First-Year Student Orientation

We welcome you to campus for First-Year Orientation Thursday, Aug. 22– Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024 — just before classes start on Monday, Aug. 26.

What happens at Orientation?

Move into your residence hall, unpack, and get prepared for the academic year.
Meet your peer mentor, who will support you through Orientation and the Clark Navigator program.
Attend sessions created just for you about about how you can be academically successful at Clark, and learn all the ways you can get involved, serve our community, and become connected.
Make new friends, explore the campus and Worcester, and be prepared for the first day of classes.

Please Note

Fall Orientation 2024 will begin on Thursday, August 22, 2024 with move in based upon assigned times in the morning based upon housing assignment.

Orientation will take place Thursday afternoon for students and families, and continue for students Thursday evening and all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The schedule below is a sample schedule based upon Fall Orientation 2023, and there will be a more robust, updated schedule available here in June.

Sample 2023 First-Year Undergraduate Student Orientation Schedule

8 a.m. – Noon Residence Hall Move-In and Explore Campus

Please refer to communications from RLH regarding arrival time.

10 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Orientation Check In

All students should check in for Orientation, review missing documentation, and receive information about programming/meals for the rest of the day.

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Lunch for New Students and Families

1 – 1:45 p.m. New Athletes Session with Trish Cronin, Athletics Director

1:30 p.m. Doors Open for New Students and Family Welcome

2 – 2:45 p.m. Undergraduate New Student and Family Welcome

2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Orientation Kick off with Peer Mentor and FYSA

4 – 5 p.m Family Goodbye Reception

5 – 5:30 p.m. Peer Mentor Meet Up

5:30 – 7:15 p.m. Rotating Sessions: Dinner and Community Director Welcome

7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Community Living Activity

8:15 – 10:30 p.m. Clark After Dark Activities

7 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:45 – 9:15 a.m. PM Meet Up

9:30 – 11:45 a.m. Rotating Sessions: Clark Journey and Success in College

Noon – 1:45 p.m. Rotating Sessions: Lunch, Campus Safety, and Community Expectations

2 – 2:30 p.m. PM Meet Up

2:30 – 5 p.m. Concurrent Workshop Sessions

5 – 7 p.m. Rotating Sessions: Dinner and Campus Resource Fair

7 – 8 p.m. Peer Mentor End of Day Reflection

8 – 11 p.m. Clark After Dark

7 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:45 – 9 a.m. PM Check-In

9:30 – Noon Rotating Sessions: Consenting, Communities, and Creating Our Inclusive Community

Noon – 3:15 p.m. Rotating Sessions: Lunch, Clark Quest, Break, First Year Intensive Academic Meeting

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Class of 2027 Photo

4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Who Are You? Who Do You Want to Be?

5:30 – 7:15 p.m. Rotating Sessions: Dinner and Wellness Activities

7:30 – 8 p.m. End of Day Reflection and Wellness Activity

8 – 11 p.m. Clark After Dark

8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Brunch

10:30 – 11:15 a.m. FYSA Group Meetings & Fall Planning

11:15 – 11:45 a.m. Peer Mentor End of Orientation Meeting

Noon – 2 p.m. Multicultural Student Club Fair

All afternoon Ongoing Tours (Campus, Library, Bickman Fitness Facilities, Dining Hall, Worcester)

Noon – 3 p.m. Student Socials and Meet Ups at the half hour (Commuter Students, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, First Generation College, Neurodiversity)

1 – 3 p.m. Center for Counseling and Personal Growth Open House

3 – 5 p.m. Academic Opportunity Meet Ups (Pre-Health, Music, Pre-Law)

5 – 8 p.m. Dinner

7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Floor Meeting for All Residential Students

What is Clark’s First-Year Experience Program all about?

Explore Now

Contact Information

Division of Student Success

Office Information

2nd Floor,
Shaich Family Alumni and Student Engagement Center
1-508-793-7423
success[at]clarku[dot]edu

Office Hours

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday