91șÚÁÏÍű

Fall 2026 New Student Orientation Schedule

first-year olympics

Orientation at 91șÚÁÏÍű will help you transition smoothly into college life. It’s designed for first-year, international, and transfer students.

At orientation you will learn more about the campus, start to make friends, and hear about the many activities, groups, and academic options that Geneseo has to offer.

The orientation schedule includes:

  • Activities to help you explore the campus
  • Orientation groups to meet fellow students
  • Programs introducing you to campus offices and resources
  • Opportunities to hear from academic departments and meet faculty
  • Events to prepare you for your first day of classes

All new students must attend orientation.

*All new students are invited to attend each element of the new student orientation program. Activities designed for certain populations of students will be indicated in the description. Student athletes will receive an orientation experience from the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics but are encouraged to attend any program that works within their schedule. International students are invited to participate in all new student orientation activities following their orientation.

First-Year, Transfer & International Student Orientation Schedule

New Student Move-In: Tuesday, August 18
New Student Orientation (First-Years and Transfers): Tuesday, August 18-Saturday, August 22

The first-year, transfer and international student orientation schedules can be found below! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Orientation at orientation@geneseo.edu!

*Note: International students will attend a separate international student orientation hosted by the Center for Global Engagement. International students are invited to participate in all new student orientation activities following their orientation.

First-Year Orientation Schedule

*International students interested in attending new student orientation should refer to this schedule after their formal International Student Orientation on August 18.

Student Services Hours

  • CIT Helpdesk | 8:00am-4:00pm | Milne Library
    • Having computer issues? Need help connecting to the internet? Stop by Milne Library today for assistance! Looking to connect via chat? This is a link to the online Service Desk: Visit for hours during the semester.
  • Parking | 8:00am-4:00pm | Schrader Hall Room 19
    • Plan on having a car on campus or commuting? Be sure to review the Decals & Permits page! Permits will be available for sale beginning mid-July.
  • Orientation Helpdesk | 8:00am-8:00pm | MacVittie College Union Lobby
    • Got questions? Looking for directions? Not sure where you need to go for a specific session? Visit our Orientation Helpdesk in the College Union Lobby for all your Orientation needs.
  • Barnes and Noble Campus Bookstore | 9:00am-4:00pm | MacVittie College Union (2nd Floor)
    • Stop by the bookstore to pick up some new Geneseo apparel, rent textbooks and purchase any last minute school supplies! Check out their website for more information:
  • 8:30am-4:30pm | International Student Orientation | Various Locations
    • Welcome international students! We’re thrilled to welcome you to Western New York and the beautiful Geneseo community! Join your peers for a specialized orientation program that addresses your needs and familiarizes you with campus resources. For more information, visit /international/orientation.
  • 9:00am-4:00pm | New Student Move-In | S Lot
    • Welcome to Geneseo! We are so happy you’re here with us. Visit our Fall 2026 Move-In page for more information on when to show up, where to go, and what to bring. See you soon!
  • 11:00am-2:00pm
    • Geneseo Legacy Program Check-In | MacVittie College Union Lobby
      • Geneseo’s Legacy Program celebrates, honors, and acknowledges families who have made attending 91șÚÁÏÍű a family tradition. A legacy student has a parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle, or cousin who is a Geneseo graduate. We invite Legacy families to stop by our table on move-in day, Tuesday, August 18, 2026 between 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., to pick-up Geneseo Legacy swag and pose for a Legacy family snapshot.
      • Complete the online legacy form and RSVP to stop by on Tuesday at:
    • Parent and Family Mingle | MacVittie College Union Lobby 
      • Calling all parents, families and supporters! Take a break from helping your student move in and join faculty and staff from across campus for a quick snack and good conversation (in the air condition!)! You can use this opportunity to connect with faculty and staff and ask any burning questions you might have! It also allows you to meet some familiar faces in-person! 
  • 11:00am-5:00pm | Letters from Home | MacVittie College Union Lobby
    • Letters from Home gives parents, families and supporters an opportunity to write a letter of love, encouragement and support to their student that will be mailed to them two weeks from today. 
  • 4:00pm-7:00pm | Dinner on Your Own/Free Time 
    • Move-In can be exhausting! Use these next few hours to settle into your room, grab dinner with your family on Main Street, eat with your new friends in the dining hall, or take a last minute trip to Walmart for room essentials. Be sure to check back for which dining halls will be open for dinner starting at 4:00 p.m.!  Some of our Main Street favorites are Aunt Cookies and Bar-Eat-O! You can also check out other local eateries .
  • 5:00pm-6:00pm | Commuter Mingle with Orientation Leaders | MacVittie College Union Lobby
    • The start of our Orientation Program for students commuting from home. Meet other commuter students, get your Geneseo ID, and get a welcome from the Orientation Leaders (OL). Feel free to park in K Lot!
  • 6:00pm-7:00pm | Commuter Student Dinner | Dining Halls
    • We hope you enjoyed the Commuter Welcome! Let’s continue the fun with the Commuter Student Dinner with the OLs in the dining hall!
  • 7:00pm-7:45pm | Cruise Into Campus Life | Saratoga Commons
    • Let’s keep the fun going! Let’s head over to the Saratoga Commons for more information on all things commuter students!
  • 7:00pm-7:30pm | Community Welcome Meetings | Residence Halls 
    • Community and belonging are at the forefront of the Geneseo experience. Students will have a chance to connect with others, meet key staff such as Resident Assistants (RA) and Area Coordinator or Residence Directors who will help you get the lay of the land and help start making connections. 
  • 7:30pm-9:00pm | First Knight Celebration! | MacVittie College Union Plaza and Patio
    • To mark your first night at Geneseo, come celebrate with us on the MacVittie College Union Plaza and Patio! Mingle with new friends, sign your class banner, dance along to some tunes and enjoy novelties! Events are sponsored by the Department of Student Engagement, Division of Student Life, Undergraduate Alumni Association (UAA), and Campus Scheduling and Events.

