Kristi Becker won't start classes at the University of Dayton for another three weeks. But she already knows some of the people who are going to be in her classes, and who's on the floor in her dorm.

        The 18-year-old Sharonville woman goes on line at least once a day and checks out the university's virtual orientation Web site. She chats with classmates, looks at her dorm room or checks out information on clubs she might join.

        She can even download the school's fight song or a UD screen saver.

TAKE THE TOUR

Incoming University of Dayton students who have been given a password can take the virtual orientation tour. The Web site, www.vo.udayton.edu, features chat rooms with professors, personalized home pages, course descriptions and views of their dorm room.

        “I didn't expect anything like that,” said Ms. Becker, a Mount Notre Dame High School graduate. “I put on my buddy list the people who are in my classes. I love looking through the profiles to see who's on my floor, who's in my classes.”

        This is the first year that UD has offered the virtual orientation. It is an extension of information already on the school's Web site, said Marcus Robinson, director of Internet development and strategy.

        During its first four months of operation, UD's 1,750 incoming freshmen have exchanged more than 13,000 messages. More than 97 percent of those students have logged on.

        Among Southwest Ohio's colleges, only UD offers students the opportunity to go through a summer orientation without ever stepping foot on campus.

        Miami University, Northern Kentucky University, the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and Mount St. Joseph all require students to come on campus to meet with advisers, register for classes, look at dorm rooms and become familiar with buildings locations and services offered. In-person orientation usually lasts from a half-day to two days.

        “We still have on campus, move-in orientation,” Mr. Robinson said. “This is more or less designed to build community before the students ever arrive. They can experience the technology they will use when they get here.”

        When students log in, a customized home page greets them. They can read course descriptions, buy books, zoom in to their assigned dorm room or go to private chat rooms with other freshmen. They also can click on a building and find out what offices or courses are taught there.

        Material of interest to them can be put in a virtual folder available every time they log on.

        There is even a “prequel” class where professors post typical class assignments for freshmen core classes.

        “I like it,” said 17-year-old Danielle Burke of Dillonvale. “It was pretty cool, very personalized. "It's kind of neat you do all this. You can get comfortable with the campus even when you're not there.”

        Last year Yahoo! Internet Life magazine named UD the top wired university in Ohio and the most wired Catholic university in the nation. This is the second year that students are required to purchase a computer from the university loaded with the same software that they and their professors will use.

        Come fall 2002, the only way high school students can apply to UD is online.

        What UD is doing with its virtual orientation might be unique to the area, but it is not unheard of, said Laura Massie, spokeswoman for the Ohio Board of Regents.

        Other universities have some of the same material online as UD but most require students and their parents to physically come on campus to register for classes, even if they do it online from university computers.

        Though putting more orientation information online is a growing trend among colleges and universities, not all embrace virtual orientation. Larger schools, including UC and hio Statesay they plan on keeping summer programs even though they continue to expand their online offerings.

        ""We're going in the other di rection,” said Russell Curley, UC's director of educational services and new student orientation.

        “We feel very strongly — especially on a campus of more than 33,000 students — that they need to come on campus.

        “In a large campus it can be very easy to become anonymous and get lost in the shuffle, especially traditional, adolescent, 17- or 18-year-old incoming freshmen. They need to meet faculty and staff.”

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