The document provides information to new students at RVCC about important services, programs, and events available to help them succeed in their first year. It highlights Weeks of Welcome events to connect students to campus, the STDV100 College Experience course, obtaining a Success Partner, getting involved in student life, and utilizing the First-Year Experience Office. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these resources to facilitate their transition to college and achieve academic and personal success.

1. Welcome to Golden Lion Country! We are very excited to
have you as members of the RVCC community and look
forward to working with you throughout your first year of
college.
This is an exciting time at RVCC as the college is
experiencing record enrollment and the First-Year Program
continues to expand and assist students in achieving
success.
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some
important services and programs available to you as a first-
year student at RVCC:
Weeks of Welcome (WOW) Events
These events are designed to welcome new students and
connect you to other students and the campus. See page 4
for a complete list of WOW events.
STDV100—The College Experience
Register for the two college-level credit course STDV100–
The College Experience. This course covers important topics
needed for success in college such as: time management,
learning and memory, reading, note-taking and test-
taking strategies, career exploration and many more topics.
Get a Success Partner!
Research demonstrates that students who feel connected to the campus
community are more successful academically and report having higher
satisfaction with their college experience. Success Partners are faculty and
staff who you can go to when you have questions about being a college
student. It is recommended that students meet with their Success Partners
at least twice a month. See page 2 for more information about the Success
Partner Program.
Become Involved in Student Life!
Students who become involved in campus life not only report that it looks
good when they transfer or apply for jobs, but also helps to make for a
more fulfilling college experience. There are over 30 clubs and
organizations at RVCC, as well as Division II Athletic teams.
Utilize the First-Year Experience Office
The First-Year Experience Office is located on the 1st floor of the College
Center in Suite 143. You can always stop by to talk with me about how your
first year is going, to ask any questions, or to just say hi! We wish you a
great first semester and look forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
David J. Ross—Director, First-Year Experience
Welcome from the Director
New Student Seminar—The College Experience
Most students enroll in a new
student seminar course when
they begin their college
careers. RVCC offers a two-
credit course that helps
students become acclimated
to the college environment
and learn study strategies
that help them to achieve
success in their first
semester in college and
beyond.
The course is taught by a
combination of
Administrators and Faculty
who are focused on helping
students become
independent and expert
learners. The course utilizes
interactive group and
individual activities to help
students adjust to the
college academic and social
environment.
Topics Covered:
 Setting Goals
 Time Management
Special Points of Interest:
 Welcome from the Director
 Student Success Partner
 New Student Seminar—The College Experience
Office of the First-Year Experience @ RVCC
New Student Transitions
Fall 2010
 Maintaining Healthy Relationships
 Understanding Your Values
 Career Exploration and Planning
 Living in a Global Society
Ask you Academic Advisor at today’s
College Advising session about how
to register for STDV100—The College
Experience.

2. For more information about any of the clubs and organizations on campus please visit the Student Activities Office, College Cen-
ter Room 206 or visit us on the Web at http://www2.raritanval.edu/rvcc/frameset/student_activities.html
Success Partners provide important support for
new students during their first-year of college
New students can take advantage of the
Success Partner program where they are
matched with members of the RVCC faculty,
administration and staff. Success Partners help
students to:
 Build connections and network
with members of the campus
community
 Become acclimated to the college
campus and experience
 Learn about valuable resources
and opportunities on campus and
in the community
 Have someone to go to when you
have a question, concern or just
need information and you don’t
know where to go.
To participate in this program, register on one
of the sign-up sheets at the R.O.A.R.S event or
e-mail Laura Thornley at
lthornle@raritanval.edu or Mary Sullivan at
msulliva@raritanval.edu
Student Success Partners—Partnering for Success
Student Life @ RVCC
Come Join Us!
There are plenty of special
interest clubs at RVCC. Many
clubs develop spontaneously,
others continue from year to
year, some have strong
traditions and others are
geared for short-term projects.
For more information about
any of the clubs and
organizations on campus
please visit the Student
Activities Office, College
Center Room 206 or visit us on
the Web at http://
www2.raritanval.edu/rvcc/
frameset/
student_activities.html
Student Life & Civic
Engagement
College Center 206
908-526-1200 x8911
Page 2
“Success Partners provide
important support for
new students during their
first-year of college.”
