Orientation Mission Statement
Ferris State University takes pride in assisting new students and families in their successful transition to collegiate life. This process begins with admission to Ferris and continues on throughout Orientation and much of their first semester. Through a comprehensive and collaborative institutional effort, students attending Orientation will gain an understanding on how to navigate the MyFSU portal, participate in academic advising, register for classes, become familiar with campus life, and know how to access applicable University policies and procedures. We believe it is very important that new students and families understand the University mission and core values as well as our Code of Student Community Standards.
Ferris State University is excited to welcome new students and their families to our community of active and engaged learners.
Our Orientation Program is designed to accomplish the following objectives:
- To foster a sense of belonging at Ferris, to help students understand the values, traditions, and distinctive characteristics of the University
- To inform students of the opportunities to become an active community member
- To help students become familiar with support services offered by the University
- To help students understand our career oriented mission, including the academic origins of Ferris and an historical sense of its foundations
- To raise student self-awareness of their goals and expectations of campus life
- To communicate the expectations of the University regarding academic responsibility, ethical decision making, good citizenship, personal welfare/safety, and leadership
- To provide models to help students achieve success in their academic life, social relationships, and in/out-of-class learning experiences
- To provide opportunities for students to become acquainted with other students, faculty and staff at the University, and representatives of the Big Rapids community
- To assist students and their families in understanding the adjustments students make while transitioning to college
- To assist students in accessing and becoming familiar with the Bulldog Values