New Student Programs and Parent Relations
Student Center 2nd floor, Suite 265
Telephone: 404/413-1570
Fax: 404/413-1572
Web: www2.gsu.edu/~wwwnew
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. Monday – Friday
Overview
The Office of New Student Programs and Parent Relations introduces new
undergraduate students to Georgia State University by offering orientation
programs that facilitate student integration into curricular, co-curricular
and University life. The office also provides programs that enhance student
development through involvement and leadership opportunities and offers
programs that integrate parents and families into the Georgia State community.
The Office of New Student Programs and Parent Relations reaches its mission
by implementing the following programs: Incept: New Student Orientation,
Panther Welcome, Freshman Convocation, Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman
Honor Society, Tau Sigma Transfer Honor Society, Freshman Connections, Family
Weekend, Parents Association, and Parents Programs.
Programs and Organizations
- Incept: New Student Orientation is the official Georgia State University new
undergraduate student orientation program.
At Incept, new students are introduced to numerous areas of Georgia State life
that will assist them in their successful transition into the University community.
From Enrollment Services to Student Life and Auxiliary Services to University
Police, students will learn information from different departments and divisions
from across the University. They will hear from financial aid, One Stop Shop
registrar, bookstore, undergraduate studies, intercultural relations, student clubs
and organizations, student advisement center, etc. New students will also get to
meet University staff and faculty members and receive a tour of Georgia State’s unique urban campus in downtown Atlanta. Another benefit of attending Incept is making connections with future classmates and also making connections with the
seasoned student leaders who assist new students through their Incept experience. And at the end of the Incept day, students will receive academic advisement and register for classes.
Incept: New Student Orientation is mandatory for all new freshmen and strongly encouraged for all new transfer students. There are several formats for the
Incept program. The Office of New Student Programs and Parent Relations designs different Incept conferences to meet varying needs. Incept offers one-day and two-
day Orientation programs for new freshmen students and offers one-day and ½-day Orientation programs for new transfer students. There is also a special parent and guest Orientation program that runs concurrently with all student Orientation programs. For more information about Incept: New Student Orientation, contact the
NSP&PR Office at 404/413-1570 or visit http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwnew.
- Parents Association
The Georgia State University Parents Association is an organization that provides
parents of Georgia State students with a special connection to the University. The
Association provides parents with an opportunity to remain actively involved with
their student as they journey through the college experience together. Parents who
join the Association have special access to Georgia State and all the many events
and programs that happen each day on campus. The organization strengthens
connections by providing publications, programming and a variety of ways for its
members to become involved.
The Parents Association is led by an executive board made up of parents of
current Georgia State University students. The executive board makes decisions
on events, programming and policies relevant to the growth and expansion of the
Parents Association. Executive board members are chosen in the spring semester. The Parents Association holds at least one general membership meeting a year
and several executive board meetings each semester. The Parents Association
maintains a Web site as well as an online list serve, and publishes several
newsletters during the academic year to keep members informed and connected
to the Association.
For more information about the Parents Association, contact the NSP&PR
Office at 404/413-1570.
- Family Weekend
The purpose of Family Weekend is to gather students and their families together
to enjoy a weekend of fun, food and family each fall on the Georgia State campus.
With events such as parent discussions, information sessions, real-life classroom
experiences, and day trips in the city, the weekend allows families to get a feel for
the Georgia State University experience and explore historic downtown Atlanta.
The fun continues with activities for the entire family, such as caricatures, spin
art, basketball, and a blue-and-white breakfast with the University president.
Following in tradition, the Parents Association sponsors the Saturday outside
barbecue lunch; and during this event, the cheerleaders and Pounce, the
University mascot, treat Family Weekend participants to a special pep-rally.
Family Weekend is held in late September/early October of each fall semester. Registration for Family Weekend opens in August. For more information about
Family Weekend, contact the NSP&PR Office at 404/413-1570.
- Freshman Convocation
Freshman Convocation is a formal induction ceremony of the freshman class each fall semester into the academic community of Georgia State. Just as graduation commencement serves as a ritual marking the completion of study, convocation is a ritual to signal the beginning of a college career. The University President presides over this event and leads students in the reciting of the freshman pledge and in the freshman medallion ceremony. The ceremony is attended by the President, Provost, College Deans, Student Government President and many distinguished faculty and staff members. Convocation is traditionally followed by a post-Convocation reception for all student attendees and their parents and guests in the Student Recreation Center.
