ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the role of orientation in student development, the emergent nature of orientation programs at community colleges, the organizational context for orientation departments, and the sources of orientation funding. Student orientation leaders may be paid for their efforts, elevating the role from volunteer to paid employee. Student-faculty relationships, curriculum, and teaching are other environmental factors core to student development. The chapter addresses the rise of mandatory orientation programs, the development of these programs for special populations, the creation of online orientation resources, and the increased professionalism of orientation staff. As the number of institutions developing online orientation programs continues to grow, community colleges are well positioned to provide information on a variety of best practices to various types of institutions. A notable trend in community college orientation programs is the increased professionalism of orientation staff. The increased professionalism of orientation professionals may elevate the status of orientation from fluff to substance in the minds of skeptics.
