Please note: The following schedule reflects Spring 2009 Orientation. The revised schedule for Spring 2010 Orientation events will be posted in December. While the dates will change there may be only slight differences to the actual events.
Key to Events for Incoming Students: (A) All New Students: Orientation events for ALL new students to attend (FP) Frances Perkins Program Students: Events for students of nontraditional age entering Mount Holyoke through the Frances Perkins Program (I) International Students: Events for students whose home is outside the United States
Arrival and Check-in for International Students Arriving from Abroad The International Student Orientation Committee (ISOC) will meet international students arriving at Bradley International Airport directly from abroad.
Blanchard Cafe Open noon-8:00pm Blanchard Campus Center Sunday, January 25, 2009 Office Hours Auxiliary Services (Cable, OneCard, Phone) Central Services Complex 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Blanchard Campus Center 11:00am - Midnight
Computer Account Setup/ Library Information & Technology Services (LITS) Williston Memorial Library 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Health Services Pattie Groves Health Center 9:00 am-1:00 pm (Call x2121 to make an appointment for medical clearance or x2242 for urgent care.)
Information Desk Blanchard Campus Center, Middle Level 4:00 pm-midnight Key Distribution (Residence Halls) 9:00 am-Noon 1:00 p.m-8:00 p.m (Blanchard Campus Center) Schedule 9:00 am - Noon Residence Halls Open Residential Students Check-in Room keys, your arrival packet, and the Orientation Schedule are available at your residence hall. 10:00 am Mount Holyoke/Smith Squash Invitational (Squash Tournament) Kendall Sports and Dance Complex – Squash Courts
11:30 am-1:00 pm Transitions Abroad Members of the International Student Orientation Committee (ISOC) will talk about adjusting to your new life in the U.S. and at Mount Holyoke. Donna Van Handle, dean of international students, and Jenny Medina, immigration specialist, will also be available to answer questions. Hooker Auditorium
1:00 pm - 8:00 pm Residential Students Check-in Room keys, your arrival packet, and the Orientation Schedule are available at Blanchard Campus Center. Students arriving after 8:00 pm should go to the Department of Public Safety in the Central Services Complex.
1:00pm - 2:30 pm Welcome Luncheon for New Students and Families (A) Gathering and words of welcome from members of the college community. Nonresidential students can pick up their arrival packets at the luncheon. Great Room, Blanchard Campus Center
2:30pm – 3:30 pm Small Group Event: Change Your World (A) Make Connections with other new students, learn about the Mount Holyoke community, and get your questions answered with the help of your upperclass small group leaders. Abbey and Buckland Dining Hall
2:30pm - 4:00 pm Frances Perkins Informational Meeting (FP) Meet new and returning FPs for an Orientation and registration overview. Facilitated by Kay Althoff, Director of the Frances Perkins Program, and Carolyn Dietel, associate director of the Frances Perkins Program. Frances Perkins House
2:30pm - 3:30 pm Parent and Family Orientation Liz Braun, dean of students, introduces student life at Mount Holyoke. Student services staff from College Health Services, Residential Life, Career Development Center, Public Safety, LITS, and Multicultural Affairs speak about support systems and services. Great Room, Blanchard Campus Center
THIS CONCLUDES THE PARENT AND FAMILY PORTION OF ORIENTATION
4:00pm - 8:00 pm Dinner with Small Group (A) Location will be determined with your small group leader during the “Change Your World” event. Blanchard Cafe and Wilder Hall, Ham/Macgregor Hall, and Prospect Hall open 5:00 - 7:00 pm
6:00pm - 9:00 pm Van Trips to Fairfield Mall (weather permitting) (A) Need decorations or other sundry items to spruce up your room? Catch a shuttle to the Mall (Walmart and Marshalls). Vans will be departing campus at 6:00 pm. Meet at bus stop between Mary Woolley Hall and South Rockefeller Hall.
