Orientation Schedule
ORIENTATION SCHEDULE
Orientation 2023 will take place for all new students from Sunday, Aug. 20 through Sunday, Aug. 27.
MORE INFO
For more information, contact the Orientation Office at (315) 781-3041 or at orientation@hws.edu.
Sunday, August 20
Arrive on Campus
Report to The Quad
To facilitate a smooth check-in and shorter lines under the Matriculation Tent, Hobart and William Smith strongly recommends that all families arrive during the following staggered check-in hours:
- 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. - Third and Fourth Floor Residents
- 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - Second Floor Residents
- 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. - Ground-Level and First Floor Residents
- 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. - International Students
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Check In and Matriculation
The Quad (Rain Location: Bristol Field House)
Check in with our friendly Orientation staff! Shake hands with President Mark D. Gearan on the Coxe Hall steps, the same steps you will walk across when you graduate. Meet your First-Year Deans and pick up your Orientation materials and residence hall room key on the Quad.
8:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Move In
Residence Halls
Meet your roommate and move into your new home! The Welcome Team (faculty, staff, community members, athletic teams, and others!) will help you move your personal belongings to your room.
11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Complimentary On-Campus Lunch
Scandling Center
Enjoy a “grab and go” bagged lunch at the Scandling Campus Center Café or a sit-down lunch in Saga Dining Hall. Vegetarian and vegan options will be available at both locations.
Off-Campus Lunch
If time permits, families are welcome to travel off-campus to enjoy lunch at one of our beautiful downtown Geneva restaurants.
2:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Students: Meet Your Orientation Mentors and SPARK Team
William Smith Green (Rain Location: Scandling)
Find your SPARK group (your SPARK name is printed on your folder and your nametag) and meet your Orientation Mentor who will guide you to your first SPARK team meeting!
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Parents and Families: Concurrent Sessions
Choose a session to attend. (optional)
- Supporting Your First-Year
Albright Auditorium
William Smith College Class Dean, Lisa Salter, will introduce herself and how deans work with students as they arrive and grow through their experiences at the Colleges over four years. - Supporting Your First-Year
Vandervort Room, 2nd Floor, Scandling Center
Hobart College Class Dean, David Mapstone, will introduce himself and how deans work with students as they arrive and grow through their experiences at the Colleges over four years.
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Parents and Families: Resource Fair
The Quad (Rain Location: Bartlett Theatre)
Interact with offices and staff members from across campus to learn about campus resources to help make your student’s transition successful!
Parents and Families: Refreshment Break
Gearan Center for the Performing Arts
Recharge with light refreshments while meeting fellow parents and families.
3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Parents and Families: Understanding the Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Policy
Common Room, Scandling
Please join the Office of Title IX Programs and Compliance for a session about the Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Policy, including information about prevention and education. Participants will learn more about rights and responsibilities, resources, and how best to support students’ understanding of affirmative consent and healthy relationships.
5:00 p.m.
President's Welcome Ceremony
Stern Lawn (Rain Location: Vandervort Room)
Your official welcome to campus from President Gearan. (Secondary Rain Location: Albright Auditorium)
5:30 p.m.
Family and Friends Farewell
Stern Lawn
Take advantage of this opportunity to say goodbye to family and friends as they depart campus.
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Dinner
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Enjoy getting to know your peers while enjoying dinner!
7:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
HWS Policies with Campus Safety
Various Locations
Get to know your Campus Safety staff to learn about policies and procedures on campus.
Vandervort: Hirshson, Sherrill, Durfee
Albright: Jackson, Potter, Rees, Transfer Students
8:30 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Community Circles
Residence Halls
Get to know your new floor-mates and Community Assistant (CA) during a meeting in your residence hall.
9:15 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Community Activities
Residence Halls
Get to know the residents in your neighborhood through fun interactive activities!
Monday, August 21
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Enjoy some breakfast to get your day started!
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
SPARK! Projects
Assigned Location
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
On Your Own
Enjoy some down-time on your own!
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Dinner
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Enjoy a delicious dinner!
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Evening Activities
Live Music & Dainty Donut Truck Scandling Patio (RL: Café)
Drag BINGO Saga, Dining Hall
Gaming Competition The Cellar Pub
Flag Football Competition The Quad
Tuesday, August 22
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Enjoy some breakfast to get your day started!
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
SPARK! Projects
Assigned Location
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
On Your Own
Enjoy some down-time on your own!
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Dinner
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Enjoy a delicious dinner!
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
HWS Quad Night
The Quad, The Cellar Pub
Enjoy great music, lawn games, food trucks, bubble ball, and inflatables. Stop by the Cellar Pub for a low-key evening option with additional food and entertainment!
Wednesday, August 23
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast With Your Orientation Mentor
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Find your OM Group (OM Group # is printed on your nametag) to gather for breakfast together.
9:00 a.m.
