Fall 2007 New Student Orientation Rules and Regulations

• Your attendance and participation in New Student Orientation is required. If you encounter a schedule conflict, you may contact the Office of Admission at 888-702-0022 or via email: admit@fisk.edu. Please be mindful that your attendance in specified orientation sessions is mandatory.
• For your safety during orientation, new students will not be allowed off the Fisk University campus. Visiting neighboring institutions and other off campus engagements are prohibited.
• A curfew of 12:00 midnight will be in effect during the entire Freshman year. You must be in your residence hall every night by curfew.

New Parent Orientation 2007

What is Parent Orientation?
· An introduction to the unique cultural, academic, and social community at Fisk University.
· An opportunity to meet the faculty, staff, and administrators who will be here to support,
mentor, and motivate your student.
· A day of activities filled with Fisk University history and expectations designed for you, the parents of our new students.

When is Parent Orientation?
· Saturday afternoon, August 18, 2007
· Beginning at 5:00 p.m. with an opening reception with New Students and Families
· Ending at 7:00 p.m. with our Parents’ Parting Session

The Office of Student Life: Essential to the Fisk Experience
As you complete preparation to send or bring your student to our esteemed and historically rich institution, your excitement will surely increase. Although we cannot completely calm your anxieties, we can support the excitement you feel about sending your student to Fisk. This will be just as much a time of transition for you. Your student will make the important transformation process from home to the world at Fisk University. You will begin the process of “letting go.” In the Office of Student Life, our goal is to ensure that your student’s experience outside the classroom is one filled with exciting opportunities. Class of 2011 students have made significant contributions in their schools and communities. We encourage all students to continue and expand that involvement once they are on campus. Fisk student can choose from a plethora of student organizations that will support their development outside the classroom. New challenges face your students as they embark upon this adventure, such as time management and adjusting to living with a roommate, as well as adapting to a rigorous academic program. The departments within Student Life consist of The Office of Residence Life, Career Services, Dean of Students, Student Activities, Dining Services, Living and Learning Programs.

Housing Concerns
The Office of Residence Life is busy preparing for your arrival to our campus in August. If your student has requested housing and paid the appropriate housing deposit, they may have already received the room assignment letter that includes the roommate information. Students are encouraged to contact their roommate before arrival to campus on August 19th.

The initial contact will assist in getting to know the new roommate and coordinating which amenities each will bring. Since the residence hall rooms do not have much storage space, the roommates will not want to bring duplicates of certain items. If your student has not yet received their room assignment, please be assured that we are working on it and will certainly have it ready when you get here in August.

As you have questions about making the transition to campus living easier, please contact our Office of Student Life at (615) 329-8597 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time).

Computer Literacy/Math/Language Placement Exams

Math Placement Exam
New First Time Freshman must take the math placement exam during new student orientation to determine the appropriate level for placement in mathematic courses. It is not possible to fail the exam. However, students are encouraged to take the exam seriously. Your score will determine your placement. Hence, a low score may result in placement in a lower-level mathematics course that may slow your progress towards your degree. The exam will be administered during the first business days of Orientation Week prior to academic advising.

Foreign Language Placement Exam
Offered at the beginning of each semester, placement exams are mandatory for any student with one year or more of foreign language in high school; the results are used to place the student at the appropriate level in a foreign language course from 101 through 202 . In cases of exceptional proficiency, a student may be exempted from the core language requirement and placed in an advanced course. No credit hours are awarded a student who exempts a language course through the departmental placement process; however, credit hours may be awarded on the basis of work at another institution or Advanced Placement (AP) scores. No placement exam is given for languages that are not taught at Fisk University.

Computer Literacy Exam
All students at Fisk are required to demonstrate computer proficiency as a requirement for graduation.  New First Time Freshman may take the Computer Literacy exam during new student orientation or enroll in a 100-level computer literacy course. It is not possible to fail the exam. However, students are encouraged to take the exam seriously. The exam will be administered during the first business days of Orientation Week prior to academic advising.

