2021 Orientation Schedule
Sessions highlighted in blue are required for all new students studying on-campus this fall, including new transfer students.
| Thursday, August 19 |
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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 20 - Saturday, August 21 |
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| All day Adventure Trip Activities Various locations |
| sunday, August 22 |
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| Morning-Afternoon Adventure Trip Activities Various locations |
| Afternoon Adventure Trips return to campus |
| 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Lunch Commons Dining Hall |
| 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Swim Test and overview of Physical Education Requirements Specific trip groups only. See your orientation trip leaders for details and timing. Meet at the Bristol Pool Stands |
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5:30 p.m. |
| 7 p.m. Residence Hall Mixers Meet your RA and fellow hall-mates, and learn more about living on campus at Hamilton. Residence Halls – various locations. Please wait for instructions at the end of dinner regarding where to meet your RA |
| 7 p.m. Jan Mixer Spend some time getting to know your fellow January Admission students before you embark on your fall experiences! Babbitt Pavilion |
| monday, August 23 |
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| 7:30–8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast Tent on the Dunham Green |
| 8:45–10 a.m. Orientation Lecture Dean of Engaged Education Kathy Wolfe delivers this year's Orientation Lecture. Wellin Hall |
| 10–11 a.m. Brunch for January Admission Students and Families Jans and their families are invited to a continental brunch before you depart campus. 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 your orientation booklet sticker for your advisor's name and office location |
| 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Advising and Curriculum Info Session for January Admission Students 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. Filius Events Barn |
| 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Individual Advising Meetings Faculty Advisor Offices |
| 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Student Assembly Election Information Session Join members of Hamilton's student government, the Student Assembly, including President Saphire Ruiz '22 (they/them) and Vice President Eric Stenzel '24 (he/him), to learn about the roles, expectations, and responsibilities of a member of the Student Assembly. For first years and transfer students who are interested in running for office on the Assembly, this is also another chance to attend a required elections rules meeting. Bradford Conference Room, Sadove Student Center |
| 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Lunch with your Orientation Group Commons Dining Hall |
| 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Hamilton Hillel Meet & Greet Come grab a bite and meet our new Campus Rabbi Ethan Bair and the student leadership of the on-campus Jewish community. Azel Backus House |
| 12:30–2:30 p.m. Lawn Games Science Center Quad |
| 12 –1 p.m. Informal Sciences Advising Taylor Science Center Atrium |
| 12– 1 p.m. Informal Social Sciences Advising First-Floor Commons, Kirner-Johnson |
| 1-3 p.m. Academic Info Sessions Each session is offered twice, at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Health Professions Advising Sessions Law Interest Sessions Finance Interest Sessions Pre-Engineering Advising Sessions Off-Campus Study Advising Sessions See your orientation booklet for locations. |
| 1–2 p.m. Student Assembly Election Information Session Join members of Hamilton's student government, the Student Assembly, including President Saphire Ruiz '22 (they/them) and Vice President Eric Stenzel '24 (he/him), to learn about the roles, expectations, and responsibilities of a member of the Student Assembly. For first years and transfer students who are interested in running for office on the Assembly, this is also another chance to attend a required elections rules meeting. Bradford Conference Room, Sadove Student Center |
| 3–5 p.m. The Hamilton Honor Code Introduction to the Hamilton Honor Code. This 30-minute session is offered 4 times. Please see your orientation booklet for your group's assigned time. Bradford Auditorium, Kirner-Johnson |
| 3–5 p.m. Community Standards: Student Conduct Rights and Responsibilities Introduction to Community Standards at Hamilton. This 30-minute session is offered 4 times. Please see your orientation booklet for your group's assigned time. Kennedy Auditorium, Taylor Science Center |
| 5–6:45 p.m. Dinner Commons Dining Hall |
| 7 –8 p.m. Community and Allyship Wellin Hall, Schabach Center |
| 8:45–10:30 p.m. MP2 (Multicultural Peer Mentoring Project) Welcome Reception Margaret Bundy Scott Field House |
| 8:45–10:15 p.m. Transfer Student Mixer The Little Pub |
| 10 p.m.–Midnight Open Mic Night Beinecke Events Barn |
| 10 p.m.–Midnight New Student Block Party Sadove Terrace |
| Tuesday, August 24 |
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| 7:30-9 a.m. Breakfast Commons Dining Hall |
