As the new Orientation Roundtable (ORT) Coordinator, Maddie Ronan, ConEd ’26, wants faculty orientations to be accessible.
After being hired to lead orientation efforts across campus, Ronan is hitting the ground running on planning next year’s orientation, making it her priority to keep new students from feeling isolated.
The ORT coordinator heads the Orientation Roundtable Committee, which is a student-led organization that coordinates with faculties to plan orientation.
Faculties sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with the AMS regarding the of orientation. When asked about the contents of the NDAs, Ronan declined to comment.
Ronan began her orientation journey in 2021 during her first-year Orientation Week, where she experienced a hybrid orientation with both online and in-person components coming out of COVID-19.
Ronan felt she found people who were just like her during her own Orientation Week and loved painting coveralls and dres.
“It was absolutely incredible,” Ronan said in an interview with The Journal. “I felt very much as if this was home, and I was in the right place.”
As a ConEd orientation leader in her second year, Ronan said she did everything with her fellow teaches, acting more like “one big family” than an orientation group. The following year, Ronan was the Head Teach, leading her faculty’s orientation.
For the coming year, Ronan is focusing on accessibility. She’s considering both financial and physical accessibility, including ensuring students know where to access gender neutral washrooms and wheelchair accessibility mats on campus.
Ronan didn’t comment on whether the Orientation Bursary, which allows for students to apply for financial aid to cover the cost of Orientation Week, will be expanded.
Orientation for the Class of 2028 will include safe spaces with low intensity zones which don’t isolate students from the main events. Ronan used the example of the Mud Run and Daffodil Day, which occurred at the same time during this year’s Orientation, allowing students to choose between a high intensity and a low intensity event.
“This is something we’re working towards at a high logistical level within Roundtable meetings and ensuring there are two plans for each event,” Ronan said.
Ronan plans to use social media to grow the presence of next year’s Orientation to get incoming students excited about Orientation Week, and also allowing students to sign up for Orientation until move-in day.
Anti-hazing training will be delivered in-person and online to all orientation leaders, Ronan said. She plans to further faculties with a more entrenched hazing culture during orientation, providing a “smooth transition” for incoming students.
While Ronan couldn’t confirm which faculty events will be running at Orientation, she said the Orientation concert will continue, with some changes made so the event is safe for all.
Working with the City of Kingston, Ronan hopes to avoid a last minute venue change, which the ORT ran into last year. Her team is regularly in with the City and will implement a mid-July deadline for the City to confirm city spaces will be available for Orientation.
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