LA Engage

A City. An Experience. A Community. A Home.

L.A. Engage is an up-close introduction to the vibrant City of Los Angeles and allows students to experience culture, art, history, food, the urban environment and more before new student orientation officially begins at the end of August. These trips allow you to connect with your new peers, get to know your surroundings and discover some stunning and memorable places you will likely want to return to. L.A. Engage is open to incoming first-year students only. Registration will open in late May. Students and family members will be notified by email when registration is live.

Please note : Due to practice schedules, fall student-athletes are unable to participate in L.A. Engage.

Each experience lasts two days (Sunday and Monday) and has a capacity of 50 students per trip. Fees for L.A. Engage are $150 and will be charged directly to student accounts.

Spots are limited and available first-come first-served. If you are unable to join the August L.A. Engage trips, the Student Leadership Involvement and Community Engagement (SLICE) office will have additional trips available to students throughout the Fall semester.

Cali Coasts

Check out some of the most popular beaches in Southern California over two full days of surf, sand and sun! Highlights include surf lessons at Huntington Beach, an optional ferry ride to Balboa Island, and hang-time at Santa Monica and Venice Beach.

L.A. Music & Arts

Take in a show at the iconic Hollywood Bowl and explore some of the most popular art museums in Los Angeles. Highlights include an evening jazz performance at the Hollywood Bowl, visits to popular museums (examples include: LACMA, Broad, etc.), and a relaxing morning at Santa Monica Beach.

L.A. Theater & Culture

Experience live theater at the historic Hollywood Pantages theater and explore cultural landmarks across L.A.. Highlights include a production of the hit broadway show Company at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, visits to L.A. cultural landmarks (examples include: Olvera Street, West Hollywood, Little Tokyo, etc.), and a relaxing morning at Santa Monica Beach.

*Please note the schedules below are tentative and subject to change*

Cali Coasts

8/17: Move-in Day

8/18: L.A. Engage Day 1

Surf lessons at Newport Pier
Balboa Peninsula & Island

8/19: L.A. Engage Day 2

Visit to the Getty Villa in Malibu
Trip to Santa Monica Beach
Exploring Venice Beach
Welcome to Oxy! A Community Celebration

L.A. Music & Arts

8/17: Move-in Day

8/18: L.A. Engage Day 1

L.A. Museum Visits (Broad & LACMA)
L.A. Farmers Market
Hollywood Blvd
The Hollywood Bowl

8/19: L.A. Engage Day 2

Visit to the Getty Villa in Malibu
Trip to Santa Monica Beach
Exploring Venice Beach
Welcome to Oxy! A Community Celebration

L.A. Theater & Culture

8/17: Move-in Day

8/18: L.A. Engage Day 1

Little Tokyo & Olvera Street
Grand Central Market
Hollywood Blvd
Pantages Theater Hollywood

8/19: L.A. Engage Day 2

Visit to the Getty Villa in Malibu
Trip to Santa Monica Beach
Exploring Venice Beach
Welcome to Oxy! A Community Celebration

Move-in Day: Saturday, August 17, 2024

L.A. Engage Welcome Center

9:00 AM - 02:00 PM

Move-in at the JSC (first floor): SLICE, Res-Ed, Parent Office, and Card Office (Branca Patio) will be present to ease your transition onto campus.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

ResEd welcomes the incoming class

Optional Activities for Students

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM JSC Quad

Feeling adventurous already? Please meet the trip leaders on JSC Quad to Hike up Mt. Fiji.

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Crafts in JSC Quad

After the climb, come back to the quad to paint pots and/or assemble bracelets. If you do not go on the hike, you can get a head start with friendship bracelet making.

If you can no longer attend L.A. Engage, notify Steve Eulenberg (eulenberg@oxy.edu) by Tuesday, July 2, or your student account will be billed for the trip.

Q: What is included with the $150 L.A. Engage fee?

A: Fees for L.A. Engage cover all entry fees/tickets, transportation and trip leader costs. Fees do not include meals during trips. Students should bring their own money for daily meals and any souvenirs they wish to purchase during their trips.

Q: Can we move-in before 9AM on Saturday, August 17th?

A: Card Services and REHS will be checking-in students at the Welcome Center in JSC First Floor starting at 9AM and won't be able to adjust their times to begin any earlier. We're encouraging families that might arrive in Los Angeles to enjoy breakfast in one of our surrounding neighborhoods—Eagle Rock or Highland Park.

Q: Will L.A. Engage students sleep in their dorm rooms the night of Move-in—Saturday, August 17?

A: Yes, students will sleep in their assigned residence hall that night.

Q: Are the parents of L.A. Engage students welcome to join in the activities?

A: L.A. Engage weekend trips and activities are only open to incoming Freshmen students, however parents and family members may participate in New Family Orientation.

Q: Will L.A. Engage students miss any of the new student orientation activities planned for Monday, August 19th?

A: No! The students will depart at 9 am on August 19th and return by 5 pm. After drop-off, they'll have 30 mins to decompress before joining all incoming students for the Welcome to Oxy! Celebration at 5:30 pm.

Q: Who can I contact for additional questions related to L.A. Engage?

A: Steve Eulenberg (eulenberg@oxy.edu) can answer questions related to L.A. Engage.