ANNOUNCING CIEE’S NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION

We are excited to announce that we have a new CIEE Work & Travel USA Online Orientation for our students! Our Summer 2017 participants are the first ones to engage with this new platform. The Department of State requires that all Summer Work Travel participants receive an orientation prior to their arrival in the United States. CIEE participants receive the orientation approximately one month before their program start date, and it is an important opportunity for CIEE, as the program sponsor, to set appropriate expectations for their experience, provide helpful tips, and review program rules.

We chose to replace our previous online orientation in order to adapt to a new generation of on-the-go participants. The new platform is accessible via a mobile app on iPhone or Android, in addition to a web browser, and participants can continuously refer to information as a reference before and during their program.

The orientation now includes a mix of text, videos, and interactive questions in a mix of multiple choice and open-ended prompts. Watch our Online Orientation Welcome Video here!

Here are some example responses we’ve received from students to the question, “What can you ask your employer in order to help prepare for your experience?”

•     “What is the weather during the summer?”
•     “How do I behave with the wild animals in the park?”
•     “What are some good housing options in my area?”
•     “What places should I visit while I’m there?”
•     “What kind of clothes should I take with me?”
•     “Are you ready to meet your best employee :)”

This new platform also allows us to monitor student feedback. We found that the most frequent questions were about local weather and transportation options from the airport to the job site. These are great topics to include in your welcome email!

The content of the orientation was updated with contributions from all of the teams within CIEE Work & Travel USA. Much of the content from the previous orientation is included, but it has been refreshed and streamlined. You are welcome to read the full text of the orientation in the Orientation Handbook​, which is available to participants as an optional PDF download as well. 

By Erica Carley Harris, Manager, External Relations