Your Orientation!

The four years of undergraduate study are among the most exciting and challenging. Exciting, because they are filled with incredible opportunities for learning. Challenging, because at times, one can be overwhelmed by those same opportunities and experiences. This summer we have five programs designed to give you a firm foothold as you enter your undergraduate program.

The following summer programs are offered in addition to the new student orientation to take place just before the beginning of the fall semester, August 27-30. The new student orientation program is required for all new students.

  • Summer Registration Day will give you specific and very necessary information about your academic pursuits. Though Summer Registration Day is not required, we highly recommend that first-year students attempt to make it to one of these sessions, because attending a Summer Registration Day will help enable a smooth beginning to your fall semester. The Summer Registration Day sessions are timed to occur back-to-back with the POW and WOW programs.

The following three programs are optional (and for a fee), and due to their popularity, students are allowed to sign up for only one of these three programs. These programs fill up quickly, so students will be registered in the order their registration forms are received. Students whose registration forms arrive after their desired program has already filled will be given the opportunity to attend one of the other programs.

  • Pre-Orientation Weekend (POW) is a chance for small groups of new students to get to know one another, learn a little about what to expect in college, and enjoy Vermont in the summer.

  • TREK Community Service Orientation is an opportunity for a small group of students to spend a week together doing community service in the Chittenden County area.

  • Wilderness Orientation Weekend (WOW) allows small groups of students to spend three days enjoying various outdoor recreational activities and Vermont’s natural landscape.

The following program is also optional, but unlike the three programs mentioned above, students have the option to attend this program in addition to POW, TREK or WOW.

  • Canterbury Retreat is a Christian retreat which embodies the Ignatian ideal of care for the whole person.  The retreat creates an environment where students come together to navigate those issues that arise during the first year of college.

To register for any of the programs mentioned above, use the registration form in the New Student Manual. Remember, it’s to your benefit to send your form in as early as possible, as programs are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The final deadline for registration forms is Monday, June 15, 2009.

If you have any questions regarding these programs, please do not hesitate to call the contact person listed on each program's web page.