PRAIRIE VIEW, TX – While transitioning from high school to college is an exciting time for many students, the process comes with challenges. Therefore, the College of Agriculture & Human Sciences (CAHS) annual first-year orientation attempts to ease the transition.
The informal meeting allows students to meet other first-year students and hear from the dean, the department head, faculty, and staff about classroom expectations, explain extracurricular opportunities, introduce students to the culture, and provide best practices for academic success.
Dean and Executive Director of the Land-Grant Programs, Gerard D’Souza, Ph.D., opened the event with a hearty CAHS Welcome and went over the history of the Land-Grant Institution and Mission.
Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Programs Kwaku Addo, Ph.D., then stressed the importance of having High-Impact Educational Practices.
According to The American Association of Colleges and Universities, High-impact practices are educational opportunities proven to improve student success, especially among historically underserved students.
A few of the High-Impact Education practices that Dr. Addo mentioned were:
- Attend your classes; Sit in the front row.
- Research: Talk with the research scientists for opportunities
- Study abroad to explore other cultures and worldview
- Apply for internships to gain experience in a work setting.
- Get involved by joining a student organization or an extracurricular activity.
During the event, a few upperclassmen shared encouraging words and discussed their journey on the hill. Corina Morris, a senior student pursuing a degree in animal sciences, received $30,000 in scholarships throughout her studies. “No matter what
CAHS senior Corina Morris
hardships you face, you are here for a reason, you’ll experience challenges, but your resilience is what matters the most,” she stressed. Morris plans to attend graduate school upon graduating in December.
The event concluded with all first-year students introducing themselves and sharing their aspirations. As of August 24, CAHS enrolled approximately 60 first-year students, 25 transfer- first-time undergraduates, and 15 readmits.
La’Beaula Times
Communication Specialist
lstimes@pvamu.edu
