NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION SCHEDULE
AUGUST 17-20, 2024
Saturday, August 17
Note: Events in red are required.
| Start | End | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. | New Student Move In | Residence Halls |
| 8:00 a.m. | 11:00 a.m. | Coffee on the Patio | Belk Dining Hall Patio |
| 11:00 a.m. | 2:00 p.m. | Family Lunch* Grab lunch at the dining hall when convenient for you. | Belk Dining Hall |
| 1:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | Parents and Family Social Cool off with refreshing beverages, get the chance to meet Dr. Aimee Sapp, our College President, and connect with other families at this come-as-you-are reception. | Johnson Hall Rotunda |
| 2:00 p.m. | 2:45 p.m. | Commuter Student Check In | Cate Center Lobby |
| 3:00 p.m. | 3:45 p.m. | Welcome to Meredith Students join President Aimee Sapp, Vice President Jean Jackson, and Student Government Association President Sophie Phillips as they share reflections and offer advice for making the most of your time at Meredith. | Jones Auditorium |
| 3:45 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Meet & Greet with Student Advisors Gather with your Student Advisor (SA) Groups outside of Jones Auditorium. SAs will lead you to your "homeroom" where you will meet others in your group and set the plan for the next three days of New Student Orientation. | SA Group Homerooms |
| 5:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | Dinner* | Belk Dining Hall |
| 7:00 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | First Floor Meeting (required of all first year and transfer resident students) Get to know other students on your hall and review a few basics for community living. | Residence Halls |
| 8:00 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | Movie on the Green Its been a busy day, so unwind with a good movie and new friends outside. Light food, drinks, and goodies will be provided, but please bring your own blanket/towel. Sponsored by the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and the Office of Alumnae Relations. | Meredith Courtyard |
| * Resident students use their meal plan. Commuter students receive a meal voucher for all meals in red. $11/person otherwise. |
Sunday, August 18
Note: Events in red are required.
| Start | End | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. | Breakfast* | Belk Dining Hall |
| Connected@ Meredith (on your own time) Complete the online learning module about the technology resources and services available to you as a student and learn the expectations on how to be safe and responsible online. SAs will check for completion Sunday afternoon. | |||
| 9:30 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. | Yoga, Meredith Style Connect with your heart, mind, body, and breath to cultivate strength and balance. In this vinyasa style flow, participants will link their breath with purposeful movement and leave with tools they can access on and off the mat. Come as you are and take the pace and movement you need in your body. Leave feeling centered, grounded and empowered. Bring a towel/mat and water. Dress in comfortable clothes to move freely. | Johnson Hall Rotunda |
| 11:00 a.m. | 2:00 p.m. | Lunch* | Belk Dining Hall |
| 11:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | First Generation Lunch Meet Up Attend this lunch if you are a first-generation student (student whose parent(s) did not complete a bachelor's degree) to connect with others first in their family to attend college. Director of Residence Life, Amanda Morales, will reserve a special spot in Belk West for everyone to gather. | Belk Dining Hall |
| 11:30 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. | Early College Student Lunch Meet Up Are you entering Meredith with your Associates Degree? Gather over lunch with Success Coach, Melissa Stanley, and meet other new students coming in with college credit. Tables will be reserved in the Belk West section of the dining hall. | Belk Dining Hall |
| 1:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | Student Collective Meet Up Want to make an impact on campus? The Student Collective advises the DEI coordinator on key student issues and discusses new initiatives. Come to this meet up to connect with others who are interested in campus diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Representatives will be available. | Cate Center, 2nd Floor |
| 2:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | Student Safety and Success Living on campus? Members of the Residence Life team review the expectations of living, learning, and staying safe in our campus community. Required of all first year and transfer resident students. | Jones Auditorium |
| 2:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. | Commuter Student Information Session Not living on campus? Attend this session designed to get you connected to each other, campus resources, as well as the Association of Meredith Commuters (AMC). Required of all first year commuter students. | Kresge Auditorium |
| 3:00 p.m. | 5:15 p.m. | SA Group Sunday Rotations Gather with your SA Group before Sunday Rotations. SAs will escort their group to each program at the assigned time. Consult with your SA for your group's specific schedule | Start in SA Group Homerooms |
| The following sessions are included in Sunday Rotations: | |||
| Get to Know Your Strengths Start thinking about your many talents and those of others in this on-your-feet introduction to StrongPoints. | Various Locations | ||
| Navigating Campus Go beyond the typical campus tour and discover the places that you will not only frequent as a student, but learn to appreciate as well. Bring your schedule so you can find all your classes! | Various Locations | ||
| SA Connection SAs will lead an informal talk about the academic and social transition from high school to college and best strategies to be successful at Meredith. At this time they will also review the Connected@Meredith online module. | Various Locations | ||
| 5:30 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | Dinner* | Belk Dining Hall |
| 7:00 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | Campus Life Skit Enjoy a comical yet informative performance introducing you to the many opportunities, resources, and campus traditions that exist at Meredith. | Jones Auditorium |
| 8:00 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | Game Night Head over to BDH after the skit for some fun and games! New friends, snacks, Clue, Apples to Apples, Jenga, Pictionary, and more! Croquet anyone, or are you a card player? Maybe coloring pages or puzzles are more your thing. Whether you want laid-back fun or a little friendly competition, we have it all. Sponsored by the Counseling Center, Disability Services, and International Programs departments. | Belk Dining Hall |
| * Resident students use their meal plan. Commuter students receive a meal voucher for all meals in red. $11/person otherwise. |
Monday, August 19
Note: Events in red are required.
