Dean of Freshmen

New students move into their respective rooms where they will be greeted by House Team members and other student leaders. You will pick up your room key and Check-in material in your house.

New students move into their respective rooms where they will be greeted by House Team members and other student leaders. You will pick up your room key and Check-in material in your house.After moving into your room you will need to head to the Villard room to receive your V-CARD, post office key, and late "Vassar Adventures for New Students" assignment.  Representatives from Student Accounts and Financial Aid, Health Services, Security, Career Development, Student Employment offices, Religious and Spiritual life, CIS, the Computer Store, Card Office and Campus Life/First Year Programs, among others, will be available to distribute vital information and answer questions in the Villard Room. 

Christopher Roellke, Dean of the College, Benjamin Lotto, Acting Dean of Freshmen and DB Brown, Dean of Students, will give parents and families an overview of what is to come during Orientation and answer questions.

This time is set-aside for new students to meet with their Student  Fellow groups. Student Fellows act as peer advisors to help new  students in their adjustment to college life. The meetings will take  place in your residential house. Your Student Fellow will contact  you regarding exact location.

President Catharine Hill will address the families of new students. Also welcoming new families and friends will be Benjamin Lotto, Acting Dean of Freshmen and Christopher Roellke, Dean of the College; Jonathan Chenette, Dean of the Faculty; DB Brown, Dean of Students; Jeffrey Walker, this Year’s Convocation Speaker; and Caitlin Ly, Vassar Student Association President.

Students will be welcomed by Catharine Hill, President; Jonathan Chenette, Dean of the Faculty; Christopher Roellke, Dean of the College; Benjamin Lotto, Acting Dean of Freshmen; DB Brown, Dean of Students; Edward Pittman, Associate Dean of the College; Jeffrey Walker, this year’s Convocation Speaker; and Caitlin Ly, the Vassar Student Association President.

This meeting will take place in your House. Please see your Student Fellow for more information. All new students will meet the house leadership, which includes the Student Advisor, House President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, House Fellow Intern, House Fellows, and House Advisor. Important information about house policies and procedures will be discussed. Any questions about the house can be answered during this time.

In your Orientation packet you will find a letter from the Dean of Freshmen telling you who your pre-major advisor is, where to find him or her, and when your meeting with him or her is scheduled. In this meeting your advisor will discuss some important aspects of academic life at Vassar, including the transition from high school to college; expectations for class attendance, laboratories, and the submission of written work; examination policies; and academic integrity. You will also learn when and how to contact your professors, and where to go for help when you need it. Your advisor will then give you your preliminary fall schedule (the results of your summer pre-registration) and answer any questions you may have about the registration process.

Join the Library and CIS (Computing and Information Services) for a look at the technology and library resources available to you at Vassar College. There will be tours of the library, an introduction to VPrint, the campus print management system, and a chance to win a grand prize. These tours will be conducted at 15-minute intervals; please consult the schedule below for the time assigned to your residence house. Library and Computing staff will be on hand to answer any questions you might have.

Library & Computing Info Tour Schedule:

• 7:00 pm Main
• 7:15 pm Raymond
• 7:30 pm Davison
• 7:45 pm Strong and T/V/E Students
• 8:00 pm Noyes
• 8:15 pm Cushing
• 8:30 pm Lathrop
• 8:45 pm Jewett
• 9:00 pm Joss

Vassar students know other Vassar students best. That is why in this program you will be engaging in an open dialogue with wellness peer educators and other student leaders about the potential im- pact of alcohol and other drugs on your experience at Vassar. Students will have the opportunity to test their knowledge about the type and extent of use on campus. The goal of this program is not to tell you what to do, but to allow for an exchange of accurate information to help guide your decision making.

All foreign language departments will be available to students for placement advising in Chicago Hall except Chinese and Japanese, which will be in SC 320/322 and SC 321/324, respectively.  

Academic Departments and Programs Office Locations for Departmental Advanced Placement Advising

Representatives from all academic departments and programs will be available for individual consultations. If you are not sure which math or language course is right for you, or if you received a 4 or a 5 on an AP exam (or equivalent IB or A-level examination) and want to take an intermediate-level course, or if you are interested in a special permission (SP) course, such as music lessons, this is the time to get the information and/or permissions you need. You must have taken a college-level introductory psychology course to place out of Introductory Psychology. Be sure to bring your registration form with you.

List of department and program office locations for departmental advising

Specific information meetings are listed in this orientation schedule.

Representatives from the science and math departments will give an overview of the sciences at Vassar.  They will discuss curricular offerings and answer questions about their programs.  Math advising will also take place in the Math Department lounge, Rockefeller 305.

Art Department faculty will describe the content of this course and explain how to register.  All students currently pre-registered for Art 105, or wishing to enroll, or just curious about Art 105-106, are invited to attend.

