I sat in on some orientation sessions for incoming freshman at the University of Michigan last week, and I can tell you this: This is not your parents’ university any more. Heck, if you are over 30, it’s not yours any longer, either.

Technology is changing so fast, and students — these lucky, young students — can enjoy the ride.

That much was obvious from the three talks I attended at the U-M Undergraduate Library on Thursday.

The first dealt with student computer use, something reserved mainly for engineering students when I attended U-M.

During the late 1970s, I remember banging out my term papers on an old Olivetti typewriter. I would try to dab out the inevitable mistake with that goopy Liquid Paper. Now, of course, students do everything by computer. And what’s amazing at U-M are the number of computers available for use by the students. They are everywhere — in the Michigan Union, the libraries, residence halls, to name a few key spots.

The hub of it all is the Courtyard Computing Center in Angell Hall, where students have access to more than 100 computers, either MACS or PCs.

Students get their own file space and e-mail accounts, and there are staff members to help you answer questions, including someone in each residence hall.

The next session dealt with university libraries. Students were introduced to “clickers,” a tool used in some classes where you can respond to questions, with the results instantly shown on graphs. In a cool touch, students were shown their location in the UGLI through a geospatial numeric data service photograph from above. Say that fast three times.

I remember trudging to the library on cold days to write an economics or political science paper. Now students can access U-M libraries’ resources from their computer in their room.

Hate writing research papers? I did. But U-M now offers a class in doing research papers, including how to quickly produce those dreaded bibliographies.

A place called “Tech Deck” helps students produce Web pages, videos or posters. And the Duderstadt Center Media Union on North Campus takes all that several steps further, with all sorts of state-of-the-art video editing equipment.

Finally came a session on study abroad, student involvement and leadership. Jaden Felix, a staff member in the U-M Office of Student Activities and Leadership, spoke of the need to get involved on campus, to become an effective leader, team member, and community member.

He cited various retreats and programs at U-M where students learn about group dynamics and the intersection of culture and leadership. Those include a program called “LeaderShape,” which was cited by Google co-founder Larry Page in his recent commencement speech at U-M. There, Page said, he learned “a healthy disregard for the impossible.”

How much is there to do at U-M these days? There are now more than 1,000 student organizations, up from 300 only 10 years ago, Felix says.

The freshmen were also urged to sign up for travel abroad, an option available to any student. “You really should start today,” in planning for where you might want to go, said advisor Linda Popovic.

I thought back, and the only intersection I contemplated during orientation was where I could find a good party. Leadership? Well, maybe who’s buying the munchies? Travel? Yeah, where’s our next football road trip?

During my orientation, in the summer of 1976, I remember taking several placement exams and a brief session with a student counselor. That’s about it in terms of academic help.

Now, I admit, I wasn’t a total vegetable in college. I worked for four years on the Michigan Daily student newspaper and graduated on time.

But times have changed, and seemingly for the better for students.

The sessions I attended last week were a fraction from three days that also taught students how to manage their money, study effectively and learn about campus safety.

Nope, this isn’t my university any more. For the most part, that’s a good thing.

Geoff Larcom writes a weekly column for AnnArbor.com.