9:00pm - 11:00 pm TV Night (A) If the thought of unpacking seems daunting, come relax with us and watch TV. Hang out with new and current students! Refreshments will be provided by the Alumnae Association. TV Room, Mead Hall
Monday, January 26, 2009 Office Hours Auxiliary Services (Cable, OneCard, Phone) Central Services Complex
8:30 am-5:00 pm Computer Account Setup/ Library Information & Technology Services (LITS) Williston Memorial Library 8:30 am-5:00 pm
Health Services Pattie Groves Health Center 9:00 am-1:00 pm (call x 2121 to make an appointment for medical clearance or x 2242 for urgent care) Information Desk Blanchard Campus Center/ Middle Level 4:00pm-Midnight
Key Distribution – Blanchard Campus Center (till Wednesday) 9:00 am-10:00 pm
Key Distribution – Office of Residential Life (Wednesday only)
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Office of Residential Life Safford Hall (Garden Level) 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (lunch hour noon - 1:00 pm)
Parking Office
Central Services Complex
8:30 am-4:00 pm
Student Financial Services Skinner Hall 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Schedule
7:15 am - 10:00 am Breakfast (Hot breakfast until 9:00 am) Wilder Hall, Ham/Macgregor Hall, and Prospect Hall
9:00 am – 10:30 am International Student Immigration and Employment Session (I) Donna Van Handle, dean of international students, and Jennifer Medina, immigration specialist, will familiarize you with immigration and naturalization regulations that apply to foreign citizens who are studying and working in the U.S. All students who plan to work on campus must complete I-9 and W-4 forms. Please bring your passports, I-20 forms, and I-94 cards (normally in your passport, but check!). Gamble Auditorium, Art Museum
10:30 am - Noon Making Connections: Your Academic Experience at Mount Holyoke (A)
A crucial session for all new Mount Holyoke students. Learn about the curriculum, faculty advising, course selection, and the network of academic resources at the College. Panel moderated by Leah B. Glasser, dean of first-year studies. A portion of the meeting will be devoted to addressing and resolving questions concerning credit transfer, satisfying requirements, course placement levels, and planning ahead.
Gamble Auditorium, Art Museum
Noon - 4:00 pm
Lunch
Blanchard Cafe and Wilder Hall, Ham/Macgregor Hall, and Prospect Hall (Wilder Hall, Ham/Macgregor Hall, and Prospect Hall 11:30 am - 1:15 pm)
2:15 pm - 5:15 pm Academic Advising Sessions (A) Meetings with faculty advisors in faculty offices. Advisor assignments are listed on your Advisor Appointment sheet in your packets. Office locations are listed in your telephone directory and on the appointment sheet as well. Please arrive at your advisor’s office promptly at 1:00 pm. At this time, your advisor will schedule your individual appointment for a time slot between 1:15 and 4:00 pm. These individual appointments are crucial for review of your course selection and discussion of your goals for your first semester. Advisors will clear advisees for adds and drops on ISIS. See telephone directory for office locations.
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Tours of the Campus
Meet by the front steps of Blanchard Campus Center. Tours leave on the hour.
4:00 pm–Midnight
Dinner
Blanchard Café, Abbey/Buckland Dining Hall, Rockefeller Dining Hall, Wilder Hall, Prospect Hall, and Ham/MacGregor Hall
(All halls except Blanchard Café open 5:00-7:00 pm; Blanchard Café open 4:00 pm - midnight)
7:00-9:00 pm
Cookie Baking and Cider Tasting (A)
Join fellow new students and orientation leaders in baking some yummy cookies. Then enjoy the fruits of your labor along with hot mulled cider in one of the “Golden Pears” (student kitchen in a residence hall).
The Mandelles Kitchen (located in the middle of North and South Mandelle on the ground floor)
8:00-10:00pm
Games, Crafts, S'mores Event (A) Interested in expressing your creative side? Come join new and returning students for a fun night of crafts and board games. Snacks provided!