| Start | End | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. | Breakfast* | Belk Dining Hall |
| 7:30 a.m. | 8:30 a.m. | Meredith Mile Walk/Run Meet Up Join other movement-minded students to complete your first "Meredith Mile." | Heck Fountain, Main Courtyard |
| 9:00 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Commuter Student Hangout Open The Library welcomes commuter students! Whenever you find yourself with some downtime between programs, settle into the Library where comfortable spaces, conversation, books, board games, and more awaits. | Belk Dining Hall |
| 10:00 a.m. | 3:00 p.m. | SA Group Monday Rotations Meet up with your SA at the specified times to go through your Monday Rotations. Time for lunch and mental health breaks are included during the day. Consult with your SA for your group's specific schedule. | Various Locations |
| The following sessions are included in the rotations: | |||
| Get to Know the Library Take part in a 25 minute tour of the Carlyle Campbell Library and learn about the many resources available to you. | Carlyle Campbell Library | ||
| Strengths 101 Your introduction to StrongPoints continues. In this session we will review your results from the CliftonStrengths assessment and go deeper in understanding how to leverage your Top 5 Strengths. | Various Locations | ||
| Faculty Advisor/Student Advisor Session During this time, students will get to know their Faculty Advisor (FA) and learn more about their major, processes of schedule changes and prepare for academic check ins the following day. | Various Locations | ||
| Connection with your SA As a part of this session, your SA will facilitate the First Year Start Strong Survey. This survey includes questions about activities prior to college and your expectations for the first year. | SA Group Homeroom | ||
| 11:30 a.m. | 1:30 p.m. | Lunch Rotations with SA Group* Check with your SA for the specific time of your lunch rotation. | Belk Dining Hall |
| 2:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Technology Services Pop-Up Hours Have a specific questions or need help with technology on campus? Stop by during Pop-Up Hours. | 1st Floor Cate Center |
| 3:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Disability Services Information Session Meet the staff who head up Disability Services and learn about the direct services available to students including how to qualify for accommodations. | Harris 102 |
| 4:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Line Dance Party Get ready to dance! We will do old favorites like the Electric Slide, Cupid Shuffle, Wobble, Power Slide, and more! No experience is necessary. | Weatherspoon 31 (Studio A) |
| 5:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | Dinner* | Belk Dining Hall |
| 5:30 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | Pickle Ball Pickleball anyone? Come on out to the Tennis Courts behind Belk for some informal play. Racquets will be provided. | Tennis Courts |
| 6:30 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | Camp Daisy: Mix & Mingle Don’t miss out on this adventure of fun, friends, and making memories. Dive into a fun scavenger hunt, challenge your friends in cornhole and Jenga, and check out the amazing bubble guy. Sing your heart out with camp songs, join in on cool camp activities, and satisfy your sweet tooth at our s'mores buffet. If you prefer something low-key, relax in our quiet space too. Hosted by StrongPoints and the Student Success Center. | Cate Center |
| * Resident students use their meal plan. Commuter students receive a meal voucher for all meals in red. $11/person otherwise. |
Tuesday, August 20
Note: Events in red are required.
