Thank you for completing this poll on overnight orientation trips at Middlebury College! We are hoping to use these results in order to reimagine and redesign the orientation program to better serve the needs of our student body.
Historically, the overnight portion of the orientation program—which included a wide variety of Outdoor, Vermont Exploration, and Community Connection trips—had a large impact on the lives of incoming students. Research into outdoor orientation programs has shown that they can greatly increase student satisfaction, feelings of belonging and inclusion, and retention rates (when these programs are designed thoughtfully and implemented with care!).
Before we bring a proposal to the administration, we want your feedback! If you are interested in being more involved in designing and advocating for overnight orientation trips, have any questions, comments, or concerns, or just want to learn more about this, please email: mmc@middlebury.edu, jbuxbaum@middlebury.edu, or claine@middlebury.edu.