First-Year Student Orientation

First Year Student Orientation is more than an orientation to campus. These four days are where you join your classmates in fun activities and informative discussions about what to expect during your first year at Westminster College.

You will get a chance to

• Make changes to your class schedule
• Discuss academic and financial aid needs
• Find out about ways to get involved on campus
• Participate in ASW evening programs
• And be the best Griffin you can be!

As you prepare to arrive to campus, please take a moment to complete the following items below. These forms will help make your orientation experience and first year go smoother.

• Complete the Dolores Dore Eccles Heath, Wellness and Athletic Center Membership Agreement and Release of Liability 
• Sign-up for Housing or Complete a Housing Exemption Form
• Program Waiver

Is Orientation mandatory?

Yes, Orientation is mandatory. We believe that Orientation is incredibly valuable to incoming students who are making the transition to Westminster.

Is there an Orientation Fee?

Yes, the cost of orientation billed to your student account as a mandatory fee. The cost of the orientation fee covers all program and administrative costs to run New Student Orientation.

How do I get my parking pass?

Purchase Your Parking Pass Online

What is Helping Hands Day?

Helping Hands Day is the annual, first-year student service project, that occurs in only during the August Orientation. On this day, incoming first-year students accompany faculty and peer mentors to a specific location to volunteer and help out with a variety of projects.

Do parents attend Orientation with students?

Parents are welcome to attend Orientation during the Fall, however they have their own separate program from the students. During the Spring Orientation there is no Parent/Family Orientation program.

New Student Orientation is a family-orientated event and we hope that you will join us for a variety of activities for parents and incoming students. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to easing your family's transition to Westminster College.

We are excited that you are joining your son/daughter during this amazing beginning of their college life. During the Fall orientation, we provide a dedicated parent program to help you feel informed. This program spans one day and includes a number of important workshops and sessions that assist you in relieving some of the nerves that come with leaving your child for the first time time or just provide community with other parents. You will have time to check out resources on campus and enjoy an open reception in the afternoon to ask questions of faculty and staff in a casual environment.

Should you have any questions during or after the transition to Westminster College, please do not hesitate to contact the Dean of Students Office at 801.832.2230.

We look forward to meeting you at New Student Orientation!

Is Orientation mandatory?

Yes, Orientation is mandatory. We believe that Orientation is incredibly valuable to incoming students who are making the transition to Westminster.

Is there an Orientation Fee?

Yes, the cost of orientation billed to your student account as a mandatory fee. The cost of the orientation fee covers all program and administrative costs to run New Student Orientation.

How do students get a parking pass?

Purchase Your Parking Pass Online

Do parents attend Orientation with students?

Parents are welcome to attend Orientation during the Fall, however they have their own separate program from the students. During the Spring Orientation there is no Parent/Family Orientation program.

As an incoming transfer student, we're looking forward to meeting you and assisting you as you begin your first year at Westminster College.

Because you already have previous college experience, we've developed an orientation program to specifically meet your needs as a new Griffin. Since we provide a great deal of information that is important to your successful transition to Westminster College, it is required that all transfer students participate in the Transfer Student Orientation program. We will have dedicated time in the schedule for students to finish those last minute to-do errands before school starts. Orientation is a great opportunity to begin developing relationships with your classmates—some of which will hopefully grow into life-long friendships.

As you prepare to arrive to campus, please take a moment to complete the following items below. These forms will help make your orientation experience and first year go smoother.

• Complete the Dolores Dore Eccles Heath, Wellness and Athletic Center Membership Agreement and Release of Liability 
• Program Waiver

Is Orientation mandatory?

Yes, Orientation is mandatory. We believe that Orientation is incredibly valuable to incoming students who are making the transition to Westminster.

Is there an Orientation Fee?

Yes, the cost of orientation billed to your student account as a mandatory fee. The cost of the orientation fee covers all program and administrative costs to run New Student Orientation.

How do I get my parking pass?

Purchase Your Parking Pass Online

What is Helping Hands Day?

Helping Hands Day is the annual, first-year student service project, that occurs in only during the August Orientation. On this day, incoming first-year students accompany faculty and peer mentors to a specific location to volunteer and help out with a variety of projects.

Do parents attend Orientation with students?

Parents do not generally join students for the transfer orientation. If your parent wants to come for this orientation, please call 801.832.2230 so that we can arrange to get them information that may be helpful for that day. 

As an incoming first-year or transfer student, we're looking forward to meeting you and assisting you as you begin your first year at Westminster College. The Spring Orientation program is a one day program for first year and transfer students. This program provides a quick nuts and bolts approach to teaching you Westminster College Basics as you begin your Spring Semester. You will have access to and opportunities to chat with staff and faculty regarding your engagement on campus.

At Spring Orientation you will get a chance to

• Make changes to your class schedule
• Discuss academic and financial aid needs
• Find out about ways to get involved on campus
• And hopefully feel more comfortable as you prepare to start a great semester at the college!

Orientation is where you will join your classmates in informative discussions about what to expect during your first year at Westminster College. We will also have dedicated time in the schedule for students to finish those last minute to-do errands before school starts.

