New Jaguars get head start during summer orientation
Students beginning their journey at Texas A&M University-Victoria this fall are getting an early introduction to campus life through New Student Orientation, a series designed to prepare students before the start of the fall semester.
Hosted by the Student Services Department, the program welcomed incoming students and their guests to campus for a structured day that blends information, advising and community-building. The goal is to ensure students arrive in the fall already registered for classes, familiar with key offices and confident about their next steps, said Hannah Hayward, A&M-Victoria director of Student Services.
“When students come here in the fall, whether they’re living on campus or commuting, we want them to be connected to campus and the resources available,” Hayward said. “We want them to know that we are here to help them succeed.”
Attendance for this year’s orientation series has been strong, Hayward said. The session on May 29 saw more than 90 incoming students. The most recent orientation session held on Monday, June 29 saw 97 students, the largest in orientation history, according to Hayward. The next orientation session, planned for July 11 currently has 50 students registered but slots are expected to fill up quickly, she said.
Each orientation date follows a consistent schedule, so all participants receive the same information and support. The day began with a check-in at 8:30 a.m., where students received a campus map and program schedule before the official welcome session at 9 a.m.
During the welcome, university leadership and Student Government Association officers introduced students to the campus community and encouraged involvement from day one. Orientation staff also offered practical guidance on navigating the transition from high school to college, Hayward said.
Additionally, a faculty panel brought together professors from the different colleges who frequently teach first and second-year students. They outlined expectations in the classroom, highlighted differences in university coursework and shared strategies to help new Jaguars adjust to college-level academics.
Mid-morning, students moved into a session known as Jag to Jag, where they met with orientation leaders and interacted with other new students in a more informal setting. In this session, students focused more on life on campus, campus culture and peer connection, Hayward said. While students participated in Jag to Jag, parents and guests attended a separate session on supporting their Jaguar. Staff members provided an overview of topics such as FERPA, financial aid, student support services and ways families can remain engaged while encouraging student independence.
After the morning sessions, students meet with advisors to register for classes. Advising groups were organized by college, giving students the chance to encounter peers in the same field of study and begin forming small cohorts. While students registered for classes, parents and guests participated in Exploration Power Hour, a session that guides them through key campus locations. The tour helped families visualize where their students will study, seek support and spend free time.
Lunch was provided for students and guests catered by Chartwells, the university’s dining partner. The same lunch format is offered at each orientation session.
The afternoon centers around a resource fair where incoming students have the chance to connect with various campus resources and departments while enjoying an ice cream treat. Students who are interested in attending the next summer orientation session, planned for July 11, can register through the Alumni Connect website at https://tamuvalumni.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2043069.
The orientation fee is $50 per student and $50 per guest, which helps cover program materials, meals and other related expenses. The deadline to register for the July 11 session is on July 9.
In addition to the summer orientation series, new students have another opportunity to connect through Jaguar Journey, a multi-day program held the weekend before classes begin, Hayward said. Jaguar Journey is set for Aug. 19, immediately after freshman move into their residence halls and continues through Aug. 22. The program is free and is open to all incoming students, even if they attended New Student Orientation. Admission counselors and recruiters will send registration details to students via their university email address, Hayward said.
For incoming student Kasiia Anderson, her arrival at A&M-Victoria marked a fresh start and clearer path toward her goals. A Houston native, she transferred from the University of Houston and will be a junior psychology major this fall.
Having attended classes in-person at UH, the demands of her schedule made it difficult to stay on track, she said. After looking at different universities, Anderson said she chose A&M-Victoria because of the options it had, and the transition to a small campus environment has already made a positive impression, she said.
During orientation, she attended sessions that introduced her to campus resources and student support services. Particularly, she enjoyed time with the student orientation leaders, who shared with her practical insights about navigating campus and making the most of available opportunities. As she prepares to embark on her first semester at A&M-Victoria, Anderson plans to build a strong career in education. After completing her bachelor's degree in psychology, she intends to enter a student teaching program and then return to school to pursue a master’s degree in special education.
“I just like how everybody’s been very involved at orientation to make sure we aren’t lost in the process,” Anderson said. “I feel really good about it because there are so many people here who support me.”
Texas A&M University-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the colleges of Business, Education & Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, and Natural & Applied Science. A&M-Victoria provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as online classes that students can take from anywhere. The university supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.