A monthly update on the undergraduate and graduate experience at MIT
April 20, 2012
Dear students:
Orientation and REX require an effort by the entire campus to welcome our new students to MIT. That’s why the Review Committee on Orientation (RCO), which spent the last year studying how we integrate incoming students, consisted of students, faculty, and staff—people from across the community coming together to study a vital community event.
This spring, the RCO presented its final report to us. We encourage you to read the MIT News story, where you can download the report to read the findings and recommendations that will help us improve the experience for the Class of 2016 and understand where we need to engage in further conversation and study.
This was truly an MIT process. Not only did the committee include stakeholders from across the Institute, but in true MIT fashion the group worked hard to make sure all voices were heard. From faculty and staff to residents of dorms, fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups, the RCO listened to all corners of the campus community.
And the committee complemented these conversations with data. Through direct discussions with students and student leaders from the residential communities, open forums, and an idea bank, the Committee gained insight on what worked and what did not work for students. The student experience was captured in "real-time" through student surveys of the Class of 2015 both during and after Orientation. This data helped quantify the impact of Orientation and where there were shortcomings and enabled the committee to recommend data-driven improvements.
All of us want every incoming freshman to have a positive and productive experience during their first week at MIT. How we achieve this goal must continuously evolve to address the changing needs of students, to incorporate promising new ideas, and to reflect the evolving policies, programs and opportunities at MIT. The members of this committee and the many students who contributed to the process deserve our thanks—their insights and ideas will improve Orientation and REX this year and far into the future.
Sincerely,
Dan Hastings
Dean for Undergraduate Education
Chris Colombo
Dean for Student Life
The MIT student life and learning digest presents topics and useful Institute resources with strong student interest. Students receive it monthly throughout the academic year.
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