Welcome to Occidental College!
New Family Orientation will take place on
Monday, August 18, and Tuesday, August 19, 2025!
We’re thrilled to welcome you to campus this August and hope you will join us for New Family Orientation! Whether you're brand new to the college experience or just new to Oxy, this is a great opportunity to get to know the community, meet other families, and learn about the many resources available to support your student.
New Family Orientation is designed to be flexible—come to the sessions that work best for you, and take the time you need to settle in. We can’t wait to see you on campus soon!
Please note all sessions for parents/families are OPTIONAL and separate from required orientation activities for new students. There are only a few events where students and their families (parents) are invited.
As for meals, dinner is on your own, and for students, there are no formalized plans for activities during this meal time. Yet, in years past, some student orientation leaders or RA's may informally gather folks in their hall for dinner. Therefore, our general guidance to parents is that you may take this time to have a meal with your student, or this is an opportunity for students to interact with one another in our dining halls.
Register for New Family Orientation
Dates and Important Links
-
Homecoming and Family Weekend: October 17-18, 2025
Questions?
Please email parents@oxy.edu.
2025 Schedule for New Family Orientation Activities
All sessions for parents/families are OPTIONAL and separate from required orientation activities for new students.
Monday, August 18, 2025
- 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Welcome Center and Check-In - Stop by the Alumni & Parent Engagement Table on Branca Patio for a schedule, nametag, and parent swag!
- 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Special Collections & Archives Open House, Drop-In and Meet the First Year Experience Librarian
- 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Lunch on your own (Families can purchase food at The Marketplace or try a local restaurant)
- 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Open House - Intercultural Community Center
- 1:00 - 2:15 PM | Campus Tours by our Admissions Office
- 1:00 - 2:00 PM | Presentation by Campus Partners: Office of Financial Aid
- 2:00 - 3:00 PM | “Your Student is in College, Now What?” with Kathryn Leonard, Interim Dean of the College, and Vivian Santiago, Vice-President for Student Affairs
- 3:00 - 4:00 PM | You Heard It Here First! Student Panel for Parents
- 4:00 - 5:15 PM | President's Reception for New Families
- 5:30 - 7:00 PM | Welcome to Oxy! A Community Celebration - both students and families are invited to attend!
- Dinner on your own* (Families can purchase food at The Marketplace or try a local restaurant)
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
- 9:00 - 10:00 AM | Hike for Parents | This short but very steep hike up to Fiji Hill. There is no pre-registration, and space is limited to the first 40 guests.
- 9:30-10:00 AM | Tour of Athletics Facilities
- 10:00 - 11:00 AM | Parent and Family Coffee with President Tom Stritikus
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Presentation by Campus Partners: TBD
- 12:00 - 1:00 PM | First Generation Lunch - separate registration
- 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Lunch on your own (Families can purchase food at The Marketplace or try a local restaurant)
- 12:00 - 1:00 PM | FEAST Garden Open House
- 1:00 - 2:00 PM | Campus Partners: Supporting Student Well-being, with Emmons Wellness Center and Project SAFE
- 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Campus Partners: Careers, Pre-Health, Pre-Law, and Fellowships
- 3:00 - 4:00 PM | Campus Partners: Center for Community Based Learning
- 4:00 - 5:30 PM | Academic Resource Fair -- both students and families are invited to attend!
- 5:30 - 6:30 PM | **Sweet Send-Offs** - Take the time to have a sweet treat with your student as you say your goodbyes.- both students and families are invited to attend!
- Dinner on your own* (Families can purchase food at The Marketplace or try a local restaurant)
**This event concludes programming for New Family Orientation; family members are asked to depart campus as the remainder of the new student orientation schedule is for students only.**
(Families are welcome to participate in ANY New Family Orientation activities on any day, should your schedule allow. All sessions are OPTIONAL. Pick and choose sessions that best fit your schedule.)
*Dinner on your own indicates no "formalized" plans for activities for students during this meal time. Therefore, our general guidance to parents is that you may wish to take this time to have a meal with your student OR this an opportunity for students to interact with one another in our dining halls. Note that in years past, some student orientation leaders or RAs may informally gather folks in their hall for dinner.