The Mandelle Living Room (Located in the middle of North and South Mandelle on the ground floor)
Continental Breakfast until 10:00am in all dorms (Hot Breakfast 7:15am- 9:00am) Abbey-Buckland, Ham-MacGregor, North Rockefeller, South Rockefeller (not accessible), Prospect, and Wilder Dining Halls
10:30 am-Noon
Library Information and Technology Services Tour Come learn about the many resources available to you through LITS (Library Information and Technology Services). A full guided tour of the complex, an intro to online resources and a tech-talk will be included. These resources are critical to your academic success here at MHC! Meet in Dwight 101
11:30 am – 1:15 pm
Lunch
Ham-MacGregor, North Rockefeller, South Rockefeller (not accessible), Prospect, and Wilder Dining Halls and Blanchard Café. (Blanchard Café is available as part of the meal plan 11:00 am-4:00 pm)
12 noon-1:00 pm Networking Luncheon for ALANA and Multiracial Students Connect with the coordinator of Multicultural Affairs and other ALANA (African American, Latina, Asian American & Native American) and multiracial students. Blanchard Campus Center
1:00-2:00 pm Visa Requirements Session Donna Van Handle and Lorraine Lacasse from Financial Services will guide you through a computer program so that each of you can enter the various visa statuses you have had when in the U.S. All new international students must attend this session. Bring your current and previous passports, and original travel documents (I-94, I-20 or DS-2019). Please bring a listing of all of your visa statuses and all of the dates that you entered and exited the United States while in each status.
Computer Lab Kendade Hall
2:30pm -3:30 pm Spring has Sprung and Winter Fun! (A) Take a break from unpacking and enjoy the warmth of the beautiful MHC Greenhouse. One of the campuses best kept secrets. You'll leave with a FREE plant from the Greenhouse to help brighten up your room. If the weather cooperates we will also celebrate winter fun on campus by building snowmen, ice skating and more. Meet at the entrance of the Talcott Greenhouse
4:00 - 5:00 pm
One-Stop Shopping: A Student Resource Tea (A)
Learn about study abroad, health education, career development, and other important resources while enjoying tea, cocoa, and refreshments. This is a great opportunity to get connected to the MHC community.
Great Room, Blanchard Campus Center
4:00 pm- Midnight Dinner Prospect Hall, Ham Hall, MacGregor Hall, North Rockefeller/South Rockefeller Hall (not accessible), Abbey/Buckland, and Wilder open 5:00-7:00 pm; Blanchard Café open 4:00 pm - midnight.
5:30 pm Welcome Dinner for New International Students with ISOC Come and get to know ISOC (International Student Orientation Committee) board members. Bring your questions! North Rockefeller Hall (Private Dining Room)
8:00-10:00 pm Field House Fun!
Come join your orientation leaders and fellow small group members in a night of friendly competition of classic games. Dodge ball, kickball, tennis, and badminton are just a few of the fun activities that we have planned for you! Come compete against other small groups for a chance to win a fantastic prize!
Meet at the Info Desk in Kendall Hall.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Schedule 7:15am – 10:00 am Breakfast (Hot breakfast until 9:00 am) Abbey-Buckland, Ham-MacGregor, North Rockefeller, South Rockefeller (not accessible), Prospect, and Wilder Dining Halls
10:00 am-11:00 am Common Reading Discussion: Caucasia Penny Gill, Dean of the College will facilitate a discussion of Danzy Senna’s Caucasia. Come prepared to engage in a lively discussion with your fellow new students. Pearsons Hall Living Room
11:30 am – 1:15 pm Lunch Ham-MacGregor, North Rockefeller, South Rockefeller (not accessible), Prospect, and Wilder Dining Halls and Blanchard Café. (Blanchard Café is available as part of the meal plan 11:00 am-4:00 pm)
1:00 pm and 1:30 pm Getting to Know the Pioneer Valley (A) Want to know what’s beyond the Mount Holyoke gates and how to get there? Join us on a tour of the Pioneer Valley and learn the inner workings of the Five College bus system on this trip to Northampton. There will be time to grab some food, shop, and explore. Return to campus around 5:00 pm (or later if you wish). Please note that there are two possible trips: meet at 1:00 pm to catch the 1:20 pm bus or 1:30 pm to catch the 1:50 pm bus. Meet at the Blanchard Campus Center Bus Stop.
