On-Campus Orientation Schedule

9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Move-In

First-Year Residence Halls

Arrive during your scheduled move-in time to get your room key and set up your residence hall room. Move-In assistance will be provided by student staff members, Denison Athletes, and university community volunteers.

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Immigration & Legal Obligations (International Students Only)

Burton Morgan Lecture Hall

This session is for students coming from abroad only. This session is an overview of immigration, how to maintain your F-1 status, travel and re-entry to the U.S., and work authorization options. Participation in this session is required for all new international students.

2 - 4 p.m.

Orientation Check-In and Resource Fair

East Quad

After moving in, join us on East Quad to pick up your orientation materials and schedule and learn about offices that are here to support you on campus.

5 - 5:45 p.m.

Assembly of Incoming Students

Swasey Chapel (RAIN: Mitchell Center)

Meet your First-Year Fellow and form the processional line for the Induction Ceremony. Please dress in business casual attire, and arrive promptly at 5 p.m. Families are invited to find their seats on the Reese~Shackleford Common to prepare for the Faculty and Class of 2029 to process at 5:45 p.m.

6 - 7 p.m.

Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2029

Reese~Shackelford Common (RAIN: Mitchell Center)

President Adam Weinberg presides over the formal installation of the Class of 2029. Faculty will be in full academic regalia. Note: Faculty will begin marching at 5:45 pm.

7 - 9 p.m.

Dinner

Curtis and Huffman Dining Halls, or Granville

Students and their families are welcome to purchase a meal in one of our dining halls or head into Granville or the surrounding area to try one of our local restaurants.

7 - 8:30 p.m.

First-Year Athlete Dinner

Recreation Gym, Mitchell Center

All varsity athletes and families are invited to join the community of coaches and administration for lunch. Enjoy opportunities to meet other student-athletes and talk about the upcoming year of Big Red Athletics.

9 - 9:30 p.m.

Home on the Hill

First-Year Residence Halls

Start your first night of college by meeting your hallmates and walking over to The Sizzle together.

9:30 p.m. - midnight

The Sizzle

Academic Quad

A first-year tradition featuring a glow paint party. Come enjoy the lights, the sounds, the paint, and live DJs! Note: Wear clothes you will not mind getting covered in washable paint.

7:30 - 9 a.m.

Breakfast

Curtis and Huffman Dining Halls, or Granville

Students and their families are welcome to purchase a meal in one of our dining halls or head into Granville or the surrounding area to try one of our local restaurants.

10 - 11 a.m.

First Small Group Meeting

Small Group Locations

Meet your First-Year Fellow and small group to review the schedule for the day and begin getting to know each other.

11 - 11:30 a.m.

Welcome to Denison

South Quad

Meet fellow Class of 2029 students in a positive, supportive environment to start new friendships that will last far beyond Orientation.

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Faculty Panel on Academic Success

Eisner Center: Sharon Martin Hall (Groups 1- 22) | Burke Recital Hall (Groups 23-40) | Large Rehearsal Room (Groups 41-50)

Our world-class faculty shed some wisdom on the steps to become academically successful here on The Hill.

1 - 3 p.m.

Lunch

Curtis and Huffman Dining Halls, or Granville

Students will rejoin their families and all are welcome to purchase a meal in one of our dining halls or head into Granville or the surrounding area to try one of our local restaurants.

3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Off-Campus Orientation Trips

Various Locations

Students and their families will be introduced to their Off-Campus Orientation faculty, staff, and student leaders and learn more about the exciting activities they can expect to enjoy while they’re off campus.

Ancient Ohio

Higley Auditorium

Big Red Connections

Swasey Chapel

Campfire Connect

Huffman Dining Hall

Cleveland Rocks!

Burton Morgan Knobel Hall

Denison Art Orientation

Eisner Burke Recital Hall

Denison by Design

Slayter Union 3rd Floor

Denison Canoeing Orientation (DCO)

Samson Talbot 210

Denison Outdoor Orientation

Herrick Auditorium

Denison Service Orientation

Slayter Union Pit

Denison Whitewater Orientation

Curtis Provost’s Dining Room

Exordium

Burton Morgan Lecture Hall

Engage Cincinnati

Slayter Union Auditorium

Mammoth Cave Orientation

Samson Talbot 212

Session Zero

Huffman Bandersnatch

Taste of Denison

Curtis Dining Hall

World of Sports

Huffman President’s Dining Room

Written in the Stars

Eisner Hylbert Family Studio

3:45 - 4:15 p.m.

Family Departure

4:15 - 5 p.m.

Residence Hall Safety and Expectations

Various Locations

Meet your residence hall staff and Community Advisors to discuss safety procedures and community expectations during your first floor meeting.

5 - 7 p.m.

Dinner

Curtis Dining Hall (Groups 1-25) | Huffman Dining Hall (Groups 26-50)

7 p.m. - midnight

Jackpot!

Slayter Union

Try your luck for a jackpot alongside your newfound friends with games like poker, blackjack, and roulette played the Denison way

9 p.m. - midnight

Movies on the Quad

East Quad (RAIN: Slayter)

Keep the Vegas energy rolling after Jackpot! Spend one of your first nights under the stars watching back-to-back casino blockbusters with all of your new classmates!

7:30 - 9 a.m.

Breakfast

Huffman Dining Hall

9 - 9:30 a.m.

Small Group

Small Group Locations

9:30 - 10:45 a.m.

Living in Community Trivia

Curtis Dining Hall (Groups 1-17) | Huffman Dining Hall (Groups 18-25)

Test your knowledge on what it means to live in community with one another on The Hill. Get ready to explore how to interweave Denison’s values with your own values, as well as identify ways to help support the safe and fun environment we have on The Hill for the next four years!

Wellness Fair

Hoaglin Wellness Center (Groups 26-50)

The Wellness Fair features resources for mind, body, and spirit. Learn about the many wellness and spiritual life programs, along with the variety of medical and counseling services as you tour the Hoaglin Wellness Center and Gilpatrick House while playing games and earning prizes.

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Academic and Individual Success

Swasey Chapel

Understand the important elements that it will take to balance your schedule, find important resources, and plan for a successful semester!

12:30 - 2 p.m.

Lunch

Curtis Dining Hall (Groups 26-50) | Huffman Dining Hall (Groups 1-25)

2 - 3 p.m.

“Wanna Make Out?” - A Conversation About Consent

Swasey Chapel

Speaker Lori Bednarchik takes a unique, positive, uninhibited and uncensored approach to talking about sexual consent and communication. The focus throughout the program is promoting safe, fun, positive, and consensual sexual activity, and providing participants with specific and practical skills to effectively communicate to, and with their partner about sex and consent.

3 - 3:30 p.m.

Class Photo

Reese~Shackelford Common

Find your place and begin making your mark on The Hill in the Class of 2029 photo. Be sure to wear your Class t-shirt!

3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Roommate Agreements

First-Year Residence Halls

Get to know your roommate’s story! From these stories, you will work together to have an initial discussion about roommate expectations.

4 - 4:15 p.m.

Battle of the Residence Halls - Floor Round-Up

First-Year Residence Halls

Students will meet with their floormates to prepare for the Battle of the Residence Halls.

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Battle of the Residence Hall

Lamson Lodge

Compete in a variety of activities to win bragging rights as the top first-year residence hall on campus.

5:30 - 7 p.m.

Dinner

Curtis Dining Hall (Groups 1-25) | Huffman Dining Hall (Groups 26-50)

7 - 9 p.m.

Library Fest: Jurassic Skills for Academic Thrills

Doane Library

Explore the intellectual jungle of campus at this one-night-only, Jurassic-themed library adventure. Meet your Personal Librarian, prep for printing, uncover research tools, and explore study spaces and digital resources, everything you need to conquer your first semester!

9 p.m. - midnight

Rec at Nite

Mitchell Center

Queue the “George Lopez” intro and jump on down to the Rec Center to play a variety of your favorite games! You can choose from pickleball, basketball, sand volleyball, yard games, and so much more!

7:30 - 9 a.m.

Breakfast

Huffman Dining Hall

9 - 9:30 a.m.

Small Group

Small Group Locations

9:30 - 10:45 a.m.

Living in Community Trivia

Curtis Dining Hall (Groups 26-42) | Huffman Dining Hall (Groups 43-50)

Test your knowledge on what it means to live in community with one another on The Hill. Get ready to explore how to interweave Denison’s values with your own values, as well as identify ways to help support the safe and fun environment we have on The Hill for the next four years!

