Escaping Boring Student Affairs Graduate Program Orientations

After coordinating and facilitating countless graduate orientations for student affairs master's programs, my graduate assistant and I decided to bring a fresh perspective to graduate orientation by integrating an escape room as the central onboarding activity for admitted students. This involved activity expertly conveyed important programmatic material while allowing space for the students to build community within their cohort. The student affairs graduate program collaborates with partners across campus routinely, and the escape room provided ample opportunity to continue building relationships and sharing resources. This “how-to” article will explore the process of escape room design, supporting tools, and community building for a successful graduate orientation.