| Start | End | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 a.m. | 10:00 a.m. | Breakfast* | Belk Dining Hall |
| 7:30 a.m. | 8:30 a.m. | Meredith Mile Walk/Run Meet Up Join other movement-minded students in the "Meredith Mile." | Heck Fountain, Main Courtyard |
| 9:00 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Commuter Student Hangout Open The Library welcomes commuter students! Whenever you find yourself with some downtime between programs, settle into the Library where comfortable spaces, conversation, books, board games, and more awaits. | Carlyle Campbell Library |
| 9:00 a.m. | 12:00 p.m. | Academic Check In & Drop/Add Take this time to finalize your fall schedule, meet with your Faculty Advisor, and make sure you are good to go for the First Day of Classes (FDOC). | Various Locations |
| 10:00 a.m. | 11:15 a.m. | Resource Fair Pop-Up There is a resource fair going on for our Transfer students, but there is no reason why you can't take part too. Meet up with departments such as Career Planning, Student Leadership and Service, the Health Center, Counseling & Disability Services, Technology Services, Study Abroad, Alumnae Relations, and StrongPoints. | Cate Center Alcove |
| 10:00 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. | Tell Us a Story(board) Drop-In Create a storyboard about YOU and your intentions for the year. The end product: a customized piece of art and a vision board for the year ahead. Craft supplies will be provided along with some inspiration to get your creativity flowing. Stop by at any time to get started. | Carlyle Campbell Library |
| 10:30 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. | Mindfulness Meditation Join the Meredith Chaplain, Stacy Pardue, for a guided meditation including an introduction to mindfulness practices. Mindfulness helps us focus on the present to fight stress and anxiety; skills for a lifetime. Please bring a yoga mat or towel. | Chapel Common Room |
| 11:00 a.m. | 1:00 p.m. | Lunch* | Belk Dining Hall |
| 11:30 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. | Golden Door Scholars Meet Up Calling all new Golden Door Scholars and friends! Join us for an informal lunch to connect with each other, along with some of our amazing GDS seniors. Golden Door Scholars tackle a variety of topics each year, including the impacts of immigration. | Lux 130 |
| 1:00 p.m. | 2:00 p.m. | Health and Wellness at Meredith Staff will present information and resources related to student health and wellness with an emphasis on healthy relationships and Title IX policies and reporting procedures. | Jones Auditorium |
| 4:30 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | FDOC Eve Traditions: The night before the First Day of Classes (FDOC) includes a series of traditions for new students and this progressive event covers them all. Dressy casual attire is encouraged. SAs escort their group to each location at the assigned time. | Various Locations |
| The following activities are included in the progressive event | |||
| Massey House Tour Since the 1970s, its been a tradition for new students to visit the President's home, the Massey House. Students get to meet President Sapp and tour the place that she calls home. | Massey House | ||
| Celebratory Dinner* Celebrate FDOC Eve with an elevated dining experience sponsored by the Office of the President. | Belk Dining Hall | ||
| Dessert Reception* Progress to desserts at this photo worthy spot. | Johnson Hall Rotunda | ||
| Honor Code Ceremony This longstanding tradition provides students the opportunity to understand and celebrate the Honor Code at Meredith. Here, each student will sign and recite the Honor Code. | Jones Auditorium | ||
| * Resident students use their meal plan. Commuter students receive a meal voucher for all meals in red. $11/person otherwise. |
Fast Track Schedule - Tuesday, August 20
For Wings Students and Transfers who Opt-In Only
Note: Events in red are required.
| Start time | End Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Campus Errands (optional) Use this time to do any necessary business on campus before the official program begins. | |
| 10:00 AM | 10:40 AM | Fast Track Check-In & Resource Fair Get to meet other new students and visit with staff from various departments on campus. | Cate Center, 1st Floor |
| 10:40 AM | 11:00 AM | Welcome to Meredith Welcome to campus! Dean of Students, Ann Gleason and Associate Director of the Student Success Center, Steven Lemmons will set the stage for the day ahead and offer advice for making the most of your time at Meredith. | Kresge Auditorium |
| 11:00 AM | 11:30 AM | Student Success & Academics Learn what it takes to be successful at Meredith, the resources at your disposal, and how to take ownership of your academic endevours. | Kresge Auditorium |
| 11:30 AM | 12:00 PM | Getting Involved @ Meredith Staff from the Office of Student Leadership and Service will share information about important traditions at Meredith and how to get involved. | Kresge Auditorium |
| 12:00 PM | 12:45 PM | Lunch with WTA groups* Be one of the first to dine at the updated BeeHive Café! This meal is on us! | The BeeHive |
| 1:00 PM | 2:00 PM | Health and Wellness at Meredith Join our first year students in Jones Auditorium where staff will present information and resources related to student health and wellness. Emphasis will be placed on healthy relationships and Title IX policies and reporting procedures. | Jones Auditorium |
| 2:00 PM | 2:45 PM | Navigating Campus WTAs will point out the key places on campus you will frequent as a student. Tour will end at the Library. | Various Locations |
| 2:45 PM | 3:15 PM | Get to Know the Library Take part in a 25-minute tour of the Carlyle Campbell Library and learn about the many resources available to you. | Carlyle Campbell Library |
| 3:30 PM | 4:30 PM | Strengths 101 Learn more about Meredith's unique advising and personal coaching program, StrongPoints, and how you can identify and build upon your strengths during your time as a student. During this session we will be reiewing your results from the CliftonStrengths assessment. | Kresge Auditorium |
| 4:30 PM | 8:30 PM | FDOC Eve Traditions: The night before the First Day of Classes includes a series of traditions for new students and this progressive event covers them all. Dressy casual attire is encouraged. WTAs escort their group to each location at the assigned time. | Various Locations |
| The following events are included in the progressive event | |||
| Massey House Tour Since the 1970s, its been a tradition for new students to visit the President's home, the Massey House. Students get to meet President Sapp and tour the place that she calls home. | Massey House | ||
| Celebratory Dinner* Celebrate FDOC Eve with an elevated dining experience sponsored by the Office of the President. | Belk Dining Hall | ||
| Dessert Reception* Progress to desserts at this photo worthy spot-- the rotunda and the Meredith Fountain in front of Johnson Hall. | Johnson Hall Rotunda | ||
| Honor Code Ceremony This longstanding tradition provides students the opportunity to understand and celebrate the Honor Code at Meredith. At the conclusion of the ceremony, each student will sign the Honor Code. | Jones Auditorium | ||
| * Resident students use their meal plan. Commuter students receive a meal voucher for all meals in red. $11/person otherwise. |