Opening Convocation
Opening Convocation is one of the most recognizable traditions in the rich history of Fisk University.  Each year, our institution is re-invigorated through the new faces, experiences, and talents that comprise our new freshmen and transfer students.  This event also serves as the official welcome by the entire campus community toward the newest members of the Fisk Family.  The most visible display is the procession of ladies in white and gentlemen in dark suits.  Our uniformity on this occasion demonstrates our understanding that our education experience is as much about shared accomplishment as it is about individual distinction.  White dresses and dark suits are mandated attire for Opening Convocation.  In the next few paragraphs we will illustrate the origins for this tradition.

WHY A "WHITE DRESS"?
The wearing of white dresses on Opening Convocation is among the most well-respected and treasured of our traditions. This is the first of many ways young ladies present connect to and share an experience with upperclassmen and alumna of Fisk.

In the early 20th century, a white dress was the attire most often used for formal occasions. This tradition established a uniformed appearance among those present and denoted the significance of the occasion or event. Prior to the 1940's the white dress was worn with hosiery made of cotton. However with the invention of nylons came beige and tan colored stockings. These stockings, referred to as "flesh-toned," were worn with black shoes. Black shoes were recommended in an effort to avoid overwhelming students and parents with the cost of having to provide more than one pair of shoes.

In the sprit of this tradition, all first-year students are required to wear this "traditional white dress ensemble" for Opening Convocation.

As such, the traditional attire is as follows:

• A solid white dress or a skirt suit. The dress or suit should be "true" white -- not off-white or cream.
• The white dress or skirt can range from ankle or calf length to two inches above the knee. Pants are not allowed.
• Flesh-toned hosiery
• Black, closed-toe shoes
• Functional jewelry only, which consists of a wrist watch and rings worn on the hand

The white dress tradition symbolizes a seriousness of purpose and a sense of formality. Choose a traditionally conservative dress or suit that you would feel comfortable wearing to a traditional worship service or in a professional environment.

If you are unable to wear a white outer garment, please choose a color and style of garment that will maintain the dignity of the processional.

Do not carry a purse or backpack; however, if you need a place for keys, medications or other necessary items, please choose a small purse or wallet that can be held or "clutched" comfortably in your hand.

DO's:

1. Solid, white dress (with sleeves), skirt suit, or blouse and skirt
2. Flesh-tone hosiery
3. Closed toe black shoes
4. Functional jewelry – wrist watch and hand rings only
5. White sweater or jacket, if weather requires or your dress is strapless or has spaghetti" straps
6. Small wallet or "clutch" purse
7. Nude or white undergarments; camisoles and slips as needed
8. Skirt lengths that range from ankle or calf length to two inches above the knee
9. Garments appropriately sized and tailored for your body style

DON'TS

1. Cream, ivory, winter white, off-white, taupe, eggshell, ecru or similar colors
2. Pants are not allowed.
3. Large purses, backpacks or cell phones
4. Strapless or "spaghetti" strapped dresses without a sweater or jacket, except when worn under the academic regalia
5. Sequins, beads or colored appliqués
6. Revealing, see-through or extremely clingy spandex or knits
7. Dresses or blouses with "cut-out" designs or cropped tops
8. Thigh length dress or suit skirt
9. Earrings and bracelets. Lip, nose and eyebrow rings are considered to be decorative jewelry and should not be worn on this occasion

The Alma Mater
The warm and genial setting sun
Lights up the hills with mellow hue
Where Fisk our alma mater stands
Majestic dear old gold and blue
Then hurrah and hurrah
For the gold and the blue
Her sons are steadfast
Her daughters true
Where e’er we be
We shall still love thee
Fisk!
Our alma mater
John W. Work ‘95

Final H.S. Transcript
Please remember to request an official copy of your high school and/or college transcript(s). You must send this information to Fisk University by August 1, 2007:
This copy should indicate all of your final grades, as well as your date of graduation. If you have received a grade lower than a "C" during your final term, please include a letter of explanation. Contact: tcarney@fisk.edu, 888-702-0022.

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