Wellness Fair

Hoaglin Wellness Center (Groups 1-25)

The Wellness Fair features resources for mind, body, and spirit. Learn about the many wellness and spiritual life programs, along with the variety of medical and counseling services as you tour the Hoaglin Wellness Center and Gilpatrick House while playing games and earning prizes.

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

You Belong Here!

Swasey Chapel

Join the Center for Belonging & Inclusion and the Alford Community Leadership & Involvement Center to discover how you can find community and engage in conversations around connecting with your Home on The Hill.

12:30 - 2 p.m.

Lunch

Curtis Dining Hall (Groups 26-50) | Huffman Dining Hall (Groups 1-25)

1:30 - 2 p.m.

RAIN DATE: Class Photo

Reese~Shackelford Common

2 - 3 p.m.

A Hill Without Hazing

Swasey Chapel

Being a member of the Denison Community asks you to DU RIGHT by your fellow Denisonians, which includes supporting each other and helping to prevent hazing across campus. Collin’s Law requires each student to learn about preventing hazing in our community.

3 - 3:45 p.m.

Final Small Group

Small Group Locations

Continue asking your First-Year Fellow questions to hear their tricks of the trade for being a successful Denisonian.

4 - 5 p.m.

Civil Discourse at Denison

Various Locations

Civil discourse and intellectual debate are a vital and healthy part of campus culture. Faculty will lead concurrent sessions, based on their areas of expertise, that model curiosity and productive dialogue and help incoming students appreciate the importance of taking multiple perspectives on complex issues.

5 - 7 p.m.

Dinner

Curtis Dining Hall (Groups 1-25) | Huffman Dining Hall (Groups 26-50)

7 - 10 p.m.

Off-Campus Trip Preparation

Various Locations

Reconvene with your Off-Campus group leaders to prepare for your departure from campus.

6 - 10 p.m.

Off-Campus Orientation Trips Return

Various Locations

Welcome Home! Take some time to unpack from your trip, organize your room, walk around campus, or even venture down to Granville.

10 - 11:30 p.m.

Sailesh The Hypnotist

Swasey Chapel

An experienced performer with more than 20 years under his belt, Sailesh has performed a staggering 5,000+ shows. Dubbed “The World’s Best Hypnotist,” his live show is described as a cross between a concert and the best party ever!

10 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Late Night Breakfast

Huffman Dining Hall

Who doesn’t like breakfast? Join us for all of your early morning favorites…at night!

7:30 - 9 a.m.

Breakfast

Huffman and Curtis Dining Halls

9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m.

Local Shopping Shuttles

P1 Parking Garage

Sign up for the Big Red Express on What To DU!

9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

One-on-Ones with your First-Year Fellow

Various Locations

Reunite with your First-Year Fellow one-on-one to discuss how you can make your own plan for success.

2 - 4:30 p.m.

Choose Your Own Adventure

Various Locations

Drop into The Center

The Center for Belonging and Inclusion, Slayter Union 4th Floor

Familiarize yourself with the CBI Lounge and ask staff your questions.

Health & Wellness Needs

Hoaglin Wellness Center

Confirm your medical needs with the Hoaglin staff.

Knowlton Career Questions Open House

2nd Floor Burton Morgan

Talk all things careers and internships with members of the Knowlton Center.

Spiritual Life Open House

Gilpatrick House

Find support and resources for students of all faiths, no faith, and those with big questions.

Open your Slayter Mailbox

Slayter Union

Test out opening your Student Slayter Mailbox, every student has one!

Class Schedule Tours

Start at Library Steps

Walk through your schedule with a First-Year Fellow to locate your classes.

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Knapp Open House

Knapp Hall

Are you interested in the Humanities? Not sure? Walk through Knapp Hall and meet the departments, tour the building, and pick up treats on every floor!

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Science Students & Faculty Social

Ebaugh Atrium

Come meet science faculty and students, enjoy a water-ice treat, and discover some of the extracurricular and research opportunities waiting for you in the sciences!

6 - 9 p.m.

Involvement Fair & Carnival

Academic Quad

Learn about and connect with Denison’s 160+ campus organizations and GET INVOLVED! Carnival games, a zipline, roving performances by the Great DuBois, and lots of fun awaits!

6 - 8:30 p.m.

Community Cookout

Reese~Shackelford Common

Wrap up your last day of orientation by joining campus in a community cookout! Dining Halls will be closed.

9 - 9:15 p.m.

Fireworks

Reese~Shackelford Common

Celebrate your last night before classes with a BANG!