Pre-Orientation Programs

The Genesis pre-Orientation program is designed to acclimate, support, and empower Connecticut College first-generation and/or first-year students of color. Over the course of the day, first-year students have the opportunity to connect with their peer mentors, who help them navigate the transition to being full-time college students on our campus. This program also informs parents and families about the different resources available for their students.

Who can participate?

Any first-year student of color or first-generation college student is eligible to participate in the Genesis pre-Orientation program. We also encourage parents/guardians to participate in portions of our programming if they are able to.

What are the benefits of participating?

Before the start of Welcome Weekend, first-year Genesis students will meet their peer mentors who will help them navigate campus and engage in a series of activities, workshops, and team-building exercises. They will also have the opportunity to connect with various campus resources, learn more about our year-long Genesis programming (the LA 102 How College Works course) and discover what the Hale Center for Career Development offers. We also encourage our first-years and their mentors to attend a whole group dinner in Harris Dining Hall, which helps foster connections among the larger Genesis community.

Parents and families will have the opportunity to help their students move into their residence halls and learn about various campus offices and resources available to their students. We also offer a reception to our first-year families, where they will hear from President Chapdelaine and learn about Race and Ethnicity Programs and the greater Division of Equity and Inclusion. The parent and family portion of our programming ends with a formal send-off, which allows students to say their goodbyes and take pictures with their parents/guardians.

How can you register for the program?

Registration for the Genesis Pre-Orientation program is completed as part of your New Camel Enrollment form which will be made available after May 1. Our registration list is updated weekly, and as students register, they will receive an email directly from the Race and Ethnicity Programs Office with a link to the “Genesis Application and Matching Survey” to be matched with a peer mentor. Students must complete this survey to guarantee participation and being paired with a mentor.

What is the schedule for the program? What types of activities are planned?

We are finalizing our plans for Genesis this spring, but to last year’s Pre-Orientation Program included the following activities:

• Student Move-In and Big Sib Connections - As students arrive, they are paired with their peer mentor (Big Sib) and given time to locate their residence hall and move in their belongings.
• Making the Transition Panel (Parents/Guardians) - A time and space for parents/guardians to hear from offices and resource centers around campus.
• Odyssey and Genesis Welcome Rally (Students): Students from both the Odyssey and Genesis Pre-Orientation programs have time to come together, participate in a team-building activity, and create community.
• Genesis Reception (Parents/Guardians and Students): We bring students and parents/guardians back together for a reception, where they will hear from the President Chapdelaine and some representatives from the Division of Equity and Inclusion.
• Family Send-Off and Pictures (Parents/Guardians and Students): This is a time for families to say their goodbyes, take pictures, etc. before students break off for student-led programming.
• Team-Building Activities (Students): Students continue to get to know one another and come together as a community through activities led by some of our Genesis student leaders.
• Genesis Year Long Mentoring Program and Hale Center for Career Development (Students): Students will hear from the Director of Race and Ethnicity Programs and the Hale Center for Career Development to learn about some of the course offerings available to them as first/second-year students and some of the programming available within each of the respective offices.
• Big Sib/Lil’ Sib Dinner at Harris Dining (Students): First-year students and their peer mentors are invited to a community dinner in Harris Dining Hall to close out the day and continue getting to know one another.

Can parents/guardians/family members attend the program?

Parents and guardians are welcome to participate in as much of our parent and guardian-focused programming as they would like throughout the day. We ask that you encourage and allow your student to participate independently in all of our student-focused team-building and informational sessions.

How does the program continue during the first year? What is the time commitment? Is it required?

Genesis is a year-long program designed to acclimate, support, and empower first-generation and/or first-year students of color at Connecticut College.

During their first semester on campus, all first-year Genesis students are required to enroll in LA 102: How College Works, a 1-credit course designed to introduce them to various campus resources that will support their successful transition to Connecticut College. Throughout the course, as well as through other Genesis-focused programming, participants are provided with tools to start them on a path for success here at Connecticut College. LA 102: How College Works is mandatory for all first-year Genesis students.

Over the course of the academic year, the Genesis program provides weekly study groups, peer group support, holistic advising, and college empowerment workshops. Every aspect of the Genesis program has been created to provide participants with a firm foundation for their college career. We also strongly encourage our students to connect with their peer mentors at least once a week during the first semester and once every other week during their second semester. The program is designed to provide support while students develop their independence on campus.

Does the program provide transportation from the airport to campus?

The Genesis pre-Orientation program does not provide transportation from the airport or train station to campus. First-year students who need transportation from the airport or train station should visit Conn’s Transportation Office for available transportation options and/or contact the office via email at transportation@conncoll.edu.

Are there any additional costs associated with the program? (supplies, meals, etc.)

There are no costs associated with the Genesis pre-Orientation program. However, we strongly encourage students and their families to review the Over the Hump guide that students will receive by email this summer and make note of items their students may need for their residence hall room as they move in, which may result in additional costs (e.g., a bedside fan, hangers, etc.).

Can a student participate in more than one pre-Orientation program? How do they intersect?

Students participating in Genesis are not currently able to participate in our Odyssey or Helix programs. However, students participating in the Science Leaders program may also participate in either the Genesis, Helix or Odyssey programs.

Odyssey is our pre-Orientation program aimed at helping first-year international students and their families transition smoothly into life at Connecticut College in the United States. The program is tailored specifically for international students who are beginning their academic journey at Connecticut College. It is designed to address the unique needs and challenges faced by international students adjusting to a new environment, culture, and educational system.

Who can participate?

We invite international students and their families to participate in Odyssey, an orientation program specifically designed for international students starting their college experience in the United States.

What are the benefits of participating?

Odyssey gives international students an opportunity to get to know the Connecticut College and fellow international students before the arrival of the rest of the first-year class.

By participating in Odyssey, international students and their families have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the campus and its resources before the majority of first-year students arrive. This early exposure helps ease the transition process and allows students to feel more comfortable and confident in their new surroundings.

Our program offers information sessions and activities about student visas, on-campus employment, and negotiating a new environment academically and socially. Additionally, it provides fun activities for students to bond with each other.

Students who participate in this program report a significantly smoother transition to college life. Therefore, participation is strongly encouraged.

How can you register for the program?

Registration for the Odyssey program is completed as part of your New Camel Enrollment form which will be made available after May 1.

While participation in the program is not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged for all incoming international students and their families. Students who have questions about the program or the registration process should reach out to Dean Carmela Patton, our International Student Adviser (cpatton@conncoll.edu).

What is the schedule for the program? What types of activities are planned?

During Odyssey, students will participate in a number of activities that will help them get to know one another.. They will also have the opportunity to attend a number of important workshops and will learn about the following topics: F1 Visas, Culture Shock, Making the Transition to an American College, Academic Standards.

Can parents/guardians/family members attend the program?

Parents and Families are welcome to attend Odyssey events on Monday and Tuesday. The schedule that will be shared with participants will highlight the sessions designed for parents and families.

How does the program continue during the first-year? What is the time commitment? Is it required?

Each student will be assigned an International Student Adviser who will check-in with them throughout their first semester at Connecticut College. Students will also be invited to events specifically designed for our international students throughout the year!

Does the program provide transportation from the airport to campus?

The Odyssey program coordinates with the Transportation Office to provide a shuttle from John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport in New York City on Saturday, August 16, 2025 for a cost of $60. Students who take the shuttle will be greeted on campus by staff who will provide them with their room keys. Students can sign up for the shuttle here. Students who will be arriving on their own should make arrangements with Dean Carmela Patton for their arrival day/time and key pick-up.

Can a student participate in more than one pre-Orientation program? How do they intersect?

Students participating in Odyssey are not currently able to participate in our Genesis or Helix programs. However, students participating in the Science Leaders program may also participate in either the Genesis, Helix or Odyssey programs.

The Helix program invites students with disabilities who register with the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Office as incoming first-year students at Connecticut College to join us for a pre-Orientation program. Prior to the start of Welcome Weekend, incoming SAS students will engage in a series of activities and programs that will orient them to campus culture through a disability lens. Students will gain insight into requesting faculty notification letters, learn how to communicate with professors regarding accommodations, identify support areas on campus, acclimate to campus, and learn about accessibility resources on campus. The Helix program will also prepare students for Welcome Weekend, allowing them time to integrate more smoothly to campus life as they move-in earlier than the rest of their class.

Who can participate?

Students registered with the SAS office by August 1st are eligible to participate in the Helix pre-orientation.

What are the benefits of participating?