Student Services Hours

CIT Helpdesk (Milne LIbrary)ParkingOrientation HelpdeskBarnes & Noble Campus Bookstore
8:00am-4:00pm8:00am-4:00pm8:30am-9:00pm9:00am-4:00pm
  • 8:00am-9:00am | Breakfast on Your Own! | Dining Halls
    • Head down to the dining halls for breakfast! Once you’re done eating, head back to your floor for your New Student Community Meeting! 
  • 9:00am-10:00am | New Student Community Meeting! | Residence Halls
    • Mandatory for on-campus students. Sharing a home can be really hard! In this session, you’ll get together with your floor or your living-learning community to develop a community pledge and then create a roommate agreement to lay the foundation for an open and honest relationship with your peers. Residence Hall rules, procedures, and discussions about living independently will also occur during this meeting. 
  • 10:15am-10:45am | Welcome to Geneseo! | Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena (Merritt Athletic Center)
    • We are thrilled to welcome you to the Geneseo community! Hear from some of our campus leaders as they share advice and encouragement for the start of your Geneseo experience. Students will be dismissed by OL groups at the conclusion of the welcome.
  • 10:45am-11:30am | Orientation Group Time | Orientation Group Locations
    • Meet your Orientation group for the first time! For forty-five minutes, you will spend time meeting your new peers and learning more about Geneseo!
  • 11:30am-2:00pm
    • Lunch in Your Orientation Groups | Dining Halls
      • Enjoy lunch with the members of your orientation group at one of our dining halls! Meal plan, retail dollars and credit cards are accepted. Students will be assigned lunch times based upon their orientation group.
    • Campus Tours  | Various Locations
      • Grab your schedules and prepare for an in-depth tour of campus! We will help you locate your classrooms to prepare for your first week of classes, identify study spots and locate academic support service spaces.
  • 2:00pm-2:45pm | Orientation Group Time | Orientation Group Locations
    • You’re more than halfway done with your first full day on campus! Let’s check in with each other and get to know each other better. Through guided conversation, you’ll discover the remaining sessions for the day and discuss ways to get involved on campus to build connections and community. Information regarding the Design Your Geneseo Experience and the Student Services Fair will also be shared during this session!
  • 3:00pm-3:35pm | Design Your Geneseo Experience: Finding Belonging and Ways to Get Involved | Newton Hall
    • One of the main goals of Orientation involves learning more about resources and discovering new experiences. This session will operate on a rotation schedule of two 15- minute sessions. Students will have the choice to attend two sessions that address their needs and interests, thus tailoring your experience. Orientation leaders will share session topics and room locations.
  • 3:45pm-4:15pm | Student Services Fair | Milne Library, Multipurpose Room
    • The Student Services Fair gives you the opportunity to learn more about the student services available to you and meet the individuals who will support you on your journey!
  • 4:15pm-5:00pm 
    • Affinity Group MeetUps | Various Locations
      • At Geneseo, we embrace and celebrate different cultures, identities and traditions. As an institution that focuses on belonging, it’s important to provide spaces for individuals who share a common identity as members of a marginalized group. Locations for meetups will be updated shortly! Be sure to check out back for locations of the meetups! 
    • Free Time
      • It’s been a long day! Take a break and head back to your room, or hang out in one of the Union lounges!
  • 5:00pm-7:00pm | Dinner in Orientation Groups | Dining Halls
    • Enjoy dinner with the members of your Orientation group at one of our dining halls! Meal plan, retail dollars and credit cards are accepted. Be sure to check the schedule as orientation groups will be assigned a specific dining hall for dinner.
  • 7:30pm-8:30pm | Free Money Game Show | MacVittie College Union Ballroom
    • Calling all pop-culture fanatics! Go wild in a “Name That Tune” style trivia game covering music, movies and TV. You have the chance to win up to $200 in CASH!

