ATP summer session kicks off at Knicely Conference Center

ELLIOTT PRATT/HERALD

Elliott Pratt

The first summer session of the Academic Transition Program kicked off Tuesday at the Knicely Conference Center at the WKU South Campus.

Over 200 students participated in today’s event to meet future classmates, have their WKU ID card made, and register for fall classes.

Orientation specialist Geneva Taylor said the first summer session for ATP could not have gone better.

“They were a very receptive group – very active,” Taylor said. “They were able to meet each other during a session today and most everyone has crossed the finish line at this point, so it was a really good day.”

This is the second year in a row that ATP has been held at the Knicely Conference Center due to the Downing University Center renovation project. Having the orientation at the WKU South Campus has limited the campus exposure for students and parents, but Taylor said the families still have the opportunity to see the campus once the daily session is complete.

“We do offer a campus tour in the afternoons of a mock residence hall,” Taylor said. “Also they have their class schedule by that time, so they would be able to walk their schedule if they would like.”

Some students may be more familiar with the WKU main campus than others. Parents like Todd and Lisa Logsdon met while students at WKU. Their son Tyler, their first child to go to college, will attend WKU in the fall and major in physical therapy.

Todd Logsdon said a lot has changed since he stepped foot on campus as a freshman in 1988.

“When we were dropped off in 1988, we were dropped off right at the building as the first time you had set foot on campus other than a three hour encounter as a high school tour group,” Logsdon said.  “You come here together (as parents and students) and they have their time and you have your time, then we come back together again. We’re all realizing our role and responsibility in ensuring that he does the best while he is here and we’re not grouting him too much.

“Western does keep the parents involved, but also it allows these young adults to enter into life and the decision making process as well as educating them.”

Assistant director of admissions Greg Purpus said all the parents were very receptive to learn about the new phase in theirs and their child’s life. Purpus said the ATP sessions for the parents give them basic knowledge of terminology the students use in preparing for college as well as give them a smooth transition with students leaving home for college.

“We try to go over things with the parents that they’ll need to know when the student is through with the day. They’ll learn new terminology, so we want the parents to know what they’re talking about,” Purpus said. “Most of the parents are really receptive because they didn’t go to college and their students are first generation or they did go to college and this is maybe a little different from what their college was like.

“But they like the idea of learning some things that will help them, but also that their students are learning things and they can act together.”

Parents who are alumni of WKU may think they’re going through a time machine while preparing their students for college through the ATP program. The time span is much smaller for sophomores like Hayley Hoback.

Hoback, a public relations major, was an undeclared major heading into ATP and said the program still helped her to adapt to her first year at WKU

“It still feels like it was yesterday,” Hoback said. “I actually met my roommate from freshmen year at ATP. It was a good icebreaker heading into college. The professors were there to help you set up your schedule and even though I was an undeclared major, I still really enjoyed the program.”