By Maggie Biunno

Transformations are happening all around campus, but the University’s main focus is to integrate changes to help new and returning students reach success and find their edge.

The big changes began with the new logo about a year ago, the letter H on a shield.

“Find your edge,” the new catch phrase of the University, can now be found on the Web page, ads in publications such as The New York Times newspaper and magazine, Newsday, and the Wall Street Journal.

In the mid 90’s, a new look was created. It was mostly clean and classic. President Stuart Rabinowitz decided it was time for a change.

“The look didn’t accurately represent the kind of people that Hofstra students are,” Melissa Connolly, Vice President of University Relations, said. “We wanted to create a ‘brand’ representative of the Hofstra experience.”

One student ambassador ans several orientation leaders, who are often a prospective student’s first insight into the University, also helped with the new design process.

Connolly considered several media companies, but settled on Media Logic, which is based out of Albany. Media Logic works with higher education, but their experience specializing in research got them the job. Over the summer, Connolly worked with the company and tested concepts with about 700 people to design template ideas to help with the changes.

Connolly’s work has added more color, direct language, a hint of cleverness, but most important, a positive new approach to the University.

After speaking with high school students, University students, faculty, administration, and alumni, Connolly created a profile of the qualities that define the University and its students.

“It’s about who you are going to be,” Connolly said. “It’s not about the institution. We have enough going on here that you can find out who you want to be. That ‘edge’ could be different for everyone.”

Crystal Cohen, a University broadcast journalism student graduating in December may have a very recognizable face. This student ambassador has appeared on many University brochures in the past, but now is one of the new “faces” of the University on Web page rotation. She stumbled across the opportunity while working on something for one of her classes.

“The really nice thing about our university is that we don’t wait for prospective students to come to us,” Cohen said. “Admissions counselors go all over the country and abroad to recruit potential students. I think that the University is also trying to show new students that we maintain tradition on our campus, but are moving toward a new, more modern look.”

Andrea Nadler, Associate Dean of Admissions and University alumnus, had experience working in admissions and as a tour guide herself. She travels for recruitment, as well.

However, things have changed since Nadler gave tours.

“It’s become pretty selective over the past few years,” Nadler explained. “We developed a whole new project. Prior to 2004 it was a volunteer program.”

The Honors College was consulted for candidates and changes made were for the best. The job of a tour guide became a student ambassador, a position with other great resume-building responsibilities besides just giving tours. This group of approximately 20 students, like other on-campus jobs, are now paid and allowed to work around 10 hours a week, which can also consist of doing clerical work in admissions. Student ambassadors are even able to participate in panels and trips to help with recruiting new University students.

Michael Camp, a senior Spanish/secondary education major, has been working as a student ambassador since the new program evolved.

“It’s much easier to manage a smaller group, obviously, but I always say the more the merrier,” Camp said. “My special trademark, because I’m good with names, is before starting, I get everybody’s name and I use them for the whole tour. It makes everyone feel special and it really relaxes the group, makes them more comfortable, too.”

Billy Coppola, a junior music merchandising major, has given 10 tours in one month.

“While I do work about 10 to 12 hours each week, I still feel like I have plenty of free time in my schedule,” Coppola stated. “Plus, I actually consider my job an ‘activity’ because it’s so much fun and fulfilling.”

Although the position of a student ambassador is exciting, there is a responsibility of helping in make a decision that could change a student’s life.

“I’ll never get tired of saying that the best part of this job is giving a tour to a student and then seeing him or her the following year walking around campus and knowing that the decision was partially influenced by me,” Coppola said.

While being on campus all the time as a resident seems to be an important aspect for a student ambassador, Brittany Forgione , a junior audio/radio and music major, begs to differ.

“I have been both a resident and a commuter,” Forgione explained. “Either type of living arrangement didn’t really take away from me getting involved. I just had to learn to make extra trips to Hofstra during evening hours for meetings as a commuter. It meant more commitment but it’s well worth it when you make such wonderful friends along the way.”

Prospective student ambassadors can go to admissions for an application or speak with Clarice Washington, assistant dean of admissions.

While the responsibility of helping be a decision-maker is heavily on the shoulders of a student ambassador, orientation leaders must also make a great impression during each session.

Stanley Cherian, an assistant dean of new student support services, has been involved with the University’s orientation, as well as other colleges.

Cherian explained that freshman orientation has been in existence for about 10 years, but this is the first year that it was two parts, the summer experience plus a second part that ingregrated Kick-Off Weekend, which included trips and various activities just for the freshmen.

“The orientation leaders set into motion the plans for the freshmen,” Cherian said.

Orientation is a production of new student support services, but depends upon the orientation leaders. “The orientation program wouldn’t be able to run without the orientation leaders,” he said.

Senior Robyn Gertner has accomplished the tasks of working as both a student ambassador and orientation leader.

“Without these two programs, it would be impossible for Hofstra to function. Prospective students don’t want to hear about Hofstra from the administration,” Gertner, an English/secondary eduation major, said. “They already know what the administration thinks. They want to hear about the school from its students.”Head orientation leader, senior Nicolina Boccone, returned for a second summer.

“I had a bad experience as an incoming freshman at my own orientation, which I later realized misrepresented what Hofstra was really like,” Boccone, a public relations major, said. “I wanted to have the chance to make orientation the best it could be to show incoming students just how great this university is.”

Michelle Carroll, a sophomore accounting major, made new decisions for herself while working as an orientation leader.

“Last year I commuted to Hofstra with a feeling of uncertainty toward living on campus this fall, but after the summer passed and I knew what Hofstra was really about, I knew I had to live here,” Carroll said.

These students contributed greatly to help with the changes occurring on campus. However, any University student eager to voice their opinion can respond to the survey that will be sent to all students next week. The first 500 students to reply will receive a gift card toward downloading music.

Orientation leaders take a break and gather for a group shot.