Student Services Hours

CIT Helpdesk ParkingOrientation HelpdeskBarnes & Noble Campus Bookstore
8:00am-4:00pm8:00am-4:00pm9:00am-8:00pm9:00am-4:00pm
  • 8:00am-9:30am
    • Breakfast | Dining Halls
      • Food is the key to sustaining your energy throughout the day ! Be sure to fuel your body with some delicious food from one of our dining halls before the day starts.
    • Language Replacement Exam | Welles 216
      • As part of their Geneseo Education for a Connected World requirements, students need to demonstrate basic proficiency in the understanding and use of a language other than English, as well as knowledge of the distinctive features of culture(s) associated with the language they are studying. At Geneseo, this is usually done by taking courses 101 and 102 in the same language. It is not always possible to determine the appropriate level for every student based on high school experience alone. The Placement Examination is thus the best way to get into the appropriate language course. Languages currently offered at Geneseo include: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish.
      • Language Placement Examinations are offered at Geneseo in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. Check your email for more information on whether or not you need to take this!
  • 9:30am-10:40am | Orientation Group Time | Orientation Group Locations
    • Welcome to the second full day of New Student Orientation! We have a fun-filled day planned for each of you. Today is all about setting you up for academic success at Geneseo! In your orientation groups, you’ll explore the realities of academic life and discuss college-level expectations.
  • 11:00am-12:00pm | New Student Convocation| Wadsworth Auditorium and Alice Austin Theatre 
    • New Student Convocation marks the College’s official welcome to campus and the start of your career at Geneseo! You will join your peers, along with faculty and staff, for this memorable moment. Location assignments will be based upon orientation group.   
  • 12:00pm-1:00pm | New Student Lunch | Dining Halls
    • Enjoy lunch with new friends! Lunch locations will be listed on your nametag!
  • 1:00pm-2:00pm | Meet Your Major | Various Locations
    • This is your first opportunity to get to meet faculty from your major department and learn more about your classes! For students who are exploring majors, connect with our staff from the Office of Advising and Career Design Center! 
  • 2:00pm – 2:30pm | G Photo | College Green
    • An annual tradition, the G Photo is photographic documentation of the start of your journey at Geneseo! Often a photo that is looked back on for years, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to be a part of history. Make your way to Geneseo’s College Green to be a part of this tradition and wear your blue and white!
  • 2:30pm-3:30pm | Now What? Thriving in the Academic Transition | Orientation Group Locations
    • Building off orientation group time from this morning, you’ll spend time discussing student supports, time management strategies and balancing your responsibilities. Walk away with tools to manage your time, take care of yourself, and thrive both in and out of the classroom.
  • 3:30pm-4:15pm 
    • Language Replacement Exam | Welles 216
      • As part of their Geneseo Education for a Connected World requirements, students need to demonstrate basic proficiency in the understanding and use of a language other than English, as well as knowledge of the distinctive features of culture(s) associated with the language they are studying. At Geneseo, this is usually done by taking courses 101 and 102 in the same language. It is not always possible to determine the appropriate level for every student based on high school experience alone. The Placement Examination is thus the best way to get into the appropriate language course. Languages currently offered at Geneseo include: Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish.
      • Language Placement Examinations are offered at Geneseo in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. Check your email for more information on whether or not you need to take this!
  • 3:30pm-5:00pm | Free Time
    • We hope you had a great day!  Use this time to reflect on your second day of orientation, preparing for the start of classes or resting in your room! 
  • 5:00pm-7:00 pm | Dinner In Your Orientation Group | Dining Halls
    • Enjoy dinner with the members of your Orientation group at one of our dining halls! Be sure to check the schedule as orientation groups will be assigned a specific dining hall for dinner.
  • 8:00pm-11:00pm | Movie Knight | College Stadium (East Field)
    • Join us for a relaxing and entertaining evening at Movie Knight, our orientation week film night designed to help you unwind, meet new friends, and enjoy a great movie under the stars! Whether you come with your new roommate or solo, it’s a perfect way to kick back after a big day and start making memories. 

