1. Do You Want to Color Victor
Do You Want to Color Victor? Orientation & Transition Programming for Siblings
Brett Bruner
Director of Transition & Student Conduct
Kayla Reid
Orientation Team Leader for
Health & Behavioral Sciences
References
Learning Outcomes
As a result of viewing this poster session, participants will:
Describe the need for programming to support siblings of new students transitioning to college.
Identify 1 new strategy to apply to their campuses related to sibling orientation & transition programming.
So What?
Bedsole, B. (2007). Creating a sibling orientation program: The University of Alabama’s successful start. The Journal of College Orientation and Transition, 14(2),
Denny, J., Lintner, A., & Schwarz, B. (2016, November). Siblings at orientation: Helping younger students feel connected. Educational session presented at the meeting of NODA: Association for Orientation, Transition & Retention in Higher Education, Indianapolis, IN.
Dillenbeck, T. (2009). Beyond parent orientation: Cultivating relationships with the entire family. The Bulletin, 77(2).
Johnson, J. (2011, October 3). In college transition, life changes for siblings left behind. Retrieved from
Lovell, R., & Weeden, L. (2015, November). Sibs and kids: Shaping tomorrow for our youngest family members. Educational session presented at the meeting of Association of Higher Education Parent/Family Programs Professionals, Savannah, GA.
Mulhere, K. (2014, September 19). Following in a sibling’s footsteps. Retrieved from
Powell-Lunder, J. (2013, August 8). College bound: The impact on the siblings left behind. Retrieved from
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Wilcox, Z., Friedmann, R., & Palmer, B. (2014, March). Educating together: The student-sibling journey. Educational session presented at the meeting of NODA: Association for Orientation, Transition & Retention in Higher Education Region VIII, Lawrenceville, NJ.
A Framework for Your Sibling Orientation & Transition Programming
Strategies for meaningful interaction with younger siblings:
Physically getting down on their level
Asking probing questions
Doing an experiential activity
Providing age-appropriate programs
Using appropriate language
Strategies for meaningful interaction with older siblings:
Empathizing
Giving examples
No belittling them
Providing opportunities for thinking for the future
Recommendations for program justification
Exposure to college & early recruitment opportunities
Changes in sibling relationships in the transition
What?
OTR professionals should move beyond “parent” orientation programs and cultivate relationships & connectedness with the entire family of new students (Bedsole, 2007; Dillenbeck, 2009).
When an older sibling leaves to attend college, the dynamics significantly change and influence the relationship between the older sibling, the younger sibling(s), and parents (Johnson, 2011).
Communication is the greatest barrier between siblings and between siblings and parents when an older sibling departs for college. It is also the greatest tool to support all relationships in transition (Powell-Lunder, 2013).
OTR professionals should intentionally collaborate with admissions units to engage younger siblings of college students in transition. There is a statistically significant increased likelihood that a younger sibling will follow an older sibling to the same institution of higher education more than following any other family member (Mulhere, 2014).
To remain relevant in today’s higher education, student affairs, orientation, and parent/family programs markets, units must design and implement sibling programming (Lovell & Weeden, 2015; Wilcox, Friedmann, & Palmer, 2014).
Now What?
FHSU Sibling Orientation & Transition Programming
Future Tiger Program – Sibling Orientation Experience
1st-5th grades
Victor E. Tiger appearance
Purchase of age-appropriate movie rights
Letter-writing & door decoration-making for older siblings
Victor E. Tiger Pinterest take-home craft for self, sibling & parents
Student-designed crossword puzzle & wordserach
Reading of Mahalia Mouse Goes to College by Sibling OLs
Transition Programming:
Curriculum written for Week 5 of UNIV 101 course regarding changing family dynamics & sibling conversations
Sibling activities during Fall Family Day (September) including Student/Sibling Punt-Pass Catch competition, Student/Sibling Astounding Race, and MakerSpace activities
‘Lil Sibs Weekend (April) in conjunction with Spring Family Reunion