Program.
Orientation (SSSP)
Partial costs of faciliating the mandated Orientation Summer and Winter Programs for incoming students.
Reg2Go (SSSP)
Partial costs of faciliating the Reg2Go Program for over 35 local high schools.
We are currently evaluating our SLO's to ensure continuous improvement of the program. Pre/Post Tests have been created and student surveys are being conducted to help determine the content of the Tests. These will be administered during the next school year.
Orientation covers the following topics mandated by title 5 section 55521:
(1) Academic expectations and progress and probation standards:
- During Orientation the Academic Counselors provide a presentation that covers academic expectations and progress and probation policies at Butte College.
(2) Maintaining registration priority:
- During Orientation the Academic Counselors provide a presentation that covers maintaining registration priority at Butte College.
(3) Prerequisite or co-requisite challenge process pursuant to section 55003;
- During the in-person Orientation the Academic Counselors provide a presentation that covers prerequisite and co-requisite policies at Butte College.
(4) Maintaining Board of Governors Fee Waiver eligibility:
- During Orientation the Academic Counselors provide a presentation that covers maintaining Board of Governors Fee Waiver policies at Butte College.
(5) Description of available programs, support services, financial aid assistance, and campus facilities, and how they can be accessed:
- During Orientation the Orientation Leaders provide a detailed campus tour that covers the available programs, support services, financial aid assistance, and campus facilities, and how they can be accessed. Academic Counselors also review academic program and requirements for completion.
(6) Academic calendar and important timelines:
- During Orientation students are given a printed Resource Booklet that covers the academic calendar and important timelines. This information is also reviewed with the assistance of the Orientation Leaders.
(7) Registration and college fees:
- During Orientation students are given a printed Resource Booklet that covers how to register and describes the college fees. This information is also reviewed with the assistance of the Orientation Leaders.
(8) Available education planning services:
- During Orientation the Academic Counselors provide a presentation that covers educational planning services at Butte College. This information is also shared during the campus tour that is facilitated by the Orientation Leaders.
Orientation supports the college in meeting its Strategic Direction and Priorities by:
Enhancing a Culture of Completion and Academic Achievement
Connection (1.a.2.) – The Reg2Go Program collaborates with over 35 local high schools to create a seamless and supportive matriculation process for their students.
Entry (1.b.2.) – The Orientation and Reg2Go Program facilitates the educational planning and registration of new students and provides them with Abbreviated Student Educational Plans (ASEP).
Enhancing a Culture of Inclusiveness
(6.3.) The Reg2Go Program reaches out to unrepresented groups at the high schools with targeted follow-up visits.
Reg2Go Recommendations and Action/Updates
- Whenever possible, bring a former student from the respective high school with the counselors to provide real life stories during classroom visitation. We have hired three Recruitment and Outreach Technicians who will be doing the school visitations. The Technicians all have recent personal experience related to college that they can share with the prospective students.
- Develop educational plans that tell students what courses to take beyond their first semester. Create a clearer template for progression to the AA degree and/or transfer. Develop a suggested semester-by-semester pathway/outline to meet certificate, AA degree, and 4-year transfer requirements. We are still working to improve the planning related to pathways and templates for students to access when choosing majors.
- Ensure a maximum ratio of 10 students to one counselor during registration process; reduce the ratio as funding permits. The ratio of student to counselor has been improved with additional funding and better planning.
- Explore ways to follow up with students who did not actually register for classes. Our Recruitment and Outreach Technicians will be following up with students after Orientation.
- Assist high schools with transportation to orientation sessions. With the increase in schools participating in Reg2Go it would not be feasible to cover transportation costs.
Orientation Recommendations and Action/Updates
- Consider moving sexual violence training to an online format, perhaps by adding a Safe Place video to Roadrunner Prep. Safe Place is exploring additional formats that would support the in-person presentation at Orientation.
- Move the campus tour to morning. This is still being discussed with the other departments involved in Orientation.
- Provide water. This is being considered.
- Sell food (explore possibility of $1 menu at Campus Center). We now provide snacks to the participants.