Student Services Hours

CIT HelpdeskParkingOrientation HelpdeskBarnes & Noble Campus Bookstore
8:00am-4:00pm8:00am-4:00pm9:00am-4:00pm9:00am-5:00pm
  • 8:00am-9:30am | Breakfast | Dining Halls
    • Food is the key to sustaining your energy throughout the day ! Be sure to fuel your body with some delicious food from one of our dining halls before the day starts.
  • 9:30am-11:00am | Orientation Group Time | Orientation Group Location
    • Welcome to the third full day of New Student Orientation! We have a fun-filled day planned for each of you. Today is all about self-care as a new college student and well-being! 
  • 11:00am-1:15pm
    • Lunch in Your Orientation Group | Dining Halls
      • Enjoy lunch with the members of your Orientation group! Meal plan, retail dollars and credit cards are accepted!
    • Title IX Talks & Student Well-Being with the Dean of Students (Health, Safety & Support Services)| Wadsworth Auditorium
      • Students will participate in an interactive and engaging format to learn about community responsibility, healthy behaviors, and safe partying. Students will receive information on important policies, resources and support that pertain to Title IX and the student conduct process. Lunch and Title IX Talks will be run concurrently and students will be assigned locations. Be sure to check the schedule as orientation groups will be assigned a specific dining hall for lunch.)
        • 11:00am-12:00pm
        • 12:15pm-1:15pm
  • Choose Your Own Adventure: Wellness Style | Various Activities
    • Self-care means something different for everyone. During this session, you will have an opportunity to engage in different self-care activities around campus based upon your interests. Activities will range from meditation to a nature walk to crafts to intramurals, and much more! We will also have interest-based meetups around campus! Orientation leaders will provide a list of activities and locations for interest-based meetups during the morning orientation group session.
  • 3:30pm-5:00pm | Free Time
    • What a day it’s been! Enjoy some time exploring campus or hanging out with your new friends!
  • 5:00pm-7:00pm | Dinner on Your Own | Dining Halls
    • It’s been a long day of programming and connecting. Enjoy dinner on your own or with new friends!
  • 8:00pm-10:00pm | Orientation Leader Talent Show | Wadsworth Auditorium
    • Come see your Orientation Leaders battle it out in Geneseo’s Orientation Leader Talent Show! You will get to watch the OLs perform their best talents for all the new students. Come prepared to cheer on your favorite OL with signs, pom poms, and your voices! The winner of the talent show is in your hands! Make sure you follow @geneseo_orientation to vote on your favorite act!

Student Services Hours

CIT HelpdeskParkingOrientation HelpdeskBarnes & Noble Campus Bookstore
CLOSED10:00am-4:00pm10:30am-12:30pm10:00am-4:00pm
  • 11:00am-2:00pm | Brunch |  Letchworth Dining Hall or RJ Dining Hall
    • Happy Saturday! You’ve had a busy few days! Enjoy your morning by sleeping in and grabbing some brunch at one of our dining halls.
  • 12:00pm-7:30pm | Off-Campus Excursions | Various Locations
    • Check out our off-campus excursions! The trips are first come, first serve so be sure to show up early if you’re interested! Interested students should meet at the MacVittie College Union Bus Loop at least 30 minutes prior to departure.
      • Seneca Park Zoo (Rochester)
      • Darien Lake Amusement Park
      • Aerial Park-Bristol
      • *Be sure to grab brunch before departing campus and bring $1-$2 (Cash) for the bus driver tip. Small snacks will be provided on the bus. Any additional food or souvenir purchases will be the responsibility of the participants.
  • 1:00pm-3:00pm | Pop Up Activities | Various Locations
    • Join your OLs in some pop up activities created and led by the OLs! Information about the various activities will be available closer to the date!
  • 2:00pm-5:00pm | Kangaroo Farm | MCU Plaza
    • Bringing the ‘Roo Ranch to campus! Enjoy visiting and petting Kangaroos, Wallabies, Bearded Dragons, Tortoises, Pentagonian Maras, Armadillos, and African Crested Porcupines! There’s something for everyone!
  • 5:00pm-7:00pm | Dinner |Dining Halls
    • Enjoy dinner with your new friends in the dining halls!

Transfer Orientation Schedule

*The transfer student orientation schedule will be available in the coming days!

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