Dean of Freshmen

Residential Houses
New students move into their respective rooms where they will be greeted by House Team members and other student leaders. In your house, you will pick up your room key and Check-In card to bring with you to the Villard Room.

Villard Room (Main Building, 2nd Floor)
After moving into your room, you will need to head to the Villard Room to receive your V-Card and post office key.  Representatives from Safety and Security, Career Development, Student Employment, Religious and Spiritual Life, CIS, the Computer Store, Card Office and Campus Life/Vassar First Year, among others, will be available to distribute vital information and answer questions in the Villard Room.

Main C120
If you received a Red "Check-In Card” you will need to meet with a Representative from the Office of Student Accounts, Financial Aid, or Health Services. Once you have cleared your hold, you will be allowed to enter Check-In at the Villard Room.

(See page 23 for Food Service locations)

Students’ Building (2nd floor, ACDC)
Christopher Roellke, Dean of the College, Jonathan Chenette, Dean of the Faculty, Benjamin Lotto, 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.

Residential House
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.

Chapel
President Catharine Hill will address the families of new students. Also welcoming new families and friends will be Benjamin Lotto, Dean of Freshmen; Christopher Roellke, Dean of the College; Jonathan Chenette, Dean of the Faculty; DB Brown, Dean of Students; John Long, Professor of Biology and this year’s Convocation speaker; and Jason Rubin, Vassar Student Association President.

Residential Houses

Noyes Circle

Chapel
Class of 2016 and transfer students will be welcomed by Catharine Hill, President; Jonathan Chenette, Dean of the Faculty; Christopher Roellke, Dean of the College; Benjamin Lotto, Dean of Freshmen; DB Brown, Dean of Students; Edward Pittman, Associate Dean of the College; John Long, Professor of Biology and this year’s Convocation speaker; and Jason Rubin, 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.

Sanders 212
Interested in Intercollegiate Athletics and you were not recruited by one of the coaches?  Come to this meeting and speak with coaches or student-athletes from the teams (Please see the Athletics website for a list of varsity programs).  You'll have an opportunity to make an appointment for the on campus physical needed in order to try-out. 

Please be sure that your appointment does not conflict with the faculty presentation or any important meetings and/or sessions you need to attend.

Residence Halls
Come meet your House Fellows and the in house staff from Buildings and Grounds.

Advisors’ Offices
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.

If you need help finding your advisor’s office, ask your Student Fellow for directions or stop by the Dean of Freshmen Office (Main North, Room 128).

 (See page 24 for food service locations)

College Center 237, Main Building, 2nd floor
Joanne Long, Dean of Studies, will chair this meeting to introduce the Transfer, Visiting, and Exchange students to the class advisors and administrators of the various offices and services that comprise the Dean of Studies Offices. Issues briefly discussed will include college regulations, degree requirements and support services. T/V/E students should bring their Orientation folder with them to this meeting and to the advising meeting on Friday afternoon.

Baldwin House
For those who attended the information meeting earlier, you have been assigned a time to report to Baldwin House to complete your physical examination.  Please be prompt! If you do not have an appointment, please contact Jeff Carter, Head Athletic Trainer at (845)437-7843 or jecarter@vassar.edu. 

Various Locations
Wondering what your professors will be like? Curious about a subject you’ve never studied before? This is your chance to find out. Thirty-six members of Vassar’s faculty will give informal talks about their current research. There will be three 45-minute sessions beginning at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30, with many fascinating presentations to choose from in each. A complete program can be found at the back of this schedule.
Faculty Research Presentations Program

Come learn more about a department of particular interest to you in an informal setting.  Meet the professors and enjoy refreshments and conversation. The locations are listed below:
Academic Reception Locations

(See page 24 for food service locations)

Chapel
This event is an introduction to the Vassar College experience.  As Vassar students you are joining a series of communities - Poughkeepsie, the College, the class of 2016, your dorm, your hall, and those of particular identities and expression.  As a member of the College community you will be frequently challenged, surprised, and encouraged to learn about yourself and others, all while creating a lasting legacy around you.  "I AM VASSAR" will highlight how, as a member of these various communities, you will find yourself taking responsibility for your neighbor and neighborhood.

