Student Schedule

New Student Orientation is our way of introducing you to Hope’s traditions, experiences and current students — and the campus you’ll call home.

Students smiling at Orientation New Student Orientation will take place right after you move in, with events scheduled throughout the weekend to help make the initial transition to college as smooth as possible. The goal is to welcome you to Hope College and give you a group of people to be able to recognize as familiar faces within your first few weeks on campus. The weekend schedule includes a mixture of team meetings, time to socialize, academic introductions and some downtime to get settled into your new home!

In addition to the events planned through the regular orientation program, we have several opportunities designed specifically for transfer students. As a transfer student, we know you don't need a welcome to college — but you do need a welcome to Hope. New Student Orientation will provide that.

2025 STUDENT SCHEDULE

Subject to change. Watch for updates beginning in early July.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21 – Move-in Day!

Time	Event	Location
9 a.m.–3 p.m.	Residence Hall Check-In	Residence Halls
9 a.m.–3 p.m.	Apartment and Cottage Check-In	DeWitt 107 (Student Development Office)
9 a.m.–3 p.m.	Commuter Check-In	BSC - Orientation Station
9 a.m.–5 p.m.	ID Card Photo Session	Martha Miller 238/239
11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.	Lunch (New students & Families)	Phelps (Overflow Maas)
1–4:30 p.m.	Resource Room	Martha Miller Rotunda
4–5 p.m.	Phelps Scholars Participant Event	Schaap Auditorium
4–6:30 p.m.	Dinner	Phelps
5–6 p.m.	Transfer Student & Family Welcome Dinner	Maas Auditorium
6:15–7:15 p.m.	Residence Hall Meeting #1	Residence Halls
7:15 p.m.	OAs will start picking up all new students at their Res Halls. They will communicate by GroupMe! If you do not live in a Res Hall, plan to meet your OAs at the Orientation Station (OS) in the Bultman Student Center (BSC).
7:30–9 p.m.	O-Team Gathering #1	O-Team Location
9–10:30 p.m.	Orange and Blue For You: New Student Welcome	Jack Miller

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22

Time	Event	Location
7:30–9 a.m.	Breakfast	Phelps Dining Hall
9–10 a.m.	O-Team Gathering #2	O-Team Location
10:15–11 a.m.	New Student Seminars (choose one)
10:15–11:15 a.m.	Education	Martha Miller 135
10:15–11:15 a.m.	Pre-Law and Political Science	Lubbers Hall 120
10:15–11:15 a.m.	Health Professions	BSC Schaap Auditorium
10:15–11:15 a.m.	The Arts	De Pree Art Building (Cook Auditorium)
10:15–11:15 a.m.	Still Deciding on Your Major	Maas Auditorium
10:15–11:15 a.m.	Engineering	Vanderwerf 102
10:15–11:15 a.m.	Economics, Business, & Accounting	Graves Hall (Winants Auditorium)
10:15–11:15 a.m.	The Humanities	VanderWerf 104
10:15–11:15 a.m.	Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, & Communication)	Science Center 1019
10:15–11:15 a.m.	Nursing	Science Center 1000
10:15–11:15 a.m.	Natural Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, and Physics)	Science Center 1116
10:15–11:15 a.m.	Math, Statistics, Data Science, and Computer Science	Science Center 1118
11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.	Lunch	Phelps
11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.	Step2Success Dessert and MSO Meet & Greet	Keppel House
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.	Legacy Family Open House (by invitation)	Jack Miller
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.	First Gen Student & Family Gathering First Generation refers to students who are the first in their family to pursue a college degree.	BSC Schaap Auditorium
12–4 p.m.	First Year Seminar Academic Advising (Students Only)	Martha Miller
4–5 p.m.	Step2Success Student Experience Panel (optional for parents)	Graves Hall (Winants Auditorium)
5–6:30 p.m.	Picnic in the Pine Grove	Pine Grove (if rain: Phelps)
7:30–8:30 p.m.	Residence Hall Meeting #2	Residence Halls
8:30–10 p.m.	Playfair: The Ultimate Ice Breaker	VanAndel Soccer
10–11:30 p.m.	Summer Soiree!	BSC Patio

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23

Time	Event	Location
7:30–9 a.m.	Breakfast	Phelps
10–11 a.m.	Worship Service	Dimnent Chapel
11 a.m.–12 p.m.	Campus Ministries Open House	van Andel Huys der Hope
11 a.m.–1 p.m.	Lunch	Phelps
1–2 p.m.	Family Goodbyes
2–4 p.m.	O-Team Gathering #3	O-Team Location
3:30–4:30 p.m.	Transfer Students Explore Downtown	Meet at the BSC - Orientation Station
5–7 p.m.	Dinner (meal plan starts)	Phelps
7–9 p.m.	Choose Your Own Adventure (choose one)
7–9 p.m.	Yard Games	Pine Grove
7–9 p.m.	Movie	BSC Schaap Auditorium
7–9 p.m.	Movie & Craft	BSC Great Room
7–9 p.m.	Tie Dye	Frost Amphitheater (between BSC & DeWitt)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24

Time	Event	Location
10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.	Brunch	Phelps
1–2 p.m.	O-Team Gathering #4	O-Team Location
2–3 p.m.	Opening Convocation	Jack Miller
3–4:30 p.m.	Involvement Fair	Pine Grove
5–7 p.m.	Dinner	Phelps

MONDAY, AUGUST 25

Time	Event	Location
7:30–9:30 a.m.	Breakfast	Phelps
8 a.m.	Classes Begin

Schedules are subject to change. A final schedule will be provided on your arrival in August.

A $130 one-time standard fee is charged to all incoming students for Orientation. It covers all the events of Orientation, making it possible for all students and families to participate in as much as they choose.