3:30-5:30 pm Please note: This event is being canceled due to impending weather Religious & Spiritual Life Welcome Event Meet the Chaplains and Advisors of Religious and Spiritual Life. Refreshments served. Eliot House Lounge
4:00–Midnight Dinner Prospect Hall, Ham-MacGregor Hall, North and South Rockefeller Hall (not accessible), Abbey/Buckland, and Wilder open 5:00-7:00pm; Blanchard Caf é open 4:00 pm - midnight
7:00 pm Mount Holyoke vs Smith Basketball Game (Basketball Game) Kendall Sports and Dance Complex – Gymnasium
7:00-8:00 pm
Honor Code Ceremony (A)
The honor code ceremony is a time for incoming students to become better acquainted with the honor code and how it will impact their lives at MHC. Members from the Council on Student Affairs (CSA), fellow students, and faculty will facilitate a discussion. Afterwards, new students will sign the honor code in the presence of upperclass women to symbolically mark their entry into the MHC community.
New York Room, Mary Woolley Hall
8:00-9:00 pm Student Org Sampler (A) Spring into Mount Holyoke Life! Stick around after the Honor Code Ceremony for a celebration of your entry into the Mount Holyoke community. Enjoy refreshments in a social atmosphere with other spring admits, along with your class board representatives and upperclasswomen from a variety of student organizations. This is a great opportunity to get connected to a broad range of student organizations. Chapin Auditorium, Mary Woolley Hall
8:00-9:30 pm Special M&C's Need a study break? Come join fellow first years and take part in one of the best Mount Holyoke traditions: M&C's! Meet new people and enjoy MHC’s famous Chef Jeff cookies! Blanchard Campus Center Lounge, Rm 227
Friday, January 30 7:30 - 9:30 pm Ice-Capella Jam! Annual songfest hosted by the volunteers of CAUSE and presenting MHC's wildly popular and talented A Capella troupes. Chapin Auditorium, Mary Woolley Hall
10:00 pm-2:00 am conSensual Dance Party The super cool campus Sexual Health Educators - "In*Touch" - host their second dance party of the year. Their September "Safe is Sexy" party was a blast. Great Room, Blanchard Campus Center
10:00 am Seven Sisters Squash Championship (Squash Tournament) Kendall Sports and Dance Complex – Squash Courts
10:00 pm-2:00 am Dressage Team Party Open to all. Admission fee will be charged. TBD. Great Room, Blanchard Campus Center
Sunday, February 1 1:30 pm Protestant Worship Service Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary
6:30 pm Catholic Mass Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary
7:00pm–10:00pm Small Group Event: Intersections: Identity and Community (A) A program of music, theatre, and film designed to inspire insights and questions about identity and multiculturalism. Following the performance, small groups will explore candidly the rewards and challenges of membership in Mount Holyoke’s multicultural community. Chapin Auditorium, Mary Woolley Hall
4:30 pm Climate Justice: Race, Gender and Environmental Action Two environmental justice leaders, Aileen Suzara '06 and Tracy Zhu '08, present a lecture that brings social and environmental issues together, and they discuss how this analysis is put into practice in non-profit environmental organizations that work with local communities (and transnational communities) in the US and internationally. The Climate Justice perspective is one that is often missing in discussions about mitigation and adaptation in the face of climate change. This is an important perspective to kep at the forefront as we move forward in our actions to respond to global climate change. Cleveland L-1
7:30-9:00 pm Student Government Association (SGA) Senate Meeting First Weekly SGA Meeting of the Spring Semester. All are welcome! Cleveland L-2
Wednesday, February 4 12:00 noon – 1pm Interfaith Lunch Join us for a free Vegan lunch, thoughtful reflection, and wonderful community. All are welcome. Eliot House Lounge