Residential Move-In | Thursday, January 12, 2017, 5:00–7:00 p.m.

Spring Orientation | Friday, January 13, 2017

8:00–8:30a.m.

Check-in/ Continental Breakfast

Gore School of Business, Lobby

8:30–9:00a.m.

Welcome

Gore School of Business, Auditorium

9:00am–12:00p.m.

Orientation to Essential Resources (on 45 min rotations)

9:00 a.m.

Career Resource Center

Gore School of Business, Room 107

9:45 a.m.

Student Involvement and Engagement

Gore School of Business, Room 134

10:30 a.m.

Technology&Information Literacy

Gore School of Business, CFA Computer Lab

11:15am

Griffins 101: Transition Basics and Student Standards

Gore School of Business, 106

12:00 p.m.

START Center&Academic Support

Gore School of Business, Auditorium

International Student Services

Required for international students only.

Gore School of Business, Room 106

1:00 p.m.

Lunch in Shaw Student Center–Meal Vouchers Provided by Orientation Staff

1:30 p.m.

Tour of Campus (Optional)

All areas of campus including classroom buildings, social spaces, and residence halls

1:00–5:00 p.m.

Campus Basics: Complete Any Unfinished Business

• Get Your Student ID—Eccles HWAC (Campus Map #12)
• Get Your Laptop Certified by IS—Giovale Library Computer Lab (Campus Map #16)
• Pick Up your Books—Shaw Student Center (Campus Map #28)
• Pay Tuition—Bamberger Hall, Lower Level (Campus Map #1)
• START Center Walk-ins—Carleson Hall (Campus Map #5)
• Financial Aid—Bamberger Hall, 2nd Floor (Campus Map #1)
• Student Account Services—Bamberger Hall, Lower Level (Campus Map #1)
• Registrar’s Office—Bamberger Hall, 2nd Floor (Campus Map #1)
• Visit the Center for Veteran&Military Services (Campus Map #30)
• Purchase your parking permit online

Is Orientation mandatory?

Yes, Orientation is mandatory. We believe that Orientation is incredibly valuable to incoming students who are making the transition to Westminster.

Is there an Orientation Fee?

Yes, the cost of orientation billed to your student account as a mandatory fee. The cost of the orientation fee covers all program and administrative costs to run New Student Orientation.

How do I get my parking pass?

Purchase Your Parking Pass Online

What is Helping Hands Day?

Helping Hands Day is the annual, first-year student service project, that occurs in only during the August Orientation. On this day, incoming first-year students accompany faculty and peer mentors to a specific location to volunteer and help out with a variety of projects.

Do parents attend Orientation with students?

Parents are welcome to attend Orientation during the Fall, however they have their own separate program from the students. During the Spring Orientation there is no Parent/Family Orientation program.

Where can you find our students when they're not in class? The library, of course! But on the off chance that they're not hitting the books, students are probably enjoying many of the restaurants, shopping centers, parks and other cool hang-outs within a short distance of campus. Check out these links for more info about the Sugar House neighborhood.

• Sugar House Park—Show off your killer Frisbee moves while you wait for the BBQ.
• L'Avenue—A stuffy, yet tasty, French restaurant and the perfect spot to practice your accent.
• Sugar House Coffee—The favorite place to attain that good old Java High, and the only way you will survive that 8am class.
• Cinemark 10—Westminster students can be found in droves on Wacky Wednesdays when every movie is only $1!
• Soup Kitchen—Tasty home-cooked soup for those days when you really miss home, all at very palatable prices.
• King's English—Grab a book and curl up in one of the overstuffed chairs at the coolest bookstore in town.
• Sugar House Shopping District—Spend a day walking through these eclectic stores and visit with the street vendors.
• Emigration Canyon—Craving S'mores? No firewood? No worries, put those old love notes from the dreaded Ex to use.

Entertainment

The SLC music scene ranges from rock and folk to hip-hop, blues, and punk, with a variety of clubs and coffeehouses featuring local artists. Comedy is always on tap with the Laughing Stock, Utah's longest-running improv group. And of course, there are lots of great restaurants and movie theatres.

Art and Culture

SLC is the home of the Utah Symphony, the Utah Opera, Ballet West, Repertory Dance Theatre, as well as museums and art galleries galore.

Festivals

Annual events include Park City's famous Sundance Film Festival, the Greek Festival (the largest ethnic celebration in the state), Utah Arts Festival, Snowbird Rock & Blues Festival, Living Traditions Festival, and tons more.

Professional Sports

You'll love the energy and excitement of Utah Jazz games. Other teams include; Real Salt Lake (soccer), Utah Blaze (arena football), Salt Lake Bees (Triple-A baseball), and the Utah Grizzlies (ice hockey).

Healthy lifestyles

Salt Lake City was recently named the "Fittest City in America" by Men's Fitness magazine, due in part to its abundance of parks and athletically active residents. Described by the mayor as an "increasingly walkable, bikeable city," SLC residents topped the list for participation in activities such as hiking, running, swimming, and yoga, among others.