| 9:30 a.m. Unconventional Campus Tour Want tips on the best study spots on campus? Looking for the perfect spot to meet friends for lunch or to hang out? Join this student-led tour for a peek at some campus hidden gems! Meet on the steps of the Taylor Science Center |
| 10 a.m. Guided Glen Walk Take a deep breath and explore some of Hamilton’s best trails on this guided walk through the Kirkland and Root Glens. Meet at the Gazebo, located near the entrance to the Root Glen – right next to the Anderson-Connell Alumni Center. Gazebo at the entrance to the Root Glen |
| 9 a.m.–Noon Registration Follow-up Check-in at the Registrar’s office if you need to make changes to your course schedule. See your Orientation Booklet for your group's assigned time. Registrar's Office, Elihu Root House |
| 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Know Thy Library Come and see all that Library & IT Services has to offer and scope out all the best study spaces! We will be running walking tours of the library every half hour and we will be featuring the following programming:
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| 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Matriculation Visit the Kirkland Cottage to sign the historic College Register. President David Wippman, Dean of Faculty Suzanne Keen, Vice President for Enrollment Management Monica Inzer, and Dean of Students Terry Martinez will greet new students during this annual and historic Hamilton tradition. (Please see your orientation booklet for your group's assigned time). Kirkland Cottage |
| 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Individual Advising Meetings By appointment. Faculty Advisor Offices |
| 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Lunch Commons and McEwen Dining Halls |
| 1 –3 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! Courtyard between Keehn and Major (Rain location: Babbitt Pavilion) |
| 12:30–3 p.m. Registration Follow-up Check-in at the Registrar’s office if you need to make changes to your course schedule. See your Orientation Booklet for your group's assigned time. Registrar's Office, Elihu Root House |
| 2:30–4:30 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. This 30-minute session is offered 4 times. Please see your orientation booklet for your group's assigned time. Kennedy Auditorium, Taylor Science Center |
| 2:30–4:30 p.m. Hamilton's Sexual Misconduct Policy This presentation will provide an introduction to the Hamilton Sexual Misconduct Policy. Presentation by Catherine Berryman, Director of Community Standards. This 30-minute session is offered 4 times. Please see your orientation booklet for your group's assigned time. Bradford Auditorium, Kirner-Johnson |
| 4:45–5:45 p.m. 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 members of the Dean’s staff who will be resources to you as you navigate your campus experience. Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
| 6–7:30 p.m. Dinner Commons and McEwen Dining Halls |
| 7:30–9 p.m. Safety and Health at Hamilton This presentation will highlight health and safety resources at Hamilton, and provide a detailed overview of fire safety on a residential campus. 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 |
| 9 - 10 p.m. Fire & Ice...Cream A rabbi, an imam, and a minister gathered by a fire to roast halal marshmallows... Come meet our chaplaincy staff and student leaders in our spiritual life groups: Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, InterVarsity, Meditation & Mindfulness communities plus Indigenous spirituality and awareness group. Azel Backus House (look for the fire pit!) |
| 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 25 |
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| 7 - 10 a.m. Breakfast Commons and McEwen Dining Halls |
| 10 - 11 a.m. QuestBridge Scholars Orientation Meeting Welcome and orientation meeting for all incoming QuestBridge scholars. Kennedy Auditorium, Taylor Science Center |
| 11 a.m. Student Assembly Welcome Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
| 12 - 2 p.m. Lunch Commons and McEwen Dining Halls |
| 12 - 2 p.m. Matriculation Visit the Kirkland Cottage to sign the historic College Register. President David Wippman, Dean of Faculty Suzanne Keen, Vice President for Enrollment Management Monica Inzer, and Dean of Students Terry Martinez will greet new students during this annual and historic Hamilton tradition. (Please see your orientation booklet for your group's assigned time). Kirkland Cottage |
| 2:30 - 4 p.m. QuestBridge Scholars Welcome Reception Opportunity for new and current scholars to connect with one another as well as meet campus community partners. Atrium, Kennedy Center for Theater and Studio Arts |
| 2 - 4 p.m. Registration Follow-Up Visit the Registrar's Office if you'd like to make changes to your fall course schedule. Registrar's Office, Elihu Root House |
| 4:15 p.m. Convocation President David Wippman will preside over the ceremony that officially opens the 208th year of Hamilton College. Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |
| 5:30 - 7p.m. All Campus Picnic Tent on the Dunham Green |
| 7:30 - 9 p.m. A Cappella Concert Wellin Hall, Schambach Center |