Orientation Provides a Solid Foundation for New Students

Alyssa Pitre '23OD is ready to start her professional career at Salus University. But after listening to an hour-and-a-half lecture about loans on the first day of the Fall 2019 Student Orientation Week, she had some reassessing to do.

“It really made me realize I’m going to have to rethink my spending habits,” said Pitre, a native of Florida who completed her undergraduate studies at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. “I’m definitely a spender and not a saver.”

It was just one of the many pieces of useful advice for the incoming students, who could take advantage of all that the three-day orientation provides before starting classes on Monday, Aug. 19.

The resource fair is a way for students to not only meet different service departments on campus – like the technology and learning resource Center, the Center for Personal and Professional Development, the on-campus clinical facilities  – but also external organizations brought in by the University such as insurance companies, Temple Physicians clinic, and Campus Philly, which provides information about the Philadelphia area to the students.

New this year for Orientation is a student lounge in the Hafter Student Community Center gymnasium, which gives new students a chance to meet others, play some games, have their caricature drawn and hear from student council representatives and student ambassadors.

“We wanted a place for students to just hang out and relax before they go off into the specific orientations in the afternoon,” said Monica Maisto, director of Admissions at the University. “A place for them to mingle and have fun.”

Gabriela Rachmaciej, ‘23AUD, from Parsippany, N.Y., said she chose Salus because when she visited the campus the first time, she was impressed with what the University had to offer.

“Right away when I visited and saw all the labs and equipment they had, I knew Salus was the right place for me,” said Rachmaciej. She said she enjoyed listening to University President Dr. Michael Mittelman, speak to the students, but she was particularly interested in learning more about getting involved on campus.

“I think I will be applying to be a student ambassador,” she said. “I think that’s a really interesting and fun way to get involved.”

It is, according to current student ambassador Jimmy Brand, ‘22AUD.

“I’m here telling the students about the University and ambassador program and it seems to be really positive,” said Brand. “We have people sitting down in groups talking to others in their programs and about the campus resources. I’m happy that I’m an ambassador. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Maisto said that 322 new students will participate in the three days of Orientation.

“This helps them transition to the University, get acclimated to their program and meet new people,” she said. “A lot of them are coming from out of town, so for some, this is their first time in Philadelphia. We’re getting them acclimated to the area and helping them to be successful students here.”

Sarah Gallagher, ‘23AUD, was one student who didn’t have to travel far. She was able to comfortably make the trip to the Elkins Park, Pa. campus from nearby Willow Grove, Pa.  

“It was right down the road for me and one of my undergraduate teachers knew a number of the professors here, so I looked into it,” she said. “It was nice hearing from the president and I’m looking forward to learning more about our program.”

Orientation Week concluded Friday, Aug. 16, with the White Coat ceremony at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.