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Orientation Schedule

Orientation First Meeting of the Class of 2019

While Orientation is typically packed into a few days, this year we will have the opportunity to spread it out over a longer period of time, beginning  before move-in. We have been working hard to develop events and sessions that will help you obtain the resources you need to navigate life at Swarthmore, and are truly looking forward to welcoming you to this special place!

Most Orientation materials will be delivered virtually and asynchronously. In other words, you will receive materials (e.g. video or written information) to review on your own before classes start. We will email you when we add new sections to the New Student Orientation Moodle Course, so please be on the lookout for this communication, and begin to familiarize yourself with the Moodle Course when you can, as that will be the place where we will share links for any group online info sessions.

Late July: Online placement exam info sent via email

July 28: Announcement of amended Fall 2020 and January 2021 Course Schedules. Fall 2020 will indicate remote or hybrid. The January 2021 term (J-term) is all remote. Some new courses may be added.

August 10: Deadline to complete online placement exams.

Mid-August: Academic advisor assignment notification via mySwarthmore

August 17-18: placement interviews (conducted via Zoom and phone) with the Spanish Department and Modern Languages and Literatures Department.

August 17-21: online International Student Orientation

August 19-21: online Summer Social Justice Institute

August 21: online AlcoholEdu and Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduate Students courses by Everfi will be shared with you to complete before arrival. An email explaining each course and how to log in will be sent this week. Each course takes approximately 1-2 hours to complete.

August 21 at 10-11 am EST and 7-8 pm EDT: online info session for prospective Engineering majors with Prof. Matt Zucker (Engineering Department Chair)

August 24-28: New student advising and registration (conducted remotely):

  • Monday, August 24 (time and structure to be determined): Virtual Advising Fair, including asynchronous component 
  • Monday, August 24, and Tuesday, August 25: New Student Advising (new students meet individually and virtually with academic advisors)
  • Monday, August 24 from 4-6 pm EDT and Tuesday, August 25 from 2-4 pm EDT: Student Academic Mentor drop-in hours in Zoom (links in the New Student Orientation Moodle course)
  • Wednesday, August 26, 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. EDT: Registration for Fall and J-term via mySwarthmore
  • Thursday, August 27: Course lotteries
  • Friday, August 28: Add/Drop begins for new students using Add/Drop form in mySwarthmore

August 25, 2-3 pm EDT (online):  Recepción para Estudiantes, Familias y Amigos LatinX / Reception for LatinX Students, Families and Friends

Friday, August 28th: additional Orientation content block will be released in the New Students Orientation Moodle Course.

Tuesday, September 1, 9 am - 4 pm: registered move-in appointments

Wednesday, September 2, 9 am - 4 pm: registered move-in appointments

Thursday, September 3rd, 8pm: Virtual First Community Gathering. This session will be recorded and available for students to view later.

September 3-5: online Orientation content blocks released daily in the New Students Orientation Moodle Course.

Saturday, September 5th, 7:30pm: Virtual First Collection. Zoom links will be shared by email.