New Student Orientation

What to Expect

On your orientation day, check-in begins at 9:00am in the Sciences & Engineering Center.  The Welcome Assembly begins at 9:45am in Asplundh Concert Hall for students, families, and guests. 

Students: After the Welcome Assembly, you’ll be teamed up with a current student orientation leader (OL). Your OL will guide you through the day with a small group of first year students. This is a great way to make connections with other new Rams.

While in your orientation group, you will meet a representative from your academic department to review class schedule and requirements for your major, enjoy lunch in the dining hall, explore your future campus, and learn about support services and resources to help you be successful.

Family & Guests: After the Welcome Assembly, you'll follow a schedule designed just for you.  You'll meet with campus departments and resources including learning about campus safety, housing on and off campus, health and wellness, plus ask questions to a panel of current students.

Students and their Family/Guests will meet back up before the end of the day.  The Ram Fair (tabling of various campus departments) is Sykes Student Union building concludes by 3:30pm. 

Family & Guests

Family members and guests are welcome to attend orientation (up to four guests per student).  Guest pre-registration is required for all guests.  

Students must register for their family and/or guests in their Admissions Portal.  There is a $30 registration fee for each guest 12+ years old. Guests under 12 years old can attend at no cost. There is no charge for accepted students. Please be advised that New Student Programs has a no-refund policy in place for the family and guest orientation registration fee. 

Families and guests who registered for orientation will also eat lunch in the Commons Dining Hall, though at a different time than the students.

Families and guests will begin the day with their student, then follow a separate schedule until reuniting at the end of the day.

Parking

Complimentary parking will be available in select on-campus parking garages during orientation days in the following:

Commons Parking Garage
124 North Campus Drive
West Chester, PA 19383

Sharpless Parking Garage
25 Sharpless St
West Chester, PA 19382

Regional Rail and Bus Transit

Learn more about regional rail and bus transit to and from West Chester University.

Mass Transit Information

Lunch

During orientation, lunch will be provided to students and guests in the Commons Dining Hall. Lunch is served buffet style with various food stations, an expansive salad bar, gluten-free options, and specialized food options which are prepared without the most common food allergies.

Accommodation Needs

New Student Programs is committed to making orientation accessible to all new Golden Rams and their guests. Please specify your needs on your orientation registration form, or reach out to us at orientation@wcupa.edu or (610) 436-3305 to discuss:

• Accessibility Needs
  We will do our best to accommodate all accessibility needs. The sooner we know about your needed accommodation, the more time we have to prepare. While we will make every effort to meet your needs, we may be unable to assist with accommodation requests received fewer than two weeks before your scheduled orientation and will communicate any progress with you.
• Spanish Language Interpretation
  New Student Programs offers interpretation services to our Spanish-speaking students and guests. Please let us know on your registration form or email us at orientation@wcupa.edu if you or your guest would like to utilize this service, and one of our interpreters will reach out to discuss your needs.
• Low Sensory Spaces
  We recognize that some of the large sessions at orientation may cause sensory concerns for some individuals. Alternative low-sensory spaces will be available to make those sessions accessible to new Rams and their guests. Please see any member of the orientation staff and they can direct you to this space. A low-sensory space is also available during lunch as an alternative to The Commons Dining Hall. Tour the Commons Dining Hall in this video.
• Financial Hardship
  If the guest registration fee poses a financial hardship for your family member or guest, please email us at orientation@wcupa.edu to discuss your options.

Resource Pantry Donations

The West Chester University Resource Pantry supports student success by minimizing food and basic need insecurity and preparing students for life after graduation.

As a new Golden Ram, you can help support the Resource Pantry's mission by bringing a donation with you to orientation! The most-needed items for the Resource Pantry include:

You can also check out the Resource Pantry's Amazon Wish List for more ideas!