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HOME | THE 2008 OSC | CURRENT STUDENT? VOLUNTEER!

Fall Orientation for new first-year and transfer students entering August 2008
Friday, August 22 – Wednesday, August 27, 2008


Move In Times - Friday, August 22, 2008

All students moving into a Residence Hall on North Campus are given a designated move-in time based on their last name to help with traffic flow (you will receive additional information in the mail with important housing information). Arrival times are strictly enforced. If you arrive before your assigned time, you will NOT be permitted to move in early. You will be able to move in after your assigned time has ended if necessary. Students and staff volunteers in red shirts will be on hand to assist with unloading and moving in.

Last name begins with: Arrive between the hours of:
A-G 11:00AM-2:00PM
H-O 2:00PM-5:00PM
P-Z 8:00AM-11:00AM

All students moving into a residence hall on West Campus or in Collegetown can move in anytime between 8:00am and 6:00pm.

Arrival times are strictly enforced. If you arrive before your assigned time, you will NOT be permitted to check in early. Students and staff volunteers in red shirts will be on hand to help. All students moving into a residence hall on West Campus or into Collegetown can move in anytime between 8:00am and 6:00pm. Please note, any trucks over 14’ long will not be permitted on campus on Friday (SUVs, pick-up trucks, or standard vans/minivans are permitted). Any trucks 14’ or longer will be allowed to drop off their loads on Saturday. However, there will not be volunteers available that day to assist you. If you have other questions, contact the Housing and Dining Office at 607-255-5368 or housing@cornell.edu.

Find more answers to your housing questions here.


This year's publications will be available on June 20, 2008. In the meantime, feel free to download related publications from last year's Orientation to get an idea of what to expect during your first
week at Cornell.
   

Orientation Guide Cover Image

August 2007 New Student Orientation Guide for first-year and transfer students
Click here to download a copy
(PDF, 8mb)

 
   
Family Schedule of Event Cover
The Family Schedule of Events during Orientation (August 17-18, 2007)
Click here to download a copy (PDF, 1.31mb)
   
 
Family Guide Cover
The Family Guide
Click here to download a copy (PDF, 3.73mb)

Printed materials will be mailed directly to entering students and their families on, or around, June 20, 2008. Please ensure Cornell has your correct address to prevent delays in receiving Orientation materials!

How to Make the Most of Orientation

Our lives are full of transitions: walking on our own, learning to drive, and selecting a college. Your current transition begins your Cornell journey. This journey will be marked by traditions such as Cornell Night, primal screams, prelims, snow, and more. It will also be a very independent journey, one that you must create for yourself with the help and support of your family, friends, and all of the faculty and staff at Cornell University. We encourage you to look at Orientation as your free pass to everything that is Cornell – the activities, events, and programs were designed for you by your peers. All of the student volunteers, over 800 of them, have decided to return to campus early to help ease your transition, welcome you to our community, and show you the way to be successful academically and socially.

Your first challenge as a Cornellian will be to balance your freedom with your responsibility. Cornell University’s Orientation is 6 days and 6 nights – there are many events, activities, and programs during that time that you must attend and which will be indicated on the schedule of events with a special symbol. Required events and meetings always come first and must be included in your schedule. The rest of the time, you can decide what to do– tours, information sessions, social activities, running errands, exploring campus, getting to know your peers, looking into opportunities. Take full advantage of all that Orientation has to offer including meeting with your Orientation Leader, and participating in activities. Your success as a Cornellian starts and ends with you. Orientation is not the last time that you will be faced with choices to make; some will be easy and others may be more difficult.

The Orientation schedule has three parts. On Friday, we hope you will feel Welcomed and get settled into your new home. On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the schedule is focused on Academics and your Intellectual Community – many of your required events and meetings are during this time. Tuesday and Wednesday offer more flexibility and therefore we hope you will take the time to participate in many of the Discovery Days options we have available for you—both academic and extracurricular.

Cornell University has opened its doors wide just for you–be sure to walk through those doors and explore everything by attending events, asking questions, and meeting your peers in your Orientation Leader groups.


Did you know?

  • All new students are expected to arrive on campus to move into their residence halls (or off-campus apartments) on Friday, August 22. All students moving into a residence hall on North Campus (where first-year students live) are given a designated move-in time based on their last name to help with traffic flow.

    Many families find it useful to arrive on Thursday, August 21. Arriving early will allow you to take care of any shopping, banking, or other errands. However, new students are not able to move-in, register, or address any other on-campus needs prior to Friday, August 22.

    Free shuttles will take you between North and West Campuses and Registration and the Campus Services Event (Friday only). We encourage you to park your car as directed and utilize these shuttles.

  • All new students are required to attend Orientation from Friday, August 22, through Wednesday, August 27. While families are not required to attend Orientation, many families who accompany their students spend time on campus and in the community on Friday, August 22 and Saturday, August 23. During this time there are optional information sessions and tours that are specifically intended for the parents and families of new students. Many of the schools and colleges also offer family-specific events during this period.

    Parents and families should make arrangements to say goodbye to their students and leave campus on Saturday evening or first thing Sunday morning.

  • Though Cornell University’s Orientation program provides much flexibility in its schedule, all new students are expected to fully participate in each day of Orientation. Many sessions are required; students must attend. Other sessions and events are optional. However, through our years of experience, we have found students who take full advantage of Orientation find themselves to be the most prepared; to have made the most new friends; to feel the most confident to start classes; and to be the most comfortable navigating their way around campus.

  • Ithaca has limited overnight accommodations, especially those in close proximity to campus. You are encouraged to make necessary arrangements as early as possible (for some area hotels/motels, at least 6 months in advance is recommended). With short supply, many families will find themselves in hotels or other accommodations outside of the local community. We're confident that you will find helpful staff in all locations to direct you to campus.

    A listing of local accommodations is available online at visitithaca.com. Other sites and resources that may be helpful:


Meet the 2008 Orientation Steering Committee

This group of 14 upper-level student volunteers is committed to recruiting, selecting and training all student orientation volunteers (over 800 in all) and coordinating almost 100 events/programs/activities for the orientation program each year. Get to know who is planning your orientation – they are available by email to answer your questions before you arrive.


Q u e s t i o n s ?
Call the Orientation office
607.255.5808
or email us
cu_orientation-mailbox@cornell.edu

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