Overview

The Orientation fee covers the costs of staging and running our sessions for new students. This includes all staffing, parking, program materials, overnight stay in the residence hall, and food during your session. The current fee, which has not been increased since 2012, has not kept up with inflation, resulting in a significant gap between available resources and the growing cost of providing a first-rate onboarding experience for our new students. 

Unlike other Category II fees, the Orientation fee is a one-time fee for each student when they attend orientation. The proposed increase allows for enhancements to improve the experience, creating a true recruitment, engagement, and community event.

Proposed Solution

To address this funding gap, we propose a fee increase effective with the 2025-26 academic year. This increase will allow us to provide a robust onboarding experience with enhanced programming for all new students and more engagement opportunities with staff and faculty. The proposed changes will ensure that future Dolphins will continue to have a positive and rewarding onboarding experience.

Pros of Raising the Orientation Fee

• This fee enables CI to offer students a vibrant and comprehensive Orientation experience that will kick start their college career. Engagement opportunities at the start of their time at CI enrich and enhance students’ ties to the campus and their fellow students.
• The proposed fee increase is a vital investment in the larger recruitment and onboarding experience that leads to long-term success for CI's students. Implementing these changes will position CI to keep pace with other world-class universities as competition for students increases
• A positive experience at Orientation is associated with greater student satisfaction with the university and greater retention of students beyond the first year
• The last fee increase was in 2012.  Raising the fee adjusts for inflation and increased operational costs.

Cons of Raising the Orientation Fee

• Without the increase in the one-time Orientation fee, we will not be able to provide the same level or programming for future incoming students.  This includes fewer engagement opportunities, less time with academic advisors, less time with faculty, minimal promotional materials for students, reduced meals, possibly only online Orientation sessions.
• Fewer and less robust engagement opportunities will make the campus less appealing for incoming students as they get their first impression of the campus.  This could impact the overall attractiveness of the university which could result in them changing their minds about attending CI.  
• Potential elimination of the overnight residence hall stay which for many students may be the only opportunity they will have to spend the night on campus.

Student Benefits

• Staffing Increase: The fee increase will allow for hiring additional Orientation Leaders (OLs).  This not only provides additional employment opportunities for students, it also allows for more favorable student to OL ratios thus providing a more intimate and personalized experience for our incoming students.
• More Hours for OLs: The increase allows for more OL working hours which means better and increased engagement with incoming students before, during, and after Orientation to ensure that all incoming students have everything they need to start their time at CI strong.
• Engagement Opportunity Enhancement: Increased funding will allow for an enhanced student experience with more robust activities, entertainment, and promotional materials.