Orientation Schedule
August 18-26, 2026
Below is the orientation schedule for all new students entering in fall 2026. If you have questions, please contact Assistant Dean of Students for Student Engagement Tessa Chefalo at tchefalo@hamilton.edu.
- Sessions highlighted in blue are required for all new students studying on-campus this fall, including new transfer students.
- Sessions highlighted in yellow are parent and family sessions.
- Parents and family members are also encouraged to participate in all activities prior to 3 p.m.
Note: International Student Orientation (ISO) takes place from August 15-17, 2026. Students who are participating in ISO should plan to arrive on campus on August 13 or 14, and should refer to their email for additional information about ISO. Please contact Director of International Student Services Bonike Odegbami at oodegbam@hamilton.edu with any questions.
| Wednesday, August 19 |
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| 7–9 a.m. Breakfast Commons and McEwen Dining Halls |
| All Day Adventure Trip Activities* Various locations |
| 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Lunch For trip groups still on campus Commons Dining Hall |
| 5–7 p.m. Dinner For trip groups still on campus Commons Dining Hall |
| Thursday, August 20 |
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| 7–8 a.m. Breakfast* For trip groups still on campus Commons Dining Hall |
| All Day Adventure Trip Activities* Various locations |
| Friday, August 21 - Saturday, August 22 |
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| All day Adventure Trip Activities* Various locations |
| Sunday, August 23 |
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| Morning-Afternoon Adventure Trip Activities* Various locations |
| Afternoon Adventure Trips return to campus |
| Noon–4 p.m. Lunch Commons Dining Hall |
| 5:30 p.m. Dinner under the tent* Tent on the Dunham Green |
| 7 p.m. Residence Hall Mixers* Meet your CA and fellow hall mates, and learn more about living on campus at Hamilton. After dinner, please head to your residence hall to meet your CA! Residence Halls – various locations |
| 7 p.m. Jan Mixer* Spend some time getting to know your fellow January Admission students before you embark on your fall experiences! The Little Pub |
| Monday, August 24 |
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| 7:45–8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast Tent on the Dunham Green |
| 8:45–10 a.m. Orientation Lecture* Emily Harrison, assistant professor of theater, delivers this year’s Orientation Lecture. Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
| 10–11 a.m. Brunch and Info Session for January Admission Students and Families Jans who are interested in information about Hamilton’s curriculum, advising, and spring course registration are invited to chat with representatives from the Registrar’s Office, Associate Dean of Students for Academics, and Pre-Health Professions Advising. A continental brunch will be served. Please bring along your temporary room key and meal card. Fillius Events Barn |
| 10–11 a.m. Group Advising Sessions* Meet with your faculty advisor See the back of your orientation booklet for your advisor’s name and office location |
| 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Individual Advising Meetings* Various Locations |
| 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Lunch with your Orientation Group Commons and McEwen Dining Halls |
| 12:30–2:30 p.m. Lawn Games and Lemonade Stop by Sadove Terrace to relax with drinks from Squeezers Lemonade truck, and music, meet new people, or join in some friendly competition over cornhole or giant checkers. Sadove Student Center Terrace |
| Noon –1 p.m. Informal Sciences Advising Mingle with faculty and ask questions about majors and courses in the sciences. Taylor Science Center Atrium |
| Noon –1 p.m. Informal Social Sciences Advising Mingle with faculty and ask questions about majors and courses in the social sciences. Kirner-Johnson First Floor Commons |
| 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Academic Info Sessions Each session is offered twice, at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
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| 2–4 p.m. Drop-In Snacks & Relax Stop by Sadove for games, snacks, crafts, and a chance to unwind. Orientation leaders will be around to chat and answer any lingering questions! Sadove Student Center Living Room and Sun Porch |
| 3–5 p.m. The Hamilton Honor Code* Introduction to the Hamilton Honor Code. Kirner-Johnson, Bradford Auditorium
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| 3–5 p.m. Wellness at Hamilton* College is a holistic experience, and you will have a lot to balance over the next four years. Come learn about how you can take care of yourself while at Hamilton, how we take care of each other in our community, and what services are offered in the Counseling Center and Dean of Students Office. Taylor Science Center, Kennedy Auditorium
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| 5–6:45 p.m. Dinner Commons and McEwen Dining Halls |
| 7–8 p.m. Community and Allyship* Speaker Ebone Bell talks about our collective roles and responsibilities as members of a diverse campus community. Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
| 9-11 p.m. Open Mic Night Show off your talents or just come to watch your friends and Orientation trip leaders perform! Fillius Events Barn |