New Student Transitions Fall 2010
Student Life at RVCC is
dynamic, as many
students choose to
become involved in clubs,
organizations, Student
Government and
Athletics.
COLLEGE HOUR
Most events, including
club meetings, take place
during the college hour.
The college hour is on
Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 12:00 to 1:20 p.m.
Classes are generally not
scheduled during this
time. Be sure to take
advantage of all of the
activities held during the
college hour each week!
College Newspaper—The
Record
The Record is RVCC’s on-line
newspaper that provides infor-
mation to students on aca-
demic and social life at RVCC.
The Record can be accessed
through the Lion’s Den on the
myLion’sDen tab.
Clubs & Organizations
It is as Easy as 1-2-3 to join a
club on campus:
1) Log into the Lion’s Den
and click on Groups
2) Next, click on the Group
Index and select Student
Clubs
3) Then click on the Group
Title view the group and
join!
Student Government
SGA Officers
2010-2011
Joe Forte, President
Casey Randazzo, Vice President
Tristan Peer, Treasurer
Jennifer Melo, Secretary
Kimberly Schwabe, Alumni Rep

3. Reviewing an Evaluation:
The first section of the degree evaluation report summarizes
your curriculum information and provides an overall list of
your degree requirements, such as overall GPA and minimum
number of credit hours.
The next section of the evaluation divides your program
curriculum into AREAS. These AREAS include the specific
major requirements such as English, Math, Science,
Technological Proficiency and other coursework needed for
your major. In addition , General Education requirements and
Additional Courses not being used for your major are listed.
To determine if you have completed the necessary
requirements for each of the areas of your major, The phrase
Met or Not Met will appear to the right of the specific area. If
the area is not met, please look directly below the area to
determine what course(s) are still needed to fulfill this degree
requirement.
Often a list of Required Course(s) will appear below the Area
you are referring to and will help to guide you as to what
courses are still needed to complete this specific degree
requirement.
*For Students with dual-degree or dual majors: You must run
a separate degree evaluation for each major/degree you are
pursuing. Running the degree evaluation once only provides
you with details on the first degree chosen. You must run a
separate evaluation for any additional degree/major.
What-If Analysis:
This feature allows students and advisors to compare a
student’s current academic history to the requirements of
different programs. This can be extremely useful to
students who are considering switching majors or major
shopping.
Running a What-If Analysis:
 Log into the Lion’s Den
 Click the Students Services tab
 In the Registration & Records box, Click Request
Degree Evaluation
 Select the current term and click Submit
 Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click
What-If Analysis
 Select the desired program (listed by major) and
click continue
 Select the First Major, and then verify the
Evaluation Term.
 Click Generate Request
 Click the button next to GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
and click Submit
It is recommended that students review their degree
evaluation a few times each semester. Please meet with
an Advisor f you have nay questions.
Managing Your Academic Career—How To Generate a Degree Evaluation
The degree evaluation tool allows advisors and students to
track progress towards completion of degree requirements.
The degree evaluation should be used in conjunction with
the RVCC catalog. Although the degree evaluation tool is
not an official evaluation, it does allows students to review
their progress by showing which requirements have been
fulfilled and which requirements are outstanding.
Generating a Degree Evaluation:
 Go to www.raritanval.edu
 Log into the Lion’s Den
 Click the Student Services tab
 In the Registration and Records Box, Click Request
Degree Evaluation
 Select the current term, or the most future term for
which you have preregistered and click Submit
 Please verify that you are enrolled in the proper
degree program. This is located under the Curriculum
Information
 Scroll down to the bottom of the pages and click
Generate New Evaluation
 Click the button next to the program for which
you would like to run an evaluation and click
Generate Request
 Click the button next to the GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS and click Submit
Page 3
New Student Transitions Fall 2010
Reference Assistance is available at the
reference desk, on the first floor of the
library, whenever the library is open. At
other times, send us an email from the
library’s homepage: http://
Group Study Rooms are located on the second
floor of the library, and you can be reserved at
the Circulation Desk. Quiet Study is available
on the second floor an in the Robeson Room.
Research Guides are available in print (on the
wall by the elevator) and online:
http://library.raritanval.edu/resources/
reasearchguides.asp
The Circulation Desk, located the en-
trance of the library, is the place to check
out books, pay fines fins periodicals, and
items on course reserve.