Sanders Classroom Auditorium
Professor Adelaide Villmoare will give an overview of the suggested curriculum relevant to a career in law.  Pre-law advisor Stacy Bingham, available for appointments at the Career Development Office, will provide information regarding Vassar resources for experimental opportunities, a timeline to consider for application and outcomes from the 2012-13 application cycle.  After this meeting students can begin revising their fall course selections in preparation for their advisor meetings.

Rose Parlor (Main Building, 2nd floor)
Sponsored by the Vassar Christian Fellowship

Department and Program Offices
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.  Be sure to bring your registration form with you.  Click here for a list of department and program office locations for departmental advising.

Additional advising meetings for specific topics of interest are listed as follows.

Skinner Hall, Room 105
Kathryn Libin will meet with students interested in taking Harmony (Music 105/106), and will schedule advanced course placement tests for qualified students who wish to place out of Music 105 (Harmony).

Chicago Hall
All foreign language departments will be available to students for placement advising in Chicago Hall except Chinese and Japanese, which will be in Sanders Classroom 322 and Sanders Classroom 321 respectively, and Greek and Roman (for Greek and Latin), which will be in Sanders Classroom 118.  See listings at the back of this schedule.
Academic Departments and Programs Office Locations for Departmental Advanced Course Placement Advising

Sanders Classroom Auditorium
Members of the Pre-Med Advisory Committee will give an overview of the requirements for preparation to apply to medical and other schools in the health professions. After this meeting students can begin revising their fall course selections in preparation for their advisor meetings.

Science Quad Lawn (Rain location: Sanders Physics Library)
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.

Sanders Auditorium
Patricia Wallace and Susan Zlotnick, the department co-chairs, will explain policies and procedures for advanced course placement in English, in addition to providing a general introduction to the Department of English. Students wishing to take a 200-level English course in their first year should attend this meeting.  Students with questions about the department or the major are encouraged to attend as well.

Taylor Hall, Room 203
Art Department faculty will describe the content of this course and explain how to register. All students currently pre-registered for Art 105, wishing to enroll, or just curious about Art 105-106, are invited to attend.

Maria Mitchell Observatory, Room 212
Christopher Bjork will give a short presentation about the requirements for education certification and answer any questions about the process.

(See page 24 for food service locations)

Advisors’ Offices
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.

Advising takes place in the Dean of Studies Office (Main North 128) and
the Study Abroad Office (Main North 172)
The Office of the Dean of Studies will coordinate the advising and registration process for all Transfer, Visiting, and Exchange students. Please consult your Student Fellow for more information about this meeting.

3:15 pm Students' Building (1st floor West Wing):
Josselyn, Davison, Jewett, Lathrop

4:15 pm Students’ Building (2nd Floor):
Main, Strong, Raymond, Noyes and Cushing

Members of Safety and Security, Environmental Health and Safety, Residential Life, Arlington Fire District and Town Police will discuss life safety on campus, personal safety, blue phones, and emergency notification in the event of a campus wide emergency.

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 3-7 pm on Thursdays, June through October. Find out which Arlington merchants accept VCash. Win some great prizes too! Check with your Student Fellow for details.

College Center Multi-purpose Room, Main Building, 2nd floor

Chapel
Sponsored by the Buddhist Sangha

College Center 240
All entering students must come to College Center 240 (Main Building, 2nd Floor) 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.  The time for your registration is printed on your schedule form located in your packet.  Don’t forget to bring your 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, your registration will be canceled and you will lose your place in the courses for which you were pre-registered.

Sanders Classroom Auditorium
9:00am – 9:45am (Last names A-L)
10:00am – 10:45 am (Last names M-Z)
Renee Behnke, Manager of Student Accounts, will provide general information about the Office of Student Accounts, which includes the new e-bill/e-payment and e-refund system. Jessica Bernier, Director of Financial Aid, will discuss the Financial Aid process, provide general information about the Financial Aid Office, the Direct Loan Program and answer questions.

NOTE: If your scheduled time for registering for classes conflicts with your Financial Aid/Student Accounts Information Session, you may attend the other session.

Meet in front of Main Building for a ride to Friday prayers at a local mosque (both Muslim and non-Muslim students are welcome)
Sponsored by the Vassar Islamic Society
(Please email vis@vassar.edu if you plan to go)

Main Library
Come for an informal introduction to services offered by the Vassar College Libraries, as well as other student resources housed in the Main Library, such as the Learning, Teaching, and Resource Center (LTRC) and Computing and Information Services (CIS).  There will be demonstrations, optional tours, freebies, and even a few raffles!  Library staff will be on hand to answer questions for incoming freshmen and transfer students. 

