Orientation is one of the most important experiences a new student will have.

It sets the tone for their transition into college life, helps them feel confident navigating new systems, and makes them feel like they belong. 

But orientation is also one of the easiest programs for institutions to overlook. Once it’s launched, it can easily become a “set-it-and-forget-it” initiative that fails to evolve alongside students’ needs, expectations, and behaviors.

If you’re unsure whether your orientation is still doing its job, whether it’s in person, online, or a hybrid of the two, here are five clear signs it may be time for a refresh.

5 Key Signs It’s Time to Revamp Your Student Orientation

1. You’re Receiving the Same Questions After Orientation Ends

If students continue to ask how to register for classes, pay tuition or housing fees, access support services, or use their student portal even after going through orientation, that’s a red flag. Something isn’t sticking.

This could mean that:

• Important content is missing.
• The information isn’t being explained thoroughly.
• The delivery format makes it difficult for students to absorb or retain.

In-person programs might suffer from pacing or delivery issues. Online orientations can stumble with clarity, accessibility, or navigation. And hybrid approaches may feel disorganized, with students struggling to retain information while switching between platforms. In all cases, repeated confusion signals it’s time to adjust.

2. Students Are Skimming, Skipping, or Tuning Out

On digital platforms, it’s often obvious when students are clicking through without fully engaging, skipping videos, rushing through slides, or ignoring important modules. In person, the same problem shows up as disengagement: students checking their phones, zoning out, or waiting for the session to end.

If your orientation feels like a lecture or a compliance exercise, students won’t retain what they need most. Updating the experience to be interactive, student-centered, and practical will help keep their attention where it matters.
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3. You Haven’t Revisited It Since Gen Z Entered Higher Ed

If your orientation hasn’t had a meaningful update in the past few years, it’s probably out of step with today’s students. Gen Z (and soon, Gen Alpha) bring different needs and expectations to the table.

Attention spans are shorter, down almost 2 minutes in the last twenty years. Anxiety around transitions are higher. Communication norms have shifted toward visual, authentic, and bite-sized content. In fact, 59% of Gen Z prefer YouTube as their top method for learning. Even a “new” orientation built in 2020 may feel dated in 2025. The post-pandemic years have reshaped both students’ lives and their expectations, so your orientation should evolve just as quickly.

4. The Orientation Design Feels More Like a PowerPoint Than an Experience

Design matters. Whether your program relies on a slide deck, a printed binder, an in-person lecture, or a clunky web platform, students notice when something feels outdated or thrown together. That perception directly impacts how seriously they take the orientation itself.

A refreshed orientation should be polished, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. Branding, flow, and content design should align with your institution’s culture and values. When done well, orientation design signals that you respect students’ time and that you’re invested in their success.

5. You’re Not Collecting or Reviewing Student Feedback

Without student feedback, it’s impossible to know how well your orientation is working. If you don’t have a post-orientation survey, or if you haven’t looked at your results in years, then you’re essentially flying blind.

Student feedback doesn’t have to be complicated to collect, but it should be consistent. It will tell you what’s resonating, what’s unclear, and where improvements are needed. Just as importantly, gathering feedback after making changes shows whether your updates are actually effective or whether more work is still needed.

Small Refreshes, Big Results

Refreshing your orientation doesn’t mean starting from scratch. Sometimes, it’s about tightening content, updating visuals, or simply listening more closely to what students need. Whether your program is delivered in a lecture hall or through a digital platform, the goal is the same: ensure every student walks away confident, informed, and ready to start strong.

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