New Student Orientation

a crowd of Occidental students walking out of Thorne Hall on campus

We are excited to partner with you in your journey as a new student at Occidental College.

Orientation is designed to foster a celebratory and welcoming environment where new students can explore how to make informed academic decisions and responsible social choices by tapping into resources and services offered by the College. By building a sense of community that connects students to faculty, staff, administrators, and each other, orientation also fosters an appreciation of Occidental’s commitment to equity, excellence, and service. Orientation is mandatory for all new students. For more information, email Sabrina Willison at swillison@oxy.edu.

Fall Transfer Orientation '26 schedule coming soon. 

 

Goals

  • Celebrate new students, build excitement, and reaffirm their choice in Occidental College.
  • Demonstrate that Occidental is a welcoming, engaging, and inclusive campus.
  • Provide a framework for four years of success through the communication of expectations, norms, and standards.
  • Honor a distinctive interdisciplinary and multicultural academic program.
  • Introduce a culture of care, high-impact involvement opportunities, and outstanding leadership development programs.
  • Identify shared aspirations of social justice, cultural competence, and engaged citizenship.
  • Educate students about sexual misconduct and discrimination, harassment, and retaliation policies.

 

Intended Learning Outcomes

  • Participants will be able to convey their own purpose of education.
  • Participants will be able to define Occidental’s mission and describe where their personal goals and values align with the College’s vision.
  • Participants will be able to identify campus resources and student services that support their educational and personal development.
  • Participants will be able to identify community engagement and leadership development opportunities.
  • Participants will be able to articulate the importance of building a personal connection to the campus community.
  • Participants will reflect on and assess the New Student Orientation, detailing their experiences and opportunities for program growth.

First-Year Orientation Schedule

When Where What
8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. JSC Lobby Welcome & Check-in
2:30 - 5:30 p.m. Residence Halls Living on Campus: Expectations & Community Building
4 - 5 p.m. Remsen Bird Hillside Theater Matriculation
5:30 - 7 p.m. Remsen Bird Hillside Theater Welcome to Oxy! A Community Celebration
7 - 7:30 p.m. Marketplace Dinner
8 - 10 p.m. JSC Quad Late-night Programming

 

When Where What
9 - 10 a.m. Various Campus Locations Orientation Team Time
10 - 11 a.m. Thorne Auditorium Academic Integrity
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Various Campus Locations Session A
12 - 1 p.m. Marketplace Lunch
12 - 1 p.m. Branca Patio First-Gen Lunch
2 - 2:45 p.m. TBD Resource Share
4 - 4:30 p.m. Various Campus Locations Orientation Team Time
4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Academic Quad Academic Fair
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. JSC Quad Sweet Sendoffs
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Marketplace Dinner
7 - 9 p.m. Vidiots Clueless
8 - 10 p.m. Tiger Cooler, JSC Late-night Programming

 

When Where What
9 - 10:30 a.m. Johnson Hall Language Placement Exams
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Various Campus Locations Academic Resource Rotations
12 - 1 p.m. Marketplace Lunch
2 - 2:45 p.m. TBD Resource Share
4 - 5:30 p.m. Tiger Cooler, JSC Quad Ice Cream with Campus Safety
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Marketplace Dinner

 

When Where What
9 - 10:30 a.m. Various Campus Locations Resource Scavenger Hunt
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Various Campus Locations Session A
12 - 1 p.m. Marketplace Lunch
2 - 2:45 p.m. TBD Resource Share
4:30 - 6:50 p.m. Academic Quad First-Year Seminar Meet & Greet
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Marketplace Dinner

 

When Where What
9 - 10:30 a.m. Various Campus Locations Resource Scavenger Hunt
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Academic Quad Academic Advising - Group Meetings
12 - 5 p.m. Various Campus Locations Individual Advising Appointments
12 - 4 p.m. JSC Quad Student Services & Clubs Tables
12 - 4 p.m.  Oxy Arts Fall Showcase Preview
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Marketplace, Tiger Cooler Dinner
7 - 9 p.m. Residence Halls REHS Late-night Programming

 

When Where What
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Academic Commons (Library) Class Registration
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Marketplace Dinner

 

When Where What
9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Various L.A. Locations L.A. Engage
6 - 8 p.m. Patterson Field Soccer Scrimmage

 

When Where What
9:30 - 11 a.m. Thorne Auditorium Convocation

 

First day of classes for the Fall 2026 semester. 

Office of Admission
Collins House

1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041

admission@oxy.edu

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