Reference Books, such as encyclopedias,
dictionaries, almanacs and atlases are located
just across from the Circulation Desk. Refer-
ence materials do not leave the library
Food is not allowed in the library at any time.
Cell Phones must be set on soundless ring.
They cannot be used in quiet study areas.
Circulating Books are located on the
second floor of the library and organized
according to the library of congress call
number system. Students may borrow
books for 28 days. The college ID card is
Magazines and Journals are located behind the
circulation desk. We also have a browsing
collection of popular titles that is located on
the first floor, past the restrooms on the right.
These items do not leave the library.
Photocopiers are located on the first floor of
the library. You must purchase a copy card for
a one-time fee of $.50. you can add money to
your card at any time and use it repeatedly.
Copies cost $.07 per page.
Videos, DVDs and audiotapes are located
on the first floor of the library, past the
reference desk.
Video Viewing Stations, for watching reserve
videos in the library, are available on the
second floor of the library.
Rest Rooms are located on the first floor just
past the reference desk to the right.
Computers for research are located on
the first floor, on the second floor, in the
Robeson Center, in the Holocaust
Center, and in the computer lab L107.
Overdue Books accrue a fine of $.10 per day.
Overdue videos accrue a fine of $1.00 per day.
For more information, please see: http://
library.raritanval.edu/information/policies.asp
Interlibrary loan is available for all students,
faculty and staff. Request for materials can be
made online from the library’s homepage:
http://library.raritanval.edu/general/ill.asp
Evelyn S. Field Library—General Information
Hours for the library during the semester are: Mon-Thurs 8.00 AM-9:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM-5.00 Pm; Sat 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Check for current hours on the
library’s homepage: http://library.raritaval.edu

4.  For referrals to appropriate resources on
or off campus.
 For information on study skills, test
anxiety, stress and time management and
others.
 To discuss personal concerns.
 To find out how to get credit for prior
learning.
 To learn about workshops.
 To find appropriate college for transfer
after completing your degree at RVCC.
 For information on policies
procedures and programs at
Raritan Valley Community College.
 For assistance in choosing
education and career goals.
 To plan a course of study
 For encouragement on reaching
your goals
 To review degree requirements
and progress towards your degree.
 To plan courses that will transfer
to a particular four-year college/
university.
 To explore the consequences of
your educational choices.
Why Should I Meet with an Advisor or Counselor?
Advising & Counseling Services is located
in the College Center suite 165
See the bookmark in your orientation
packet for more information!
First-Year Experience Office
College Center 143
908-526-1200 x8921
fye@raritanval.edu
http://www.raritanval.edu/studentserv/fye/index.html
Weeks of Welcome are designed to
help welcome new students to the
RVCC community. One of the most
important events during W.O.W. is
the President’s Convocation. This
program serves your official
welcome to the RVCC Academic
Community. All first-year students
at RVCC should attend this
program. See the full calendar of
events for more information about
W.O.W.!
Weeks of Welcome (W.O.W.) - Fall 2010
Page 4
Disability Services
Location: College Center 143
RVCC offers individualized
accommodations and/or services to
persons with disabilities. Students
with disabilities must identify
themselves, provide documentation of
their disability and request appropriate
services.
For more information contact the
Disability Services Office at 908-526-
1200 x8418
Visit
http://www.raritanval.edu/
studentserv/counseling/disa.html
to review the Disability Services
Handbook.
Fall 2010 Events
8/26/10—New Student Welcome & Social
3 p.m.
9/1/10, 9/2/10, 9/7/10 - Welcome Stations
8 a.m.—6 p.m.
Stations will be available around campus to help students
navigate the campus during the first few days of the semester.
Look for staff in yellow RVCC T-shirts!
9/14/10—President’s Convocation
12—1:30 p.m.
9/16/10—Club Recruitment Day
11:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m.
9/21/10—RVCC Spirit Day! Student Picnic and Pep Rally
12—1:30 p.m.
Wear your RVCC Gear and attend the Student Picnic and Pep
Rally in the West Building Plaza
9/22/10—Non-Traditional and Evening Student Dinner
4:30—6:00 p.m.
Golden Lion Bookstore
Location: Lower Level College Center
Studying in the RVCC Courtyard