West Virginia University freshmen and transfer students are getting  their first taste of campus life during a series of new student orientation sessions.

The one-day and day-and-a-half orientation programs began on Monday, June 11, and will run through Friday, June 29. For students unable to attend in June, two orientation sessions are planned for Aug. 15-16, just before the start of fall classes.

According to new student orientation coordinator Regan Fritsch-Bruni, WVU conducted its orientation programs in July in past years. This year, however, the orientation sessions will take place in June to better accommodate incoming students and WVU faculty and staff.

“Most of the students are graduating at the end of May or in June. This way, once they graduate from high school, the next step is to come to orientation. In past years, they had an entire month off before going to orientation,”Fritsch-Bruni said.”Also, we give placement exams during orientation, so this will put the exams closer to when their academic year concludes.”

In addition, the earlier orientation sessions will allow WVU a little more time to plan for fall classes and hire additional staff, if necessary.

New students and their parents or guests will not only tour campus and get their picture ID cards, but they will also experience dorm life during their stay at the Evansdale Residential Complex.

Other planned activities include placement exams, meetings with academic advisors and a sample of the popular WVUp All Night program. Participants will be introduced to the Career Services Center and Career Success Academy, learn about WVU s more than 250 clubs and organizations, computer labs and facilities and generally get more familiar with the University and what it has to offer.

They will also meet Resident Faculty Leaders and hear about the Mountaineer Parents Club.