Be sure that the appointment you make does not conflict with the time you are scheduled for registration.

Now that you’ve had a chance to reflect on your choice of courses and to obtain information and advice on placement, you will meet again with your advisor to discuss your schedule in detail and make any desired changes (add or drop courses, change sections, etc.). This is the time to add any intermediate or advanced courses that were not included in the summer pre-registration, except for special permission courses that require the instructor’s signature (these can be added during the first two weeks of classes). Since you may not be able to register for some of the classes you have chosen, you should also discuss some alternative selections with your advisor and put them down on your form. At the end of your meeting, your advisor will sign your registration form, signifying that you have consulted with him or her.

NOTE:  Do not leave your advisor’s office before he or she signs your form! You cannot register for classes on Friday without a completed and signed form.

Explore your new neighborhood in your student fellow groups. There are lots of coffee shops, delis, restaurants, and stores you need to know about, including some brand new businesses that just opened up. Get your first taste of the Arlington Farmer's Market, held 3-7pm on Thursdays through October on the Alumnae Lawn. Find out who accepts Vcash. There are prizes! Check with your student fellow for details.

"Can I Kiss You?" is a hilarious look at college dating, hooking up, and how we talk. This program is an interactive and entertaining program that teaches you how to ask for what you want sexually or intimately--without having to play any of the games.

First Session at 7:30 pm:

• Main
• Strong
• Raymond
• Noyes
• Cushing

Second Session at 9:00 pm:

• Lathrop
• Jewett
• Josselyn
• Davison

All entering students must come to College Center 240 (above the Retreat) to finalize their schedules for the fall semester with a representative from the Office of the Registrar. Students register at specific times based on the number of units for which they were pre-registered (those with no units go first, then those with .5 units, 1 unit, etc.) and on a random draw number, which is printed on your schedule form. Consult the Registrar’s letter in your orientation packet to determine what time you should arrive. Don’t forget to bring your pre-registration form, signed by your advisor, with you! On the way out, be sure to sign the Matriculation Book! Signing this book signifies that you are an official candidate for a degree at Vassar College.

IMPORTANT: If you do not come to College Center 240 on Friday afternoon, your registration will be cancelled and you will lose your place in the courses for which you were pre-registered.

All new students are invited to visit Baldwin Health Services, the home of our on-campus medical clinic and women’s health service, and Metcal House, the home of the Health Education Office, Disability and Support Services, and the Counseling Service. Take this opportunity to ask questions, receive informational brochures, and meet staff from each office. Additionally, each office will have giveaways that promote peace of mind and wellness. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the resources that will help you to thrive Vassar!

All new students are invited to visit Baldwin Health Services, the home of our on-campus medical clinic and women’s health service, and Metcal House, the home of the Health Education Office, Disability and Support Services, and the Counseling Service. Take this opportunity to ask questions, receive informational brochures, and meet staff from each office. Additionally, each office will have giveaways that promote peace of mind and wellness. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the resources that will help you to thrive Vassar!

Open House Schedule

• 12:00 noon  Noyes & Cushing
• 12:30 pm  Strong, Raymond and, T/V/E Students
• 1:00 pm Lathrop
• 1:30 pm Joss
• 2:00 pm Jewett
• 2:30 pm Main
• 3:00 pm Davison

* Students who are unable to make it at their designated time should come by the Open House when they have completed their meeting with advisors

Sponsored by Vassar Jewish Union

Enough sitting around! Here is a chance to get up, get moving, show dorm spirit and get involved in a variety of activities, including volleyball, basketball, swimming, aerobics, and soccer. Dorms will compete in “Brewer Games” for recognition, bragging rights, and prizes. Coaches, faculty, student athletes, and wellness peer educators will be participating and helping out.

All Freshmen are welcome to come down to the Shiva Theater in order to get to know the space, meet other student theater enthusiasts, and help paint the floor!

To make this semester’s Shiva Rave (a semiannual, Newsweek recognized, dance hosted by Vassar Tecknowlegey) better than ever, VT needs our help in transforming the black, bland Shiva floor into a crazy canvas of art and designs.  Besides for good food, good people, good music and good fun, this may be your only chance to paint the Shiva floor. Don’t miss it!

Sponsored by Vassar Catholic Community

The LGBTQ Center is the Campus Life Resource Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Communities and Social Justice Education. The Center hosts social and cultural programs, collaborates with faculty and student organizations, and provides leadership opportunities to enhance the campus life experiences of LGBTQ students. Visit our resource center for important information, to watch a film, pick up announcements, and much more! All are welcome here.

Sponsored by Episcopal Church at Vassar College

Sponsored by the Office of Religious & Spiritual Life

Take this exam if you want to complete the foreign language requirement by examination. If you want to take a foreign language course, but are not sure which one is appropriate for you, consult the department during the Departmental and Advanced Placement Advising session on Thursday, August 27.