Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that the programme would help students adjust to the new environment and inculcate in them the ethos of the institution. The Haryana government has decided to introduce a two-day orientation programme for new students in all colleges for academic session 2018-19 so that students would become familiar with campus services, faculty, rules and regulation, a minister said here on Monday.

Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that the programme would help students adjust to the new environment and inculcate in them the ethos of the institution.

“It has been decided that all students would be provided with various facilities and information in their first week in the college. These include providing a copy of the timetable, identity card, library card, copy of the syllabus, a copy of the lesson plans, list of student clubs and societies, list of mentors and foundation booklet,” he said.

Noting that 1.5 lakh students take admission in the state’s colleges every year, he said: “These students come from various backgrounds and are normally unaware of campus and college scenario. In order to ease their transition into college, the Department of Higher Education has decided to introduce two-day orientation programme in all colleges.”

“Students will be given a wealth of information in a short period of time. The college’s goal for students is to immerse themselves in college life so that when they arrive on campus in new academic session they can hit the ground running. Orientation gives the opportunity to make friends, get acquainted with roommates, purchase textbooks, and become comfortable with navigating the campus,” the minister said.

Among other things, the orientation programme will include check-in, brief on the institution, information on the academic calendar and other activities, mentoring session, yoga session, screening of documentaries or short TED talks and information on college facilities and rules.