- Panther Welcome
Panther Welcome is the official Georgia State University fall welcome program.
Panther Welcome is planned by a Universitywide committee and is spread out
over the first two weeks of each fall semester. The annual welcome program
begins with new freshmen move-in and traditionally ends with a Labor Day Pool
Party at Indian Creek Recreation Center. Traditional welcome event favorites are
Freshman Convocation, Georgia State Idol and the annual Student Organization
Street Fair. Panther Welcome is designed for both new and returning students and
welcomes more than 18,000 students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni each year.
For more information about Panther Welcome, contact the NSP&PR Office at 404/413-1570 or check-ut the Panther Welcome Web site at
www.gsu.edu/pantherwelcome.
- Ask-Me-Booth Program
The Ask-Me-Booth program is a Georgia State tradition that takes place the first
week of classes during the fall and spring semesters. Several booths are set up
across the downtown Atlanta campus and students new to the University can
stop by, ask questions and get directions as they navigate around their new
college home. The booths are staffed with faculty, staff and current students
who volunteer their time in an effort to make the transition smooth for all new
members of the Panther family each semester.
For more information about the Ask-Me-Booth program, contact the Incept
Program Advisor at 404/413-1576.
- Alpha Lambda Delta: Freshman Honor Society
Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD), established in 1924, is a national honor society for
first-year students. The Alpha Lambda Delta chapter at Georgia State University
fosters students’ professional and personal development through scholarship,
service and leadership opportunities. The organization typically holds monthly
meetings and offers a variety of service projects and social events for members.
Alpha Lambda Delta provides several opportunities for students to develop their
leadership skills, both at the club level as a member of the executive board and at
the national level as a representative on the National Council.
Students are invited for membership if they have achieved a 3.5 GPA on a
4.0 scale, are in the top 20 percent of their class during their first term, and are
enrolled as a full-time student. In addition, the student must be in good academic
and judicial standing with the University. Once a student has been inducted into the
Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, she or he is a member for life.
For more information about Alpha Lambda Delta Freshman Honor Society, contact the Organization Advisor in the NSP&PR Office at 404/413-1573.
- Tau Sigma: Transfer Honor Society
Tau Sigma is an academic honor society designed specifically to recognize and
promote the academic excellence and involvement of transfer students. The Tau
Sigma chapter at Georgia State University fosters transfer students’ professional
and personal development through scholarship, service and leadership
opportunities. The organization holds regular meetings and offers a variety of
service projects and social events for members. Tau Sigma provides several
opportunities for students to develop their leadership skills.
To qualify for membership a student must transfer with the equivalent of
at least one full year’s academic credits. Once at Georgia State, the student must
obtain at least a 3.5 GPA or rank among the top 20 percent of all transfer students during their first semester of attendance at the University.
For more information about Tau Sigma Transfer Honor Society, contact the
Organization Advisor in the NSP&PR Office at 404/413-1576.
Student Leadership Opportunities
- Inceptor
Inceptors provide direct assistance to new students and their guests at Georgia
State University through the Incept: New Student Orientation program. Inceptors
receive over 100 hours of training during the spring semester in order to prepare
for their role as orientation leaders. Through this training, Inceptors gain an
understanding of orientation, curricular and co-curricular life and the mission of
Georgia State University. Inceptors convey this understanding to new students
and their guests and help ensure a smooth transition into life at Georgia State.
Inceptors assist with all orientation events and play a vital role in facilitating the
adjustment of new students to the campus and community. Additionally, Inceptors
participate in various Universitywide programs and events throughout the year
as student leaders. A team of 20 – 25 Inceptors is selected each fall semester and
serves the following calendar year.
For more information about an Inceptor position, contact the Incept Program
Advisor at 404/413-1575.
- Honor Society Executive Board Member
Both Alpha Lambda Delta and Tau Sigma honor societies are led by student
leaders who serve on the organizations’ executive boards. These student leaders
guide the events and activities of the organization throughout the year and ensure
that membership in both groups is an interactive and engaging experience. The
executive board of each organization is selected in the spring semester from the
incoming new membership.
For more information about becoming involved in a leadership position with
a New Student Programs and Parent Relations honor society, contact the NSP&PR
Office at 404/413-1570.
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