The 2002 CAS Standards (Council For the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education) argue that “Every American college student should have as a basic right, the opportunity to a thorough and effective orientation.” Orientation is a mirror, a symbol, and a metaphor for what the campus represents, as well as what the institution has to offer. It is an opportunity for the institution to introduce students to the climate and unique aspects of the campus and to the culture and norms. Further, orientation helps shape students' expectations of what lies ahead for them.

Nationally, orientation is becoming a highly sophisticated component of enrollment management that links admissions, orientation, advising, registration, and matriculation.

The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, in conjunction with the National Orientation Directors Association has published a revised edition of Monograph 13. This second edition offers validation and support for the work of orientation, transition, and retention professionals from research based and practical perspectives.

Here are some ways to use this important publication in your work:

1. In supporting a new retention initiative on your campus
2. In making needed changes on your campus by providing decision makers with current facts, figures, and trends on programs influential to these changes
3. In developing orientation leader training programs
4. In teaching credit-bearing courses related to orientation and retention topics
5. In enhancing and supplementing your knowledge base related to present responsibilities
6. In informing campus leadership of current trends and issues in higher education
7. In sharing information with colleagues who are seeking resources for their program responsibilities
8. In creating new programs at your institution
9. In researching a new career area in which you are developing an interest
10. In researching, writing, and publishing on orientation, retention, and transition issues