| 9-11 p.m. "Home at Hamilton" New Student Block Party Food, crafts, games, giveaways, and activities to help you begin to find your “home” at Hamilton. Come relax, connect, and grab a bite! Sadove Student Center Terrace |
| Tuesday, August 25 |
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| 7:30-9 a.m. Breakfast Commons and McEwen Dining Halls |
| 9–3 p.m. Registration Follow-up Check-in at the Registrar’s office if you need to make changes to your course schedule. Please see your group’s assigned time below. Burke Library, First Floor
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| 10–11:30a.m. Jewish Community Bagel Brunch Come for delicious bagels with spreads and meet members of our Jewish community and representatives from our Hillel and Chabad student groups! Everyone is welcome. Questions? email spirituallife@hamilton.edu. Azel Backus House, Center for Jewish Life |
| 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Individual Advising Meetings* Various Locations |
| 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Matriculation* Visit the Kirkland Cottage to sign the historic College Register. President Steven Tepper, Provost and Dean of Faculty Ngoni Munemo, Vice President for Enrollment Management John McLaughlin, Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Sean Bennett, and VP and Dean of Students Christopher Card will greet new students during this annual and historic Hamilton tradition. (Please find your group name on your orientation booklet label, and arrive at the Kirkland Cottage at your group’s assigned time below). Kirkland Cottage
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11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
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| 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Lunch Commons and McEwen Dining Halls |
| 1:30–3:30 p.m. Matcha Meet-cha Mix and mingle while you enjoy craft matcha and coffee drinks! You will also have a chance to meet our staff and student leaders from our Spiritual and Religious Life student organizations. ALL ARE WELCOME! Chapel Foyer and Lawn |
| 2-4 p.m. Wellin Museum of Art Poster Giveaway Stop in to the Wellin Museum to look at art, make a personalized postcard to send to a friend, and pick up an art poster to decorate your room. Wellin Museum of Art |
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2:30–4:30 p.m.
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| 5-6:30 p.m. MP2 (Multicultural Peer Mentoring Project) Mixer * A welcome event for all students participating in the MP2 program. Tolles Pavilion |
| 5:30-6:30 p.m. Transfer Student Dinner Mixer Sadove Student Center, Sun Porch |
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5-7:30 p.m. |
| 7:30–9 p.m. Safety and Health at Hamilton* This presentation will highlight health and safety resources at Hamilton and discuss ways to promote a healthy and safe campus community. Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
| 9 p.m. Mentalist Al Snyder Dr. Al Snyder blends traditional stage hypnosis and creative new material to keep audience members on the edge of their seats. One of the highlights of the week! Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
| 10 p.m. Trivia Night Come test out your knowledge of Hamilton (and minutiae) at Trivia Night, hosted by the First-Year Experience (FYE) Leaders! Bring along your own group, or just show up and we’ll match you with a group. Snacks for all, and prizes for the winners! Fillius Events Barn |
| Wednesday, August 26 |
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| 7–9 a.m. Breakfast Commons and McEwen Dining Halls |
| 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Registration Follow-Up If you still need to make changes to your fall course schedule, the Registrar’s Office will be open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Elihu Root House, Registrar's Office |
| 9–10:30 a.m. QuestBridge Scholars Orientation Meeting Meet peer incoming QuestBridge scholars in this dynamic session that will provide guidance on effective campus navigation, learn about the concept of the hidden curriculum, meet the QSN leadership, and more! Filius Events Barn |
| 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Tiny Teach Fair Stop by for bite-sized presentations on essential Hamilton skills and tips. This “fair” features rotating 10-minute presentations on a variety of topics, including managing your email inbox, using Hamilton’s many digital tools, navigating student employment, and much more! Sessions are offered four times each: at 9:30 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Attend one or more sessions during the hour to get ready for the academic year! Please see the online orientation schedule and check your email for details on session topics and room locations. Kirner-Johnson |
| 11 a.m.-Noon Hamilton 101* Being a member of the Hamilton community is an incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and develop deep and meaningful relationships. With that privilege comes responsibility to our community. This session, hosted by the Dean of Students Office, will focus on your rights and responsibilities as a student, and will introduce staff members from the Divisions of Student Life and partners across campus who will be resources to you as you navigate your campus experience. Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
