SPH New Student Orientation for graduate students

Message from Assistant Dean Scot McIntosh re: New Student Orientation:  

I am reaching out to all SPH faculty with this message to provide an update on our New Student Orientation (NSO) Model for Graduate Students entering our programs this fall. I have received a few questions from folks regarding their expectations, and wanted to share broadly as others may have similar questions. 

First, for those of you not aware, we are actively finalizing a SOLE Site that all incoming graduate students will be assigned to. This site contains modules they will need to complete about resources available within the School of Public Health, HSC, and WVU. This resource will remain available to those students throughout the fall and will have an assigned deadline to complete the modules within the first few weeks of the fall semester. 

We are also planning to host an in-person portion of Graduate NSO at the Health Science Center on Thursday, August 10. This in-person portion of NSO is scheduled for 12 PM-3 PM. It is my intention to welcome students from all programs on this date and provide them with lunch. This will be followed by community/relationship-building activities to allow students to get to know their peers better. Our current agenda is as follows:

• Date: Thursday, August 10
• Time: 12:00PM-3PM
• Location: HSC NORTH G-119A 
• *Online students are welcome to attend this in person event if they are local/able
• Schedule: 
  • 12 PM – 1 PM: Welcome from OASA Team with Provided Lunch and Community Building – Faculty are not expected to be present for this portion of NSO
  • 1 PM – 2 PM: Program Based Breakout Sessions Facilitated by Program Directors – Cover Program Handbook (MHA, MPH, MS BIOS, MS IH, MS Pop Health, PhD) – Faculty are not expected to be present for this portion of NSO
  • 2 PM – 3 PM: Meet & Greets/Speed Networking with Faculty – Available faculty are encouraged to attend to meet incoming students!
    • Confirm Your Attendance Here for SPEED NETWORKING
    • The exact format of this activity is subject to change, but details will be made available to those who register to attend prior to the date as we would still like to have an interactive hour with faculty in some capacity.
  • 3 PM: Dismissal

Additionally, our office has worked with the WV Black Bears Baseball team to reserve a large block of 63 tickets together for their game that is scheduled for 6:30 PM at Monongalia County Ball Park on Thursday, August 10. These tickets are being offered first to all incoming students, regardless of program, and we will be working with our student leadership to facilitate rideshares for students who might be interested but unable to attend due to transportation limitations. As the date approaches, we will open that up to all other students, faculty and staff, too. Tickets are available for $12.50 for the event.

Please feel free to reach out with questions you may have, and please know that I will do my best to communicate the final logistics as they are available.