The mission of the Bear Facts Orientation program is to assist new students in their transition from high school to college and to provide a foundation for academic excellence at UCR. This is achieved through the dissemination of knowledge and resources and the establishment of personal contacts that will enable undergraduate students to reach their maximum potential in their academic discipline, acclimate to their new environment and to excel socially in our diverse campus community. Our research has shown that this program has a significant impact on the success of new students. First year students who attend Bear Facts consistently finish their first year with a higher grade point average than new students who didn’t attend. In addition, the retention rate is also consistently higher for Bear Facts attendees. The Orientation program also provides an excellent professional development and co-curricular experience for approximately sixty undergraduate students each year who are employed as Orientation Counselors, Lead Orientation Counselors, Program Assistants, and Registration Staff members.

Bear Facts Orientation Website