Only What's Revelant
New Student Experience at the University of Alberta
8-MINUTE READ
The first few weeks of university can feel overwhelming for new students. Between navigating a campus the size of 50 city blocks, understanding academic requirements, and finding their place in a community of over 46,000 students, incoming learners at the University of Alberta (U of A) had a lot to process. But what if orientation could be more than just a information dump? What if it could be a personalized journey that gives students exactly what they need, when they need it?
That's exactly what the University of Alberta set out to achieve with their innovative online orientation platform, and the results speak for themselves.
The Challenge: Too Much Information, Too Little Personalization
Like many large institutions, the U of A operated with a decentralized orientation model. New students were invited to participate in multiple orientation programs offered by different services, faculties, and student associations. While this approach had its benefits—students received customized experiences based on their unique backgrounds—it also created significant challenges.
"Students would often be in a position where they had to choose which program to go to," explains Avery Teo, Graduate Coordinator with the Orientation and Transition Programs team. "We know that it doesn't benefit students to have to choose between orientation programs. All programs that apply to them and their experiences are important."
The digital landscape wasn't much better. Post-COVID, there was an influx of online onboarding courses, meaning students were invited to access multiple online orientation platforms. The result? A confusing, difficult-to-navigate experience that left many students feeling disconnected before they even stepped foot on campus.
Perhaps most concerning was the data: 13% of students couldn't attend any orientation programming at all. For an institution the size of U of A, that meant over 2,000 new students were starting their first semester with no orientation to campus whatsoever.
The Solution: A Single Point of Entry with Infinite Customization
The U of A's approach was elegant in its simplicity: create one centralized online orientation that could adapt to each student's unique needs and circumstances. Working with Advantage Design Group, they developed a platform that serves as what Christa Engel, Graduate Coordinator, calls "one point of entry," guiding students to the programs and information that apply specifically to them.
But this isn't just another online course. The platform leverages sophisticated personalization technology to show students only the content relevant to their specific situation. Whether they're an undergraduate or graduate student, studying at the main campus or a satellite location, an international student or Indigenous learner, a parent or military student—the system adapts accordingly.
"The underlying philosophy here was that students receive information that's relevant to their specific transition journey," notes Teo. "If partners wanted specific content to only be available to First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students, for instance, we were able to incorporate that into the program."
Beyond Information: Creating Connection and Engagement
What sets the U of A's online orientation apart isn't just the personalization—it's the thoughtful design that prioritizes engagement and retention. The platform includes:
- Interactive elements: Games, quizzes, and memory exercises that reinforce key concepts
- Video content: Custom-filmed campus tours, student testimonials, and messages from university leadership
- Accessible design: Universal design standards with features like PDF downloads and multiple language options
- Mobile optimization: Seamless experience across all devices
- Gamification: Achievement systems and progress tracking to encourage completion
Perhaps the most innovative is the "Items of Interest" feature, which functions like a personalized resource cart. As students progress through the orientation, they can bookmark content for later review, creating a customized landing page of resources they can return to throughout their academic journey.
The Results: Data-Driven Success
The early results from U of A's online orientation pilot are impressive. Post-orientation surveys indicate high satisfaction rates, with students reporting a sense of increased preparedness and a stronger connection to the institution. The platform's robust analytics enable the team to track engagement patterns, identify areas where students may be struggling, and continually refine the experience.
"We've used these reports to get initial feedback from students regarding our fall pilot launch," explains Teo. "This was really helpful in seeing where students were dropping off in terms of this online orientation course and influenced us in responding to the feedback."
Based on student input, the team made the course non-sequential, allowing students to access content in any order that makes sense for their individual transition needs. They also gamified completion by offering entries into prize draws for each module completed—a strategy that significantly boosted engagement.
The Bigger Picture: Transforming Pre-Arrival Communication
The impact extends beyond just the orientation experience itself. By centralizing essential information in an engaging, accessible format, the U of A has transformed its entire pre-arrival communication strategy.
"Rather than having content-heavy emails, because we know that often email fatigue is a big thing," says Teo, "we then focus our summer emails on directions to the online platform, and kind of pull out key messages or key things that would really draw them in."
This approach follows a "just-in-time" model, providing students with relevant information when they need it most, rather than overwhelming them with everything at once. It's the difference between a garden hose and a fire hose, as Engel puts it.
Looking Forward: Scaling Success
What started as a pilot program for graduate students is now expanding institution wide. The U of A plans to launch the centralized online orientation for its undergraduate population—approximately 37,000 students—by fall 2026.
"We're quite excited to use the lessons learned in this initial launch of graduate students to really inform how we develop our undergraduate component," notes Teo.
The success at U of A offers valuable insights for other institutions grappling with similar challenges. In an era where students expect digital experiences to be intuitive, personalized, and engaging, the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to orientation is no longer sufficient.
Key Takeaways for Higher Education Leaders
The University of Alberta's experience offers several important lessons:
- Personalization is non-negotiable: Students expect information tailored to their specific needs and circumstances.
- Accessibility should be built in, not bolted on: Universal design principles benefit all students, not just those with specific needs.
- Data drives improvement: Robust analytics help identify what's working and what isn't, enabling continuous refinement.
- Engagement requires creativity: Interactive elements, gamification, and multimedia content significantly improve retention and satisfaction.
- Integration is key: Online orientation should complement, not replace, in-person experiences and existing communication strategies.
As Teo concludes, "incoming students are now expecting this robust online orientation experience to really complement the in-person activities. Research really shows that it is a benefit to proactive pre-arrival engagement."
The future of student orientation isn't about choosing between digital and in-person experiences; it's about creating seamless, personalized journeys that give students exactly what they need, when they need it, in the format that works best for them. The University of Alberta has demonstrated that when implemented effectively, online orientation can be a powerful tool for enhancing student success, engagement, and retention.
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