Orientation Schedule

7:30 a.m.–9 a.m. 

Breakfast available: cash, checks or credit cards   
Vail Commons ($10.15) or Alvarez College Union, Davis Café
Café opens at 8 a.m.

9 a.m.–6 p.m. 

Davidson College Store Open
137 N. Main Street

*8:30 a.m.–11 a.m.

Student Check-In
Baker Sports Complex

Doors will not open before 8:30 a.m.

You will receive important information and your Davidson College identification card (CatCard). Check-in may take up to 45 minutes. Parent and family check-in is located in the same building, along with the Orientation Fair. After you check in, we recommend that you plan to meet your family either at the Orientation Fair or in your residence hall.

Orientation Fair
Baker Sports Complex
You and/or your family may want to visit with representatives from different college departments and programs that will be available to answer questions and describe their services. Some of the participating departments include Dining Services, Business Services, Technology and Information, CatCard Services, and area banks.

Move-In
Residence Halls
Residence Life staff will distribute room keys, CatCards, and other important information to new students during check-in at Baker Sports Complex. All students must check in at Baker before moving into their residence hall. For students who move in Thursday morning, please follow the signs that direct you to the unloading area closest to their residence hall.

Warehouse Open
For pick-up of shipped items: 209 Ridge Road
(Warehouse is open Thursday and Friday 7 a.m–4 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)

10 a.m.–11 a.m.

Kitchen Tour
Vail Commons
For students, and parents and families of students with food allergies and special dietary needs, a tour of the kitchen and information on the Food Allergy Policy will be offered at Vail Commons.

11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Lunch available: Students may begin using their CatCard for meals on campus
Visit any of the wonderful restaurants in town or have lunch on campus at Vail Commons or Davis Café in the Alvarez College Union.

*1 p.m.

Opening Session with Carol Quillen
Baker Sports Complex
New students and their families will receive a special welcome from President Carol Quillen and other campus leaders.

*2:15 p.m. 

OTM Chat
New students will meet their Orientation Team Member (OTM) and Orientation groups.

*2:45 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

Davidson Resources
New students learn about campus resources. The packet you receive during check-in will contain your schedule and locations for each session.

5 p.m.–7 p.m. 

Dinner available
Vail Commons or Alvarez College Union, Davis Café
Café closes at 8 p.m.

6 p.m.

Transfer students meet for dinner off campus
Talk to your OTM about location

*8 p.m.–10 p.m.

Hall meetings and social activities for new students
Check with your hall counselor for the specific start time of your hall meeting. Meetings will last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.

*9:30 p.m.

Union Board Ice Cream Social
Alvarez College Union
Get to know classmates over ice cream and games!

7:30 a.m.–10 a.m. 

Breakfast available
Vail Commons (meal plan accepted) or Alvarez College Union, Davis Café
Café opens at 8 a.m.

*7:40 a.m.; 7:50 a.m.; 8:00 a.m.; 8:10 a.m. 

Breakfast and OTM Chat
Vail Commons
Refer to the orange handout you received during check-in for your breakfast time.

*9:00 a.m.–9:45 a.m. 

Academic Life at Davidson
Duke Family Performance Hall, Knobloch Campus Center
Learn about academic expectations and support resources at Davidson. This session will prepare you for your group and individual meetings with your holistic adviser.

9 a.m.–6 p.m. 

Davidson College Store Open
137 N. Main Street

*10:00 a.m.

Group meeting with your holistic adviser
Refer to information you pick up during check-­in for location.

*11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Individual meetings with holistic advisers
During your group meeting at 10:00 a.m., you and your adviser will schedule an individual meeting time for later in the day.

11:30 a.m. 

Farewell Picnic Lunch
Chambers Lawn
Rain location: Baker Sports Complex
Be our guest for lunch under the trees before families go home. