Spring Welcome Week

Spring Welcome Week takes place directly ahead of the first day of spring classes in January and is required for all incoming students beginning their studies in the spring semester.

Register for Spring Welcome Week

Registration for Spring Welcome Week is required for all incoming students beginning their studies in January by Sunday, December 21.

Complete registration form

Arriving to campus from a location outside of the U.S.?

You can purchase a dorm (linen) pack to use for your first few nights in Rochester or until you able to purchase linens locally. Indicate your interest in purchasing a dorm pack on the Welcome Week Registration Form. The dorm pack includes the following items in neutral colors:

  • One pillow
  • One blanket
  • One twin XL sheet set (includes one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, and one pillowcase)
  • One laundry bag
  • One bath towel

Arrival and move-in instructions

Review step-by-step instructions for arriving on campus and moving into your residence hall on Spring Arrival Day.

View instructions

Spring 2026 Welcome Week

Dates and schedule

Spring 2026 Welcome Week will take place from Thursday, January 15 through Saturday, January 17, 2026. Expand the items in the schedule below to view full event details. Please note: all events marked with an asterisk (*) are required for all or specific groups of students. Expand the items below to view for which groups of students each event is required.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

On arrival day, you'll move into your assigned on-campus housing (if you're living on campus), check in with the orientation team, and get settled.

Commuter students: If you plan to attend the arrival day social and game night, please plan to arrive to check-in no earlier than 8 p.m. so you can consolidate your trips to campus. If you are not attending the Thursday evening event, please feel free to attend Welcome Week check-in on Friday morning instead.

12-8 p.m. Residential Life check-in and move-in*

Required for: residential students
Location: Your residential area office

Head directly to your residential area office to complete your Residential Life check-in. This is where you will pick up your room key (and your campus ID card, if you're living on campus.)

4-9 p.m. Welcome Week check-in*

Required for: all students (see note below about commuter students)
Location: Wilson Commons, Campus Information Center

Check in with the orientation team to pick up your welcome bag and the Spring Welcome Week schedule (as well as your campus ID card, if you are living off-campus).

Commuter students: If you plan to attend the arrival day social and game night, please plan to arrive to check-in no earlier than 8 p.m. so you can consolidate your trips to campus. If you are not attending the Thursday evening event, please feel free to attend Welcome Week check-in on Friday morning instead.

5-7 p.m. Dinner

Location: Douglass Commons, Douglass Dining Center

Get a taste of what campus has to offer at one of our campus dining centers. Use a meal plan swipe or your declining balance to enjoy all-you-can-eat dinner.

Parents and families are welcome to join you for your meal—make sure to ask the orientation team for a meal voucher during Welcome Week check-in.

8-10 p.m. Arrival day game night

Location: Wilson Commons, Havens Lounge

Join your Orientation Leaders and fellow incoming students for a casual gathering—complete with pizza, music, and board games.

Friday, January 16, 2026

On Friday, you'll learn about different resources that will help you make the most of your time at Rochester, and you'll have the opportunity to connect with your academic advisor one-on-one. In the afternoon, exchange students will have the chance to connect with one another and Center for Education Abroad staff and all students will be able to take personalized tours of campus, led by your Orientation Leaders. After dinner, you can end the day with a hot cocoa bar and make some winter crafts with your Orientation Leaders and new friends.

8:15-9 a.m. Welcome Week check-in*

Required for: students who did not check in on Thursday evening
Location: Wilson Commons, Campus Information Center

Did you miss Welcome Week check-in on Thursday night? Check in with the orientation team before the welcome breakfast begins to pick up your welcome bag and the Spring Welcome Week schedule.

9-10 a.m. Breakfast

Location: Wilson Commons, Havens Lounge

Enjoy breakfast with your fellow new students before your required Welcome Week sessions begin.

10-11 a.m. Becoming a Yellowjacket*

Required for: all students
Location: Wilson Commons, Gowen Room

Members of the Wilson Commons Student Activities team will provide an overview of student life as a Yellowjacket, including Rochester Traditions, student organizations, student employment, student life spaces, and more. You'll learn how to get involved and begin to build your UR community—there may even be a chance to win a prize or two!

11 a.m.-12 p.m. Explore career resources with the Greene Center*

Required for: all students
Location: Wilson Commons, Gowen Room and Hirst Lounge

Whether in your first year or well into your college career, now is a great time to get curious and try stuff out. The Greene Center for Career Education and Connections will help you explore the resources available to you to make the most out of your time at Rochester.

12-1 p.m. Lunch with the orientation team*

Required for: all students
Location: Wilson Commson, Gowen Room

Join the orientation team—and your new classmates—for a catered lunch.

1-2 p.m. Ever Better wellbeing*

Required for: all students
Location: Wilson Commons, Gowen Room

Explore all the ways you can take care of your wellbeing during your time at URochester with the Health Promotion team. Not sure where to begin? Don't worry—we'll help you get started!

2-5 p.m. One-on-one meetings with your academic advisor*

Required for: all students

You'll have the opportunity to chat with your academic advisor in-person during these 1-on-1 sessions. This is the perfect place to follow up on your initial conversations and make sure you're ready for classes to begin on Tuesday.

5-6 p.m. Exchange student meet and greet*

Required for: exchange students only
Location: Wilson Commons, Gowen Room

Connect with other exchange students as the team from the Center for Education Abroad officially welcomes you to Rochester.

5-7 p.m. Dinner

Location: Douglass Commons, Douglass Dining Center

Use a meal plan swipe to enjoy all-you-can-eat dinner.

7-10 p.m. Hot cocoa and winter crafts

Location: Wilson Commons, Havens Lounge

Unwind after your first full day of Welcome Week with a hot cocoa bar and a few fun winter crafts.

Saturday, January 17, 2026

On Saturday, we'll head off campus to explore Rochester on a bus tour and enjoy lunch. Upon our return to campus, you'll be able to walk through the locations of your classes this semester with your Orientation Leaders and spend the afternoon as you wish. Following dinner, you can wrap up Welcome Week with a movie night with your Orientation Leaders and new friends.

8-10:30 a.m. Breakfast

Location: Douglass Commons, Douglass Dining Center

Use a meal plan swipe to enjoy all-you-can-eat breakfast.

10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. City bus tour and lunch (off-campus trip)*

Required for: all students
Location: Bus departs from Rush Rhees Library at 10:30 a.m.

Hop on board for a tour of your new city! We'll travel around Rochester to explore some its most famous landmarks and attractions—all from the comfort of a cozy, warm bus. Following the bus tour, we'll enjoy lunch at The Playhouse/Swillburger, a beloved Rochester restaurant featuring vintage arcade games!

The bus will depart from the back of Rush Rhees Library at 10:30 a.m. Be sure to arrive a few minutes early to check in with the orientation team before boarding!

1:30-2:30 p.m. Class schedule tours

Location: Tours depart from Hirst Lounge in Wilson Commons

Need to know where to go for your classes? Your Orientation Leaders will be available to walk through your schedule and show you the classroom and lab locations you'll need to know for your first semester on campus.

5:30-8 p.m. Dinner

Location: Douglass Commons, Douglass Dining Center

Use a meal plan swipe to enjoy all-you-can-eat dinner.

7:30-10 p.m. Movie night

Location: Wilson Commons, Havens Lounge

Celebrate the end of Welcome Week with a movie night, while enjoying snacks and refreshments with your Orientation Leaders and new friends.