The First-Year Student Experience is a three-day orientation program designed to help you with your academic, personal, social, and cultural transition into the Westminster and Salt Lake community. This program is geared toward both first-year and transfer students and occurs prior to the start of class. The program includes a mix of engaging and educational activities throughout campus.
The First-Year Student Experience starts on Saturday, August 17 (the day after move-in day) at 9:00 a.m. in Richer Commons in the center of campus and continues each day through August 20, when we celebrate your completed transition with an annual block party.
The cost of orientation is billed to your student account as a mandatory $300 fee, which covers all program and administrative costs to run New Student Orientation, as well as your Griffin GearUp experience.
Classes start August 21, and the Associated Students of Westminster College (ASW) events team will have optional activities every night of orientation experience and throughout the first week of the semester to help you meet other students on campus.
2019 Schedule
Event times and locations are subject to change.
Saturday, Aug. 17
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | New Student Orientation Check-In | Richer Commons
9–10:00 a.m. | Breakfast | west side of Meldrum Science Center
9–11:30 a.m. | Griffin Expo Fair | Bassis Center
9:30–11:30 a.m. | Campus Showcase | Gore School of Business
10–11:00 a.m. | First in Family to Attend College | Malouf 201
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Commuter Student Meeting (students only; both first-years and transfers not living on campus) | Gore School of Business Auditorium
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Lunch | west side of Meldrum Science Center
12:30–1:00 p.m. | Official Orientation Welcome | Richer Commons
1–3:00 p.m. | GO Group Meeting | specific to each GO group
3–4:30 p.m. | Learning Community/Mentor Meeting | Meet in Richer Commons
4:35–5:15 p.m. | First-Year Group Challenge | Residential Village Green
5:15–6:30 p.m. | Dinner | Richer Commons
10–11:30 p.m. | ASW: Legends Tour | east side of Converse Hall
Sunday, Aug. 18
8–9:00 a.m. | Breakfast | west side of Meldrum Science Center
9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Sessions | various locations on campus
- Bias and Campus
- Centers for Centers
- GO Group Meeting and Visit Resources
12:45–2:00 p.m. | Lunch | west side of Meldrum Science Center
2–5:00 p.m. | Griffin Information Sessions | see group schedule
- Title IX and Student Code of Conduct: Understanding Campus Responsibilities
- Student Involvement and ASW
- How to College: Faculty Panel on Success Strategies
5–6:00 p.m. | Dinner | Shaw Student Center
9:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m. | ASW: Capture the Flag | Richer Commons
Monday, Aug. 19
8:45 a.m.–9:30 a.m. | Breakfast | Shaw Student Center
9:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m. | Meet with Your GO Leader | Residential Village Green
10–11:00 a.m. | Convocation | Richer Commons
11:15 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Brunch | West Side of Meldrum Science Center
1–4:00 p.m. | Griffin Information Sessions Part II | various locations on campus
- Career Center and Student Employment
- Student Wellness: Fitness, Wellness, and Recreation Department
- Risky Business
5–6:00 p.m. | Dinner | Shaw Student Center
9–11:30 p.m. | ASW: Movie Night | Library Lawn
Tuesday, Aug. 20
5–8:00 p.m. | Annual Block Party | Richer Commons