Tour Schedule:

        3:00   Josselyn
        3:30   Strong
        3:45   Main
        4:15   Lathrop
        4:30   Raymond
        5:00   Noyes
        5:20   Cushing
        5:40   Jewett
        6:00   Davison

Prentiss Field and Kenyon Hall
Field Hockey vs. Hartwick College - 3:00pm Weinberg Turf Field
Volleyball vs. Lyndon College and Montclair State University - 3:00pm Kenyon Hall
Men's Soccer vs. SUNY New Paltz - 4:30pm Gordon Field

All Freshmen attending any of the Vassar Athletic games on Friday, August 31st will be given a free t-shirt with the submission of the ticket enclosed in your orientation information packet.  Come watch the Brewers as they open their fall seasons-be an avid supporter!

Martel Recital Hall, Skinner Hall of Music
(Sign up in advance on sheets posted outside Skinner Hall, Room 105)

LGBTQ Center (College Center 213)
The LGBTQ and Gender Resource Center is space for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, and Queer communities and for the exploration of questions related to sex and gender identity, and sexuality broadly.  The center serves the entire Vassar Community by: creating intellectual and social programming, collaborating with student organizations, advising in academic and personal affairs, promoting equality and cultural pluralism, and by affirming the fundamentally inclusive dimension of Vassar College.  Visit the center for more information on its programs and student engagement opportunities.

Jade Parlor
Sponsored by the Vassar Catholic Community

The Bayit, 51 Collegeview Avenue (behind ACDC)
Sponsored by the Vassar Jewish Union.

This is the day to get all your questions answered about what college life is like by your upper class peers, how to make the best choices for yourself, and how to intervene and where to go for help when a friend is in trouble.  Please see the schedule below to know when programs will be.  Student fellows will accompany you to the "Altered States" and "Sex, Dating, Relationships and Hookups" programs.  For the wellness activities you can choose to attend any that are listed in your wellness activities time.

Altered States

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.  You will gain information to help you make the best decisions about your academics and personal health.  During this program you will be engaging in an open dialogue with wellness peer educators and other student leaders about eh potential impact of alcohol and other drugs on your experience at Vassar.

Sex, Dating Relationships and Hookups

What is myth and what is true about sex, dating relationships and hookups in college?  This program will be an open dialogue with peer educators to help navigate some of these difficult questions, figure out what you want, and how to make the best decision for yourself.

Wellness Activities-Cushing, Davison, Josselyn, Lathrop, Noyes, Raymond:

Wellness Activities-Main, Strong, and Jewett:

Martel Recital Hall, Skinner Hall of Music 
(Sign up in advance on sheets posted outside Skinner Hall, Room 105)

ALANA Center (adjacent to the Powerhouse Theater)
The ALANA Center is the Campus Life Center for African American/Black, Latino/a, Asian/Asian American, Native American communities on campus. The Center supports and engages all students interested in exploring issues of cultural and racial identity. The Center hosts social and cultural programs, collaborates with faculty and student organizations, and provides leadership opportunities to enhance the campus life experiences of ALANA students. Visit the Center for more information on resources, leadership opportunities, and programs.

The Bayit, 51 Collegeview Avenue (behind ACDC)
Sponsored by Vassar Jewish Union

Walker Field House
Enough sitting around!  Here is a chance to get  up, get moving, show dorm spirit and get involved.  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.

Residential Quad (rain location: Student's Building, 2nd floor)
Come out and enjoy watching one of this summers hottest films with your new found friends.  The residential quad will be transformed into an oasis with wading pools, tiki torches, food and a campfire!  Please bring a comfy blanket to sit on, and a towel just in case you get wet.

Martel Recital Hall, Skinner Hall of Music 
(Sign up in advance on sheets posted outside Skinner Hall, Room 105)

Chapel Lawn with music by the Chris Connor Underground
Interested in mindfulness and practices of mediation?  Want to get involved in inter-religious discussion?  Wondering how to find (or start) a group for your spiritual community?  Come learn about the many other campus and community programs of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, including the ten different student groups that relate to the RSL office.  Refreshments provided.  All are welcome.
Sponsored by the Office of Religious & Spiritual Life.

