News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Tennessee Tech opening registration Tuesday for the SOAR Program, the university’s summer orientation required for all freshmen.
New Student and Family Programs Director Courtney Brehm said the program is a two-day event where incoming freshmen learn about the various departments and resources available to them. Brehm said these freshmen are assigned a current Tech student who will guide them around campus and answer questions.
“We want our students to be successful of course, so just making sure that we are starting them off on the right foot, that they have that information,” Brehm said. “They know who to go to, they know that if they’re struggling they know the academic resources or they know they can go visit our counseling center.”
Brehm said there are ten different orientation sessions available to sign up for throughout the summer. Brehm said there are a limited number of spots in each session to ensure that each student gets a positive and personal experience where they can connect with people.
“Usually it’s around like 215 to 220, somewhere in that range,” Brehm said. “We do have enough seats for every incoming student to attend SOAR so that’s not really a concern.”
Brehm said a good chunk of freshmen attend the event on their own but families are encouraged and welcome to join their students for the orientation. Brehm said it can be helpful for students to have another person with them as they are given a lot of information during the session.
“It’s going to give the parent or the family member some of that comfort as well, just them being able to see the campus, hear that information, and know that they’re leaving their student in good hands with us,” Brehm said.
Brehm said students can register for SOAR on the Tennessee Tech website.
“We want students to be able to really see themselves and picture themselves here as Golden Eagles, as Tennessee Tech students,” Brehm said. “Not every student that comes to SOAR has come on a campus tour and so for a lot of students that maybe haven’t come on a campus tour this is their first glimpse.”