- Extend the registration and counseling portion of orientation to two hours (necessary to meet SB 1456 requirements). The counseling portion is now two hours.
- Explore need for separate orientation for non-traditional students. This is still being considered.
- Pilot an abbreviated evening orientation or weekend orientation for working students. We now have a weekend session at the Chico Center.
- Pursue funding as available to address lack of space and lack of access to computer labs. This is still being considered and discussed.
- Implement an additional post-assessment 4-6 weeks into the first semester in order to better assess the program’s overall effectiveness. We have started to assess students as suggested.
- Continue to ensure that we are meeting the guidlines described in SB 1456 (SSSP).
- Continue to develop and refine our SLO's.
- Improve department morale.
Strategy 1 - Roadrunner Rush
Annual event for new students.
Roadrunner Rush is one of the main Welcome Events for new students prior to the start of the semester. There will be academic workshops, motivational speakers, prizes and other activities to get students excited about starting school and show them the support they have available.
Strategy 2 - Leadership Academy
Training for Student Leaders.
Leadership Academy helps prepare our student leaders for Orientation, involvement in student government, student clubs and other activities on campus. The Academy is a one week event that focuses on the individual leader becoming more aware of their learning style, their strengths, and how to use their strengths in different settings.
Strategy 3 - NODA Travel
Training for Student Leaders.
The mission of NODA is to provide education, leadership and professional development in the fields of college student orientation, transition and retention. Providing professional growth opportunities for our staff helps to ensure we are providing the best program for our new students.
Strategy 4 - Orientation Leaders and Supplies
Student Leaders, printed material, supplies, etc.
We are continually creating new Orientations programs, processes, and services for targeted groups (Foster Youth, DSPS, Veterans, etc.) and this often comes with additional cost for staff and/or material.
Orientation Budget
Reg2Go Budget
| Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
| Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
| 1 | Orientation | Operating Expenses | 11.000.708.1.639006 | 54200 | $0.00 | $2,000.00 |
| Duplicating Supplies | The Orientation Resource Booklet contains information that new students need the day of their orientation and during their first semester. We also print hard copies of the Butte College catalog to make it easier for students and counselors to use at Orientation. We use approximately 650 catalogs. |
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| 2 | Reg2Go | Operating Expenses | 11.000.701.1.620002 | 54200 | $0.00 | $2,000.00 |
| Duplicating Supplies | The Orientation Resource Booklet contains information that new students need the day of their orientation and during their first semester. We also print hard copies of the Butte College catalog to make it easier for students and counselors to use at Orientation. We use approximately 650 catalogs. |
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| 3 | Orientation | Operating Expenses | 11.000.708.1.639006 | 55890 | $5,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Roadrunner Rush Supplies | Provides opportunity for new students to connect with other students and programs. The expenses include $2,500 for team builder, $2000 for food/drinks, and $500 for supplies and printing. |
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| 4 | Orientation | Operating Expenses | 11.000.708.1.639006 | 55890 | $1,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Leadership Academy | Targeted for student leaders – This is equivalent to BCLDI for students. It is a way to invest in our student leaders. Leadership Academy is held the first week following the end of the Spring term and participation is mandatory for orientation leaders. Cost includes food, non-instructional supplies and StrengthsFinder codes. |
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| 5 | Orientation | Operating Expenses | 11.000.708.1.639006 | 55200 | $2,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Registration for NODA | Our staff can receive a great deal of exposure to other orientation programs at the NODA Conference. Many of the program revisions that have been implemented over the past 5 years are the direct result of Butte College sending staff to NODA. |
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| 6 | Reg2Go | Operating Expenses | 11.000.701.1.620002 | 55240 | $2,000.00 | $0.00 |
| Reg2Go Counselor Breakfast and Parent Orientation | Reg2Go Fall Counselor Breakfast is the one time during the year when the entire program is reviewed with our partners at the high schools. Since Reg2Go takes place during the work day, Parent Orientation allows parents to hear about the program and the services available to the students. This understanding helps parents support their students. |
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