Residential Houses
House teams will put a series of activities ranging from but not limited to board games, movies and Serenading prep. This is a great opportunity to meet people from other fellow groups, bond with upper classmen arriving on campus and get to know your house team better. Snacks will be provided! House teams will provide details about what activities will occur in your house.

Martel Recital Hall, Skinner Hall of Music

Vassar Chapel
Sponsored by the Vassar Catholic Community

Vassar Chapel
Sponsored by Episcopal Church at Vassar College

Students' Building (2nd floor)
Taking us on an interactive tour of some of Vassar's key landmarks, this event will showcase the transformative moments that took place in these spaces to shape Vassar's present.  Who is Vassar? communicates the following themes:
1) You deserve to see yourself in Vassar's history.
2) You have the power to do transformative things and shape Vassar's future.

Skinner Hall of Music, Room 400 (Thekla Hall)
(Sign up in advance on sheets posted outside Skinner Hall of Music, Room 105)
Students are encouraged to prepare one classical vocal piece in any language and it should be memorized.  Please bring a copy of the music with piano accompaniment as an accompanist will be provided.  Students who do not have a classical piece prepared may also present selections from musical theatre or other music genres.

Noyes Circle

Skinner Hall of Music, Martel Recital Hall
Presented by members of the music department faculty.

Library Lawn
Sponsored by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, a part of the Campus Life Office

Take the appropriate exam if you want to satisfy 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 Course Placement Advising session on Thursday, August 30.

Skinner Hall of Music, Room 400 (Thekla Hall)
(Sign up in advance on sheets posted outside Skinner Hall of Music, Room 105)

Skinner Hall of Music, Room 325
(Sign up in advance on sheets posted outside Skinner Hall of Music, room 105)

Skinner Hall of Music, Recital Hall
(Please prepare a short solo piece or etude for the auditions held on September 6 and 7)

Skinner Hall of Music, Recital Hall
(Audition music will be distributed at this meeting)

Kenyon Hall, Studio 3
For anyone interested in finding out more about the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre.

Skinner Hall of Music, Room 421

Kenyon Hall, Studio 1
Open to all Vassar students with strong ballet technique who will be auditioning for VRDT on the following day Saturday, September 8th.

Dress: Women should wear leotards, tights and ballet slippers - bring pointe shoes (ladies have at least 3 years of pointe training).  Men should wear leotards and tights if they have them; otherwise shorts and a t-shirt are fine.  Men must wear ballet slippers.

Audition will consist of Intermediate Ballet class from 1:30-3pm followed by ballet phrases taught by the ballet faculty and guest choreographer.  It may also include partnering.

All auditionees must attend the VRDT audition on September 8th.

Skinner Hall of Music, Room 421

Villard Room
The International Host program pairs individual members of the faculty, administration and staff with new international students and language fellows. International students will receive a special invitation to this dinner in their orientation packets.

Taylor Hall, Room 102 and The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center Atrium
Artist Eirik Johnson lectures on Wanderings Along the Makeshift Landscape, followed by a reception for Sawdust Mountain, an exhibition of his photographs focusing on the relationship between the salmon and timber industries of the Pacific Northwest and the communities that they support.  Exhibition on view at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center through December 9, 2012.

Residential Quad (rain location: College Center, North Atrium)
Get involved!!!  Come out and learn about all the different student organizations that Vassar has to offer.  Whether you are interested in finding your dream role in a student theater production, to singing your heart out, or making people laugh or just plain raising your voice to make a difference you are bound to find it here.  Representatives from organizations will be present with information on what they do and how to get involved.  Make sure that you stop by and learn all about the exciting opportunities!

Kenyon Hall, Studio I
Women 12:00-2:00pm; Men 2:30-4:00pm

Who: Open to all Vassar students
Dress: Women should wear leotards and tights and bring jazz shoes, if they have them; however, barefoot is fine.  Men should wear leotards and tights if they have them; otherwise shorts and a t-shirt are fine.  Bring jazz shoes, if you have them.
Content and info:  There will be a 30-minute modern warm-up followed by three separate sections with movement phrases taught by dance faculty.  One of the three sections will be jazz. If you have any questions, visit the Dance Office in Kenyon Hall, call (845) 437-7470 during business hours, or write to the Director of VRDT, John Meehan, at: jomeehan@vassar.edu

Chapel
Fall Convocation is the official culmination of the New Student Orientation Program and the official beginning of the academic year. This year's speaker is John Long, Professor of Biology.

Main Circle