Orientation is the first step to finding belonging in college. It is changing post-pandemic.

Many colleges are still adjusting to the lingering impact of COVID-19 shutdowns that kept students out of physical schools at key points in their social development. As a result, some institutions are rethinking their freshman orientation programs, adding new options and doing more to help students forge relationships. Colleges have another reason to try to get orientation right: It’s the first step to building belonging and, hopefully, convincing students to stay. That’s especially important for first-generation students and those transferring from other schools.