| Noon-2 p.m. Lunch Commons and McEwen Dining Halls |
| Noon-2 p.m. Matriculation* Visit the Kirkland Cottage to sign the historic College Register. President Steven Tepper, Provost and Dean of Faculty Ngoni Munemo, Vice President for Enrollment Management John McLaughlin, Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Sean Bennett, and VP and Dean of Students Christopher Card will greet new students during this annual and historic Hamilton tradition. (Please find your group name on your orientation booklet label, and arrive at the Kirkland Cottage at your group’s assigned time below). Kirkland Cottage
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| 2-3 p.m. Finding Community at Hamilton: MARC and ALANA Caucus Mixer Join faculty, staff, and alumni members of MARC (Hamilton’s Multicultural Alumni Relations Committee), the Days-Massolo Center, the ALANA Caucus (The Caucus for Africana, Latino/a, Asian and Pacific Islander, Native American, and All other Underrepresented Races and Ethnicities), the First-Year Experience, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, along with students from across campus for an ice-cream social and mixer! Learn more about their work, involvement, and experiences with community on campus. Days-Massolo Multicultural Center |
| 4:15 p.m. Convocation* President Steven Tepper will preside over the ceremony that officially opens the 215th year of Hamilton College. Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
| 5:30-7 p.m. All-Campus Barbecue Tent on the Dunham Green |
| 6:30-7:30 p.m. Music Department Open House Wondering about music classes and perhaps the concentration? Thinking about taking private music lessons? Want to learn more about performance opportunities? Come to the Open House to meet faculty and have all your questions answered! List Art Center, 2nd Floor Lounge |
| 6:45-7:15 p.m. All Student Athlete Welcome with Director of Athletics Kristine Fowler, Coaches and Athletics Staff Director of Athletics Kristine Fowler invites all student athletes, coaches, and athletics staff to a kickoff welcoming the entire student athlete body to Fall 2026. Margaret Bundy Scott Field House |
| 7:30-9 p.m. A Cappella Concert Come see Hamilton’s five a cappella groups perform! Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
| Thursday, Aug. 27 |
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| All Day First day of fall semester classes! |
| 4–6 p.m. Sadove Program: Sip and Say Hi Sadove Student Center, The Underground |
| Friday, Aug. 28 |
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| 6–9 p.m. Food Truck Friday Stop by for the first Food Truck Friday of the fall semester! Free food from a variety of local food truck vendors. Cross-Campus, see your email for exact locations and food truck options |
| 7:30–9 p.m. A Cappella Concert Come see Hamilton’s five a cappella groups perform! Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
| 9–11 p.m. Big Prize Bingo, Dorm Room Edition Fill your dorm room with essential supplies and fun items! Fillius Events Barn, Tolles Pavilion Annex |
| Saturday, Aug. 29 |
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| Noon–3 p.m. C@B (Campus Activities Board) Carnival Come join the fun as we kick off the school year with inflatables, treats, and more! Stop by the FYE booth for giveaways, ice cream, a chance to meet the FYE leaders AND your first opportunity to earn FYE points toward prizes through the semester! Sadove Student Center Terrace (Rainsite: Tolles Pavillion) |
| 9–11 p.m. After Dark: Laser Tag Bring a friend or come on your own to meet new people at the first After Dark program of the year! Tolles Pavilion Annex |
| Tuesday, Sept. 1 |
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| 4–6 p.m. Pressed Flowers Stop by Sadove for a fun and simple craft project. Sadove Student Center, 3rd floor |
| Thursday, Sept. 3 |
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| 8–11 p.m. Paint & Sip Little Pub |
| Friday, Sept. 4 |
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| Noon–2 p.m. Student Activities & Organizations Fair Tent on the Dunham Green |
| 6-9 p.m. Food Truck Friday Cross-Campus |
| 8-10 p.m. Scavenger Hunt Explore campus and win fun prizes in this cross-campus scavenger hunt. Watch your email for more details. Cross-Campus |
| Saturday, Sept. 5 |
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| 9 p.m.–midnight Glow Roller Skate Tolles Pavilion Annex |
| Wednesday, Sept. 9 |
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| 5 –7 p.m. Pennant Making Sadove Student Center, 3rd floor |
| Friday, Sept. 11 |
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| 6-9 p.m. Food Truck Friday Cross-Campus |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 |
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| Noon and 4 p.m. Sex Signals* Mark your calendars! SexSignals by Catharsis Productions will be on campus to take you on an interactive, relevant, and engaging exploration all about gender, consent, and relationships. Be prepared to laugh, have the opportunity to engage and learn in a non-lecture setting. This required program for all new students is offered twice: at noon. and 4 p.m. Please watch your email for your assigned time and for more information. Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
Contact
Contact Name
Tessa Chefalo
Assistant Dean of Students for Student Engagement
Phone
Email