• Students will be better prepared for the first semester of college as it relates to navigating their accommodation needs, inclusive programing, and networking with upperclassmen associated with SAS programming.
• Incoming students will also have the opportunity to develop a peer network prior to school beginning.
• Students are able to move-in to their dorm before Welcome Weekend.
• Students will be exposed to the dining hall and other campus services, prior to the start of Welcome Weekend.

How can you register for the program?

Registration for the Helix program is completed as part of your New Camel Enrollment form which will be made available after May 1.

What is the schedule for the program? What types of activities are planned?

Helix is our newest pre-Orientation program and we are finalizing the program details this summer. Check back later this summer for more details about our programming.

Can parents/guardians/family members attend the program?

Yes! We will have some activities parents/families can participate in during the Helix program; we also strongly encourage parents to attend on Arrival Day. The most recent schedule can be found on the Helix site.

How does the program continue during the first-year? What is the time commitment? Is it required?

• Once students are registered with the SAS Office, they will maintain academic and testing services their entire time at Conn.
• Students are provided opportunities to participate in various SAS programs and events throughout the year. Notifications are made through the SAS email list, SAS instagram page (@concollsas), and SAS Newsletter, “Disability Deets.” Participation in social events is voluntary.
• Students can also become engaged in Conn’s Disability Affinity Club (DAC).

Does the program provide transportation from the airport to campus?

The Helix pre-Orientation program does not provide transportation from the airport or train station to campus. First-year students who need transportation from the airport or train station should visit Conn’s Transportation Office for available transportation options and/or contact the office via email at transportation@conncoll.edu.

Are there any additional costs associated with the program? (supplies, meals, etc.)

There are no costs associated with the Helix pre-Orientation program. However, we strongly encourage students and their families to review the Over the Hump guide that students will receive by email this summer and make note of items their students may need for their residence hall room as they move in, which may result in additional costs (e.g., a bedside fan, hangers, etc.).

Can a student participate in more than one pre-Orientation program? How do they intersect?

Students participating in Genesis are not currently able to participate in our Odyssey or Helix programs. However, students participating in the Science Leaders program may also participate in either the Genesis, Helix or Odyssey programs.

Thinking about a career in the sciences? The Connecticut College Science Leaders Program is a challenging undergraduate program that will prepare you for a wide range of science-related careers and provide a solid foundation for graduate study or medical school.

The program is open to all prospective science majors at Connecticut College but we are particularly focused on students from groups that are underrepresented in the sciences. Admission priority will be given to women, students of color, students with disabilities, first-generation college students and students who are economically disadvantaged.

Science Leaders are identified during the application review process and are notified of their acceptance into the program at the same time they receive their acceptance to Connecticut College. For more information click here.

What is the schedule for the program? What types of activities are planned?

The Science Leaders program starts a week before Arrival Day for the incoming first-year class. During these additional days on campus, science leader students will get to meet with faculty from various departments and offices on campus (neuroscience, pre-health advising, sustainability, academic resource center, mathematics, chemistry) and form a community with one another during at least one off-campus excursion. They will also do hands-on activities and labs to get acquainted with how science classes work at Connecticut College and what research areas faculty are currently exploring. Science leaders will also get to meet with upperclass students in the program who will serve as mentors both during the pre-Orientation program and beyond.

Can parents/guardians/family members attend the program?

Parents/guardians are welcome to help their students move into their residence hall, attend the Science Leaders welcome event and join their student for dinner in the dining hall. After the first day, students will be very busy with the program each day. Parents are welcome to return to campus for our Arrival Day programming on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

How does the program continue during the first-year? What is the time commitment? Is it required?

All Science Leaders will take the same first-year seminar course that will meet three times a week during the fall semester. There will also be occasional meetings throughout the academic year.

Does the program provide transportation from the airport to campus?

Students participating in the Science Leaders are encouraged to fly into T.F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island on August 13. By doing so, they will have the opportunity to travel back to campus with transportation the program will provide. All students must coordinate their arrivals directly with Professor Marc Zimmer (mzim@conncoll.edu).

Are there any additional costs associated with the program? (supplies, meals, etc.)

There are no costs associated with the Science Leaders pre-Orientation program. However, we strongly encourage students and their families to review the Over the Hump guide that students will receive by email this summer and make note of items their students may need for their residence hall room as they move in, which may result in additional costs (e.g., bedding, a bedside fan, hangers, etc.).

Can a student participate in more than one pre-Orientation program? How do they intersect?

Science Leaders may participate in any one of our other three pre-Orientation programs (Genesis, Odyssey or Helix).