From Departmental Drift to Cross-Campus Flow
“Advisors wanted more time. Admissions had their own goals. Students were overwhelmed. We started meeting regularly — just to listen.”
Patrick didn’t fight for control. He fought for understanding — inviting advising, admissions, and dining into the orientation process. Weekly syncs. Shared reports. Real student data. Trust followed.
Patrick explains how open communication helped break silos at KSU.
Systems That Simplify, Teams That Scale
“We created station leads — one for each check-in role. No one had to guess who to ask for help.”
KSU now runs check-in like a well-oiled machine:
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Students are greeted by orientation leaders and shown their line by last name
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Staff verify ID, assign printed name tags, confirm major, and check guests
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If a major change is needed, staff update it in VZO instantly
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Each support station has a designated team lead trained by Patrick
How Patrick built a kiosk-style check-in that adapts in real time.
Training That Transforms
“Some people walk in saying, ‘I don’t remember anything you told me.’ A session later? They’re experts.”
Patrick created a multi-modal training system:
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PowerPoint + video tutorials
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One-on-one follow-ups
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Walkthroughs using test students
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Live coaching during sessions
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Confidence checkpoints before high-pressure moments
From tech-choked to tech-confident — a check-in team training win.
Personalizing the Experience with VZO Logic
“We route students by major, and each group has a capacity tied to the registration lab. That’s how we scale.”
VZO powers the logic behind it all:
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Students auto-assigned by major into advising groups
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Max caps tied to computer lab seat counts
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Major change tracking and updates at check-in
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Advisor-ready data exports for every session
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Name tags printed via Avery + VZO exports, complete with group indicators
Why Patrick calls VZO ‘brilliantly adaptable.’
What Others Miss About Orientation Ops
“People think we just snap our fingers and orientation happens.”
Patrick’s program is year-round:
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Recruitment, hiring, and training of orientation leaders
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Ordering supplies, managing venues, prepping guest info
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Supporter comms via VZO platform
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Continuous feedback loops with every stakeholder
Behind the curtain: What orientation professionals really do.
If I Could Whisper to Another Orientation Pro…
“Don’t take everything personally. Some people are reacting to the stress — not you.”
Patrick’s leadership grew from overwhelm to composure. His advice?
His final advice to anyone running onboarding today.
