Freshmen orientation is underway at Hawaii's newest four year college, U.H. West Oahu.

About a third of the class of 2011, attended the orientation Tuesday. They will be the first group of freshmen who will graduate from UH West Oahu. Each group of five or six have their own senior mentor.

"Entering freshmen are working with existing seniors so they're just mingling, getting to know each other and then we'll work into a survey where we'll get some information, students self-reporting on how well prepared they are for college," said Pam Haight, from UH West Oahu.

Haight says many of the freshmen will be first generation college students which can be intimidating.


"The advantage for students coming to West Oahu is that they will have basically a private school education. Very, very small classrooms. We're looking at 20 to 30 students."

That was the primary appeal for Alyssa Yafuso, one of the new freshmen.

"I went to UH Manoa for a little while, but I like the environment here because it's smaller. Seems like the people here know me...not like Manoa.”

The campus is a small complex of portables set next to Leeward Community College's theatre building. Like the campus, the list of available courses is small - so far.

"We're also in the process of adding additional departments, divisions and so as time goes on, we'll have more and more available," said Haight.

This orientation session allows the students to voice their opinions on what kinds of activities they want included in their campus experience - something pioneers have the opportunity to do.

"They seem like they really want to get to know you because most colleges they just send you the letters and kind of forget about you but over here they seem like they're dedicated to teaching you," said Anthony Pagatpatan, another new freshmen.

"We're really proud to be able to offer that especially to the west side here and again looking forward to our transition out to Kapolei as that campus gets built," said Haight.

That transition is expected when these students begin their junior year.