NEMCC prepares free online orientation course

BOONEVILLE, Miss. – Orientation sessions for students enrolling at Northeast Mississippi Community College for the first time have evolved through the years from a two-day, overnight event to a more streamlined half-day session.

Obviously, in these uncertain times more changes are necessary.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place, officials at Northeast have designed an on-line Orientation course that will not only provide those first-time students with the information they need to enroll in the fall semester, but also afford them the opportunity to earn one hour of college credit.

“The course would present all the same information as the weekly orientation sessions we’ve employed over the last few summers,” Northeast president Dr. Ricky G. Ford said.

“Our staff, in particular our Orientation committee, has done an outstanding job putting this course together, especially under these circumstances.”

Vice president of instruction Dr. Michelle Baragona said the course would include general campus information, detailed information from each office involved with registration, meetings with an advisor and financial aid staff, as well as a virtual campus tour.

“We will use an actual registered course, so we can keep up with what the students have completed in the registration process, help them navigate meeting with an advisor, answer financial aid questions, and complete the requirements for admissions,” Baragona explained.

“The course would be offered in the summer and the College Life course would pick up in the fall semester. This would help us maintain the personalized experience of Summer Orientation that we have worked hard to develop over the last two years.”

Classes will open June 1 in sections of 100 to 120 students. Each section would be taught by a counselor, success coach or division head, who will monitor the student’s progress through the course and provide encouragement for the student to complete the course during the first two weeks.

Additional courses in July are scheduled to capture any students that are registering later.

“We are working on providing the same course in a format for students without a device (cell phone, iPad, tablet, etc.) or home internet,” Baragona continued.

The credit hour would count in the General Studies curriculum.

Tuition and Fees for the course will be waived, so it is free to all students.

For more information or to register for the Orientation course, visit www.nemcc.edu.