OM Groups 1-16
Day of Service
The Quad
Explore your new community while making it a better place to live and learn. You may be cleaning or working outdoors, so appropriate attire and footwear is suggested.
9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
OM Groups 17-32
“Building Belonging”
Assigned Location
What does it mean to belong? What can we offer each other? What does it mean for you? Join us for an open, honest, and important conversation about belonging in our community.
Assigned Locations:
Groups 17-19 (Vandervort), Groups 20-22 (Saga My Kitchen), Groups 23-25 (Common Room, Scandling), Groups 26-28 (Geneva Room), Groups 29-30 (Sanford Room), Groups 31-32 (Albright)
10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Academic Building Tours
OM Groups 17-32
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Enjoy a delicious lunch after your morning activities.
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
On Your Own
Enjoy some down-time on your own!
2:15 p.m.
Guided walk to your FSEM classroom
Depart from Quad
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
FSEM Class 1
FSEM Classroom
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
On Your Own
Enjoy some down-time on your own; get a jump on your studies!
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Regional Dinner
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Enjoy dinner while connecting with students from your home region, state, or city.
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Transfers: Dinner for Early Arrivals
Scandling Cafe
7:30 p.m. –10:00 p.m.
First Year Mentor Conversations and Study Time
Assigned Locations
Get to know your First Year Mentor and learn useful tips for the transition to college. This session is required.
Thursday, August 24
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Breakfast
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Enjoy some breakfast to get your day started!
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Campus Scavenger Hunt
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Compete in a campus wide scavenger hunt with your OM group to win prizes!
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Transfers: Student Check-In
Orientation Central (Scandling Center, 1st Floor)
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Transfers: Transfer Student Welcome Luncheon
Common Room (Scandling Center)
Join us for the Transfer Student Welcome Luncheon. Meet President Gearan, the Deans, and other campus resources.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Transfers: Academic Advising with HWS Deans
Coxe 8
Meet with your HWS Deans to review your schedule and have your questions answered.
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
FSEM Advising Drop-In Office Hours
Faculty Offices
Stop in and chat with your faculty advisor.
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Study/Reading Time
Rec Center Fun
Fieldhouse
Check out all that the Rec Center has to offer including a rock wall, smoothie truck, and various competitive activities!
1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Transfers: Creating Your Pathway to Success with Career Services
Coxe 7
This session will introduce you to the resources, programs and services available in the Salisbury Center for Career, Professional and Experiential Education.
2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Transfers: Academic Building Tour
Depart from Coxe Steps
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Disability Services Drop-In
CTL, Library
Meet with the staff and learn about resources to support your in and out class experience on campus.
Career Services Drop-In
Trinity Hall
Learn about resources and opportunities for your professional pursuits.
First Generation Initiative (FGI) Meet and Greet
Sherrill Hall Basketball Court
A chance for First Generation College students to meet each other, upper-class students, and faculty and staff. Stop by and pick up your free FGI swag and meet the community!
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Visit the College Store: Textbook Pick Up
College Store
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Study/Reading Time
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Transfer Student Night Dinner
Depart from Orientation Central, Scandling Center
Transfer students will have the opportunity to connect with peers and enjoy a night learning more about Geneva!
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
LGBTQ+ Resource Center Reception (optional)
deCordova Hall, 1st floor
Join HWS faculty, staff, and students to learn about LGBTQ+ life at HWS. Fun activities with sidewalk chalk! Walk to deCordova with an O-Team member, they depart at 4:50 p.m. from the Scandling front patio.
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Dinner
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Enjoy a delicious dinner!
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Who We Are: OneHWS
Stern Lawn (Rain Location: Albright)
Join President Gearan to learn about our HWS values and the importance of having a relationship rich experience on our campus.
8:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Illumination: Classes of 2027 Photo
Bristol Lawn
Get excited for your first official photo as the Classes of 2027! This traditional photo will be featured on HWS’ “This Week in Photos” website!
9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Glow Night
Smith Lawn (Rain Location: Vandervort)
Moonflower Student Band
Scandling Patio (Rain Location: Cellar Pub)
Glow DJ Dance Party Bartlett Theatre, Coxe Hall
Friday, August 25
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast
Steps of Coxe Hall (Rain Location: Saga)
Fuel up with a breakfast before the morning’s activities!
9:00 a.m.
OM Groups 17-32
Day of Service
The Quad
Explore your new community while making it a better place to live and learn. You may be cleaning or working outdoors, so appropriate attire and footwear is suggested.
9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
OM Groups 1-16
“Building Belonging”
Assigned Location What does it mean to belong? What can we offer each other? What does it mean for you? Join us for an open, honest, and important conversation about belonging in our community.
Assigned Locations:
Groups 1-3 (Vandervort)
Groups 4-6 (Saga My Kitchen)
Groups 7-9 (Common Room, Scandling)
Groups 10-12 (Geneva Room)
Groups 13-15 (Sanford Room)
Groups 16 (Albright)
10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Academic Building Tours
OM Groups 1-16
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Enjoy a delicious lunch after your morning activities.
