Starting college is a big transition, and Winona State University is committed to helping incoming students feel successful as they navigate their new surroundings, explore college life, and meet new friends and classmates.
Winona State Welcome Week is the first taste of college life for most students. The week is packed with events that help first-year students settle in both socially and academically. Through a series of fun and engaging events, students have the opportunity to meet new friends, explore campus, and get a head start on their academic journey.
The support for student growth and continued success doesn’t end with Welcome Week. Incoming students all take the OR 100 course their first semester at Winona State. This one-credit class is designed to give students the tools they need to succeed in college and make the most of their experience.
OR 100 helps students navigate their first few months in college and provides a chance to build meaningful connections with peers.
“Students who participate in the OR 100 course, in general, are better equipped for college life at Winona State and have opportunities to experience meaningful connections with others,” said Jessica Siebenbruner, Winona State Psychology Professor and Orientation Leader. “These foundational experiences can set the stage for student success throughout their undergraduate tenure.”
In order to support student success for all types of students — including transfer students and online learners – this fall Winona State launched its new Online Orientation, sponsored in part by the Winona State Foundation. This project implements an engaging online orientation to serve and support incoming Winona State students who are unable to attend an on-campus orientation or who could benefit from a supplemental source of orientation information.
“With pre-recorded video workshops on various topics and a dynamic, vibrant interface that is easy to navigate and explore, the content and information housed within the system will continue to serve as a valued resource throughout the time a student attends WSU,” said Tammy Reed, Winona State Outreach and Communication Coordinator. “This well-developed online orientation allows students to feel more confident, more connected, and prepared to thrive both socially and academically regardless of their age, campus affiliation, preferred course modality, or previous experience with higher education.”
For those seeking a more adventurous start, Winona State offers Warrior Expeditions, a three-day outdoor pre-orientation program that’s all about bonding with fellow students and exploring the natural beauty of the Driftless Region.
According to Mike Henderson, Director of the Outdoor Education and Recreation Center at Winona State, Warrior Expeditions is a unique opportunity to create lasting friendships with other incoming students while engaging in outdoor recreational activities. Participants work with current student leaders who can share valuable tips for navigating college, and even get ahead in their first semester, earning an activity wellness credit before the semester begins.
“We focus on shared experiences to create a bond around working together to achieve common goals, whether it be cooking dinner, setting up camp, or climbing Sugar Loaf,” said Henderson.
Warrior Expeditions, which is now in its 10th year at Winona State, has a persistence rate of more than 90 percent, meaning almost all participants successfully transition to college life and return to Winona State for their second year of college.
Whether it’s in the classroom, online or perched high over the Mississippi River Valley, ongoing investments in orientation programming are just one way Winona State University — which has the highest student success rate in the entire Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system — continues to invest in student success.
More information on New Student Registration and Orientation at Winona State University is available on the Admissions website.
