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New Student Orientation (NSO) Welcomes New and Returning Faces

Close to 900 students consisting of freshman, transfer, and returning students (those who are returning from missions, for example) joined or rejoined the university ‘ohana to start Fall semester that began on Monday, August 3.

James Faustino, director of Admissions and Financial Aid, described the details behind this Fall semester student intake. Admissions had to account for the graduation of over 300 students from the previous semester and a hybrid Summer Semester where no new students were admitted.  This dynamic made for a very competitive and unique fall application cycle. “Not only was there an increase in total applications with over 3,800 applications, but only 38 % of all applicants were offered admission,” said Faustino. “This is considered the lowest admission rate found across all church schools.”

Of those admitted, roughly 900 students decided to enroll at BYU–Hawaii. This Fall 2015 admission cohort represents an increased number of students from Hawaii and the university’s target area of the Pacific Rim.

The university has an enrollment goal of a 50 percent student body who come from the United States, and 50 percent from the target areas which include the Pacific Rim areas. The overall increased intake of students from Hawaii and international areas is a positive progression toward this goal.

Faustino further explained how new students are chosen for admission based on various factors such as bishop and stake president endorsement, seminary attendance, grade point average in high school or their transfer school, test scores, involvement in activities such as service work and extracurricular activities, and their desire to come to BYU­–Hawaii.

“Having the opportunity to work with individuals through the admission process is very fulfilling,” says Faustino. “We have the chance to meet and work with individuals from all over the globe each with different stories and circumstances. To see their desire to pursue an education is exciting because you get to imagine the growth that will occur if given the opportunity to study at BYU­–Hawaii.”   

He continues, “Often we meet students from our target areas whose financial situation may otherwise exclude them coming to BYU–Hawaii. I feel so blessed to be at an institution where we have generous donors that support principle-based programs such as IWORK and that extend the aid needed so that they too can receive the benefit of studying here.”

Michael Maile, Student Leadership and Service coordinator and the person who oversees New Student Orientation, explained that although the number of students on the matriculated list is 940, “which is about average for Fall Semester,” they expect to accommodate between 400 and 700 during NSO.

These students enjoyed exciting events prepared to help them with their arrival and university journey. “The big events that students can look forward to each semester – and that we’d encourage them to attend –  are the Academic Fair on July 30, and the Official Welcome/Student Life event. “These two eventsgive students a close-up look at two of the most important things to consider with their education: what they need to be successful in school, and what to expect as students here at BYU–Hawaii,” says Maile. “As always we have our Piliahola Night, the Ho’olaule’a Dinner and The HUB’s Black Light Night, along with a visit to the PCC’s award-winning evening show and a Circle Island tour – to continue the experience.”

Students also participated in new events, not previously seen at NSO.

“This Fall we introduced our most condensed NSO yet. Some of the new things are the PCC Intro/Tours and Ice Cream Social,” says Maile. “We’ll also be adding a service project and have partnered with the BYU–Hawaii Service Center to hold that.”

On top of all the NSO events and activities to start the semester, all students this Fall semester join the university during a very significant year of celebration – the 150th anniversary of the LDS Church in Laie and the 60th anniversary of BYU­–Hawaii. They’ll have the opportunity to participate in events and celebrations unique to the year.

Hwan Koo, a junior from Korea studying Business Management, who works for NSO and helps set up and give the orientation to new students stated that ultimately, students can expect to “feel comfortable with the school and that the school is working with them,” as this is one of NSO’s important purposes.

Maile has great enthusiasm about NSO and why it’s special. “I love change and growth at the university. What has always surprised me about new students during NSO is how unique and different they are – each from a different background and circumstances. Each with their own story about what led them to choose BYU–Hawaii.”

 

To read the New Student edition of “Ke Alaka'i” school magazine, click here.

To learn more about the IWORK program, visit here

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