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
On Your Own
Enjoy some down-time on your own!
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
FSEM Class 2
FSEM Classroom
4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
SPARK! Finale
Explore projects and displays throughout Melly Lobby in the Gearan Center for Performing Arts and in Vandervort Room in the Scandling Center.
- 5:00 p.m. Performance by the SPARK group “Stage to Page” will be performed in the McDonald Theatre.
- 5:30 p.m. Performance by SPARK group “Who We Are: A Performance of Dance, Music, and Theater” will be performed in the Deming Theatre.
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Dinner with SPARK! Teams
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Evening Activities
Trivia Night - Sanford Room
Dodgeball Tournament - Sherrill Hall Basketball Ct.
Hot Air Balloon Rides - Smith Lawn
Saturday, August 26
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Breakfast
The Quad
Enjoy some breakfast to get your day started! (Rain Location: Saga)
OM Groups 1-16
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. - CIRP Survey - Assigned Locations
Groups 1-6 (Geneva Room), Groups 7-9 (Sanford Room), Groups 10-16 (Albright)
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. - Library Expo - Library
OM Groups 17-32
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. - Library Expo - Library
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. - CIRP Survey - Assigned Locations
Groups 17-19 (Sanford), Groups 20-24 (Geneva Room), Groups 25-32 (Albright)
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Transfers: Teambuilding Trip (Off Campus)
Depart Orientation Central
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
Lunch
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)
Enjoy a delicious lunch after our morning activities.
1:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
OM Groups 1-16
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. - HWS 101 - Vandervort
2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. - Teambuilding and Sno Cones - Smith Lawn
OM Groups 17-32
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. - Teambuilding and Sno Cones - Smith Lawn
2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. - HWS 101 - Vandervort
4:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
On Your Own
Enjoy some down-time on your own; get a jump on your studies!
5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Havdalah Service
Abbe Center for Jewish Life
Join us for this Shabbat closing ritual.
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Dinner
The Quad (Rain Location: Saga)Enjoy a delicious dinner!
7:00 p.m.
Begin boarding buses in OM Groups to the Smith Center for the Arts
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Annual Variety Show
Smith Center for the Arts
Cheer on your fellow HWS classmates as they share their talents during this student showcase at the historic Smith Center for the Arts in downtown Geneva!
Sunday, August 27
OM Groups 1-16
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. - Breakfast Saga, - Scandling Center
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - LOVE Geneva Tour - Depart: Front of Scandling
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. - LOVE Geneva Food Fair - The Quad (RL: Scandling)
OM Groups 17-32
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. - Breakfast - Saga, Scandling Center
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. - LOVE Geneva Tour - Depart: Front of Scandling
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. - LOVE Geneva Food Fair - The Quad (RL: Scandling)
Breakfast with your OM Group
Saga, Scandling Center
Prepare for the day's events with a good meal.
LOVE Geneva Tour
Depart from Scandling
Take a leisurely walk down South Main Street to explore the downtown Geneva area, meet local business owners, and city leaders to learn more about your new home.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
LOVE Geneva Food Fair
The Quad (Rain Location: Scandling)
Enjoy lunch with food from various restaurants and shops from the Geneva area! Sample their offerings, find out where they’re located, and pick your favorites.
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Campus Wide Open House:
The College Store
51 St. Clair Street
The College Store will be open until 5:00 p.m., so you can buy any last-minute school supplies or HWS branded items.
Paws for a Break!
Stern Lawn (Rain Location: Stern Hall)
While at HWS you are bound to fall in love with one of the many friendly pooches on campus! Come meet these lovable animals on Stern Lawn.
Climb St. Mark’s Tower
Demarest Hall
Go where few have gone before…take a selfie and don’t forget to tag #HWS2027 and #hwsorientation.
Come Together As A Community
Before the official start of the new academic year, come together for our Matriculation and Deans’ Welcome. Students are welcome to attend both.
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Hobart College Exercises of Matriculation
The Quad (Rain Location: Vandervort)
Take part in the traditional Hobart Matriculation. Hear from current students, faculty and alumni about the Hobart community. Dress is business casual.
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
William Smith Deans’ Welcome
William Smith Hill (Rain Location: Melly Lobby in the Gearan Center)
Gather with members of the William Smith community at the Deans’ Welcome Event! The event will begin on the William Smith Hill and conclude on Smith Green where we will enjoy conversation and desserts before dinner. You are encouraged to wear green and/or white to represent our college.
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Dinner in Saga
Saga Dining Hall
Bring your OneCard to enjoy your first dinner in Saga on your meal plan!
9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Community Circles
Residence Halls
Meet the residents from your hall and learn about life in your new home. Your CA will have important information to share!