Group of Students Talking Outside

New Student Orientation

We are thrilled you decided to join the Griffin community! To help you adjust to life at Westminster College, we have events for admitted students and orientations for first-year students, parents and families, and transfer students.

Overview

New-Student Orientation (NSO) is a mandatory, four-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 orientation program starts on Saturday, August 17 (the day after move-in day), at 9:00 a.m., at the Richer Commons in the center of campus and continues that night with a convocation ceremony. The NSO program will continue to occur each day through August 20, when we celebrate your completed transition with an annual block party.

Classes start August 21, and the Associated Students of Westminster College (ASW) events team will have optional activities every night of orientation and throughout the first week of the semester to help you meet other students on campus.

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

NSO is more than an orientation to campus. These four days are a time for you to join your classmates in engaging 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 needs and financial aid packages.
  • Discover ways to get involved on campus.
  • Participate in ASW evening programs.
  • Complete any final office visits needed before starting classes.

Other Orientation Programs

The Parent and Family Orientation Experience is a one-day, family-orientated program that gives you the tools and information needed to best support your student.

You will have a chance to find answers to any lingering questions about housing, financial aid, or how to send a care package to your student during workshops and sessions designed to help relieve some of the nerves that come with leaving your child for the first time. You will have time to check out resources on campus, meet other parents and families who have a student attending Westminster College, and enjoy an open reception in the afternoon to ask questions of faculty and staff in a casual environment.

The Parent and Family Orientation Experience is on Saturday, August 17, at 9:00 a.m., in Richer Commons in the center of campus and ends that night with the convocation ceremony, along with dinner for both students and family members.

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

The Transfer-Student Orientation Experience is geared toward students who have previously attended another college or university. Westminster College may be very different from your previous institution and we want you to feel comfortable as you transition to this new experience.

This portion of the New-Student Orientation program provides the foundation of what it means to be a Westminster College student. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with campus partners, other transfer students, and faculty.

All transfer students are required to participate in the NSO—trust us, we provide a great deal of information that is important to your successful transition to Westminster College. Orientation is a great opportunity to begin developing relationships with your classmates, some of which will grow into life-long friendships.

The Spring Orientation program is a one-day program for first-year and transfer students that provides a quick nuts-and-bolts approach as you begin spring semester. Plus, you’ll have opportunities to chat with staff and faculty about any questions you might have.

Spring Orientation is mandatory for new students and is planned specifically to help you transition to Westminster's campus. You can choose between an evening and a morning session—whichever works best for your schedule.

At Spring Orientation, you will get a chance to:

  • Make changes to your class schedule.
  • Discuss academic needs and financial aid packages.
  • Discover ways to get involved on campus.
  • Complete any final office visits needed before starting classes.

Contact studentinvolvement@westminstercollege.edu with any questions.

Griffin GearUp registration for the 2019–20 school year is now open.

Griffin GearUp is a program designed for admitted first-year students that includes meeting with an academic advisor, registering for classes, understanding the financial aspect of education at Westminster College, exploring leadership development, and meeting some of your peers. We offer both one-day and two-day (overnight) programs.

Learn More

Next Steps Before Orientation

First-Year Student Documents

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

Transfer-Student Documents

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

Upcoming Orientation Events

1300 East Construction

Salt Lake City Public Utilities is conducting a major waterline project on 1300 East between 1300 South and 2100 South. The project could significantly impact your access to campus so please plan ahead and stay updated.

Ways to Get Updates

  1. Learn more from Salt Lake City Public Utilities.
  2. Get email updates by emailing 1300east@slcgov.com with "updates" in the subject line.
  3. Call the hotline at 801.483.6898.
  4. Follow #1300EastSLC.