4:30-5:30pm Mindfulness, Meditation, Connecting with Heart, Mind and Body: Developing Peace and Self-Acceptance Mindfulness Meditation led by Buddhist Advisor, Rebecca Bradshaw Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary
5:00pm Multifaith Council Join a group of young women learning about and discussing different faith traditions. Trips will be taken to various religious sites. South Rocky Private Dining Hall
7:00 pm "The First 100 Days: Climate Change and the Dawning of a New Administration" The MHC Center for the Environment will present a community viewing of the National Teach-In on Global Warming Solutions webcast, entitled, "The First 100 Days," which features David Orr, Hunter Lovins, Betsy Taylor, Ray Anderson, Dianne Dillon-Ridgely, Jessy Tolkan, Billy Parish and Wahleah Johns talking about the science and policy of climate change and possible responses by the Obama Administration in its first hundred days. This 30-minute webcast will focus on the recommendations from The Presidential Climate Action Project. Following the screening there will be a community dialogue led by local/regional political leaders, city planners, and/or activists who will share how their efforts are linked to increased political action, the state of the economy, aspirations under the new administration, and community participation to fight global warming and increase sustainability. Gamble Auditorium, Art Building
8:00-10:00 pm Sway: Three Student-Written Plays Project Theater presents a night of 3 plays - written, directed, acted and produced by MHC students. Great Room, Blanchard Campus Center Thursday, February 5 5:00 pm Puja and Dinner, SHRI, Sisters of Hinduism Reaching Inwards Worship and dinner at 6:00 pm. All are welcome. Eliot House Hindu Prayer Room, Elliot House Lounge
7:30 pm Danzy Senna, Author of Caucasia Danzy Senna, author of this year’s Common Reading, will read from and give a talk on Caucasia. All students are welcome. Gamble Auditorium, Art Museum
8:00-10:00 pm Sway: Three Student-Written Plays Project Theater presents a night of 3 plays - written, directed, acted and produced by MHC students. Great Room, Blanchard Campus Center
6:00 pm Community Shabbat Dinner Join the Jewish Community for Shabbat Dinner and Service. Eliot House Lounge
6:00-10:00 pm China Night MHC's popular Chinese Cultural Association hosts a dinner and stage show celebrating and educating Chinese and Chinese America classical and contemporary culture. Watch for information about tickets to this spectacular annual tradition. After Party follows in the Campus Center. Chapin Auditorium, Mary Woolley Hall
Saturday, February 7
1:00 pm Mount Holyoke vs Smith Swim/Dive Meet (Swim/dive meet) Kendall Sports and Dance Complex – Pool
2:00 pm Mount Holyoke vs Wellesley Basketball Game (Basketball game) Kendall Sports and Dance Complex – Gymnasium
9:30 pm-2:00 am Sophomore Semi Formal Class of 2011 is planning to host a stylin' night of dance. Watch for more details. Great Room, Blanchard Campus Center
Sunday, February 8 1:30 pm Protestant Worship Service Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary
6:30 pm Catholic Mass Abbey Interfaith Sanctuary
9:00 pm Zazen Meditation Wa-Shin-An Elliot House First Floor
Tuesday, February 10 7:30-10:00 pm CAUSE Fair Explore ways to donate your time and energy to improving our community. Meet local community service organizations and the project coordinator of MHC's CAUSE: Creating Awareness & Unity for Social Equality. Great Room, Blanchard Campus Center
Friday, February 27, 2009 1:00-2:30pm Social Security Session All new international students who plan to work on campus must apply for a Social Security Card. Staff from the Holyoke Social Security Office will be on campus to process applications. Bring your passport, original travel documents (I-94, I-20 or DS-2019) and a letter from your on-campus employer. See the Global Initiatives web site for further information (http://www.mtholyoke.edu/global/11428.shtml)318 Blanchard
