OTEAM History

The first New Student Orientation Program, lead by a staff of University professionals, was held in 1981 with an attendance of 826 students. The program lasted over a period of two days where four sessions were held the week before school. The major goal of the program was to provide immediate survival information to new students for the first few weeks of classes.

In 1988, a Director for Orientation was specifically hired to focus on the program and develop a strong “Student Centered” feeling to the program. Attendance to the New Student Orientation Program from 1988-1994 increased from 550 students to over 2,200.

In 1998, the program was moved from the Office of Admissions to the newly formed University College. With this transition, new goals of involving faculty, university services, technology, and student leadership were taken to a whole new level.

In 1999, the term O’TEAM was coined, Orientating Together by Educating As Mentors. The 1998 Orientation Staff attended a leadership camp called Bradford Woods, where they created a cheer to chant when they successfully completed elements of the training. The cheer is:

Orientation is the best
We don’t make no mess
Here at Bradford Woods
We are a Team
O’TEAM!!!!!
The 1999 Orientation Staff was the first original O’TEAM.

By the year 2000, our program began serving over 6000 new students and more than 1500 parents and family members. Also in 2000, the O’TEAM introduced Learning Community mentors into the program. Now the combined O’TEAM Staff reaches over 60 students and 2 professional staff.