January Orientation Schedule

Welcome to WPI's New Student Orientation (NSO)! We’re excited to kick off your academic journey in January 2025. This page provides all the essential information about NSO, including activities designed to help you thrive academically, connect with classmates, and explore WPI's resources. Families are welcome to join you on Move-In Day, but the program will transition to students only at 3 PM. 

The schedule may be subject to change, so please refer back to this page for updates. We look forward to celebrating your arrival at WPI!

New Student Orientation Schedule

Monday, January 13
8:00am-2:00pm 

Residential Students: Move into Residence Halls and Pick Up Student ID 

Location: Housing and Residential Experience Center, East Hall  

Description: See emailed directions from Housing and Residential Experience Center with details for your specific location 

8:00am-4:00pm 

Non-Residential Students: Pick Up Your Student ID 

Location: Housing and Residential Experience Center, East Hall 

Description: Non- residential students can pick up their ID on January 13 OR January 14 during business hours. 

 

2:00pm-3:00pm 

Welcome (students and families) 

Location: Innovation Studio 203

Description: students and families have the opportunity to connect with administrators, staff, and faculty. 

 

3:00pm-4:00pm 

Family Programming: Support and resources at WPI with the Dean of Students Office

Location: Innovation Studio 105

Student Only Program Begins 

3:00pm-3:45pm 

Life Inside and Outside the Classroom Christine Ziev and Tally Reeverts

Location: Innovation Studio 203 

Description: presentation on Academic Advising, support, resources and what to expect as a student. The remainder of the program will be information about life outside the classroom, how to get involved, resources, and opportunities in Worcester. 

 

4:00pm – 5:00pm 

Campus Tour and Resources 

Resources: Health Services, Financial Aid, Bursar, Registrar, SDCC, CWB, SAO, ARC, Rec Center, Library, Help Desk, Mail Room, Academic Resource Center, Global Programs, CDC, OAS, Campus Police.  

Location: Starting in the Innovation Studio, various locations to follow 

Description: Community Advisors will show students how to navigate campus, learn where their classes are, and get a feel on where to study, hang out, and make connections. Stops will be made on the way to hear from campus resources and what they have to offer. 

 

5:00pm 

Dinner 

Location: Morgan Dining Hall 

Description: Students gather and have dinner together in Morgan Hall 

 

Tuesday, January 14
8:00am-4:00pm 

Non-Residential Students: Pick Up Your Student ID 

Location: Housing and Residential Experience Center, East Hall 

Description: Non- residential students can pick up their ID on January 13 OR January 14 during business hours. 

8:00am-4:00pm 

IT Service Desk 

Location: Gordon Library, Main Floor 

Description: Stop by for questions on how to make sure you’re connected to WPI tech resources on campus 

8:30am-9:45am  

Breakfast and Welcome 

Location: Morgan Dining Hall 

Description: Senior Community Advisors and Community Advisors will have breakfast in Morgan Dining Hall with students including a brief welcome and review of the day..   

10:00am-2:30pm 

Connect with your Academic Advisor 

Location: Academic Advising Offices, Unity Hall, 5th Floor  

Description: Drop-in hours are available to touch base with your academic advisor about schedule or course questions from incoming students. 

10:00am-10:45am 

Confident to be Authentic with Kipp Colvin

Location: Campus Center, Odeum All 

Description: At the heart of true confidence lies embracing our authentic selves and fearlessly showing up as genuine, unapologetic ones. In this keynote, Kipp Colvin will share personal experiences and insights that have shaped his understanding of authentic leadership. Students will explore the strength in vulnerability and how staying true to ourselves becomes a beacon of inspiration for others. Additionally, students will learn practical strategies and actionable tips on cultivating authenticity and fostering unwavering confidence within themselves. 

11:00am-11:45pm 

Connecting on Campus – what involvement looks like after orientation 

Location: Innovation Studio, 203 

Description: Learn about how to get involved and connected on campus after orientation. 

11:00am-11:45pm 

Creating Psychologically Safe Spaces   Presented by Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education

Location: Salisbury Labs 411 

Description: Review what psychological safety is and how to achieve it on individual and group levels. Evaluating case studies to practice developing these skills. 

11:00am-11:45pm  

Building Success Without Burning Out  Presented by Center for Wellbeing

Location: Salisbury Labs 104

Learn skills to balance being involved and successful at WPI while also protecting and maintaining your wellbeing. 

12:00pm-1:00pm 

Lunch 

Location: Rubin Campus Center, Odeum All 

Description: Join the Leadership Day Programming Lunch and Networking Event to meet with other student leaders at WPI and learn more about various clubs on campus. 

1:00pm-1:45pm 

Commuting at WPI: A Student Panel 

Location: Innovation Studio 203 

Description: Join this panel of fellow upper class commuter students to learn tips and tricks that worked for them as they transitioned to WPI. 

1:00pm-1:45pm 

Civil Discourse   Presented by the SWEET Center 

Location: Salisbury Labs 305 

Description: In this session we will discuss how to navigate difficult conversations, signs that the conversation is no longer productive, and strategies for effectively moving forward after the difficult conversation has ended in a way that maintains team morale and helps you to continue to move towards your goals.  

1:00pm-2:45pm

QPR Training  Presented by the Center for Wellbeing (90 Minute Session starting at 1:00pm) 

Location: Salisbury Labs 407

Description: QPR is the acronym for Question, Persuade & Refer, a gatekeeper suicide prevention training. The QPR training will not only teach you how to recognize someone who may be at risk, but it will also provide you with the three concrete skills to help.  

1:00pm-2:45pm 

LGBTQIAP+ Advocacy 101  Presented by ODIME (90 Minute Session starting at 1:00pm)   

Location: SL406

Description: The 101 training will cover topics such as gender identity, using pronouns, and the state of LGBTQIAP+ community in the world and at WPI. We will also discuss the steps and skills of advocacy and bystander intervention. 

2:00pm-2:45pm

Living Your Mission   Presented by the Dean of Students Office 

Location: Salisbury Labs 402

Description: Get back to your organization’s roots! This session provides much needed reminders and tools on how to refocus your organization's work on its mission. 

2:15pm-3:00pm 

Life Inside and Outside the Classroom 

Presenters: Christine Ziev and Academic Advising 

Location: Innovation Studio 203 

Description: presentation on Academic Advising, support, resources and what to expect as a student. The remainder of the program will be information about life outside the classroom, how to get involved, resources, and opportunities in Worcester.   

Note that this is a repeat offering of Monday's presentation of the same name.