Averett University: Dean of Students

New Student Orientation

Welcome from the Dean of Students

Four years may seem like a long time, but they go by quickly. The college experience involves a series of very important tasks that need to be completed. Chief among them are successfully adjusting to college life, gaining a solid understanding of your values and interests, deciding what to major in, understanding what you can do with this major, finding a job or gaining admission to graduate school after commencement.

Ideally, each year should build nicely on the solid foundation that you establish the year before. Otherwise, you have to spend additional time and money repairing a poor performance record. The trick to staying ahead in the game is to:

understand the process and what is expected of you
set short and long-term goals for yourself
learn to say “no” to activities and friends that do not support your goals
create a weekly schedule and manage your time wisely
do everything that you can to do well academically
go to every class, read material in advance, take and review your notes
become involved in campus activities and community service projects
get to know your professors and others who can advise you
continually think about what you are doing and where you want to be at the end of your college experience

And remember, you are not in this alone. There are lots of folks on campus who have devoted their lives to helping students with these issues – advisors, faculty, and student development professionals. Additionally, there are workshops, programs and support services offered throughout the academic year which are specifically designed to assist you with these concerns. Don’t be afraid or too proud to ask for help! You will find these individuals to be very knowledgeable and understanding about what you are feeling and experiencing. Averett really is about students!