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The incoming class of 2014 currently includes 1,522 students and is the largest St. Thomas class ever, which resulted in a few changes in planning for this year’s summer orientation sessions.

One orientation session was added to accommodate larger numbers of students for a total of 10 sessions, and placement and language tests were done ahead of time to reduce the activities students had to do on the actual orientation day, Associate Dean of Students Victoria Svoboda said. In an effort to make sure all incoming students would at least get some of their first-choice classes, the orientation and registration team set aside spots in classes for students in later sessions and registered each incoming freshman for one or two classes in advance.

Students did not spend the night on campus for the second year in a row – a decision Svoboda said helps increase parent participation because parents don’t have to miss as much work.

At orientation, students took part in icebreaker games like the “screaming game,” and watched skits and videos about college life with their families. They also ate lunch on the quad, attended an information fair, registered for fall classes and listened to talks by university staff and faculty members.

Student reactions to the orientation sessions were generally positive.

“I’ve already been on an overnight, so I’m cool with not doing it again,” said incoming freshman Quinn Andreasen. “Orientation’s been a pretty good experience so far.”

Rebekah Frank can be reached at rfrank@stthomas.edu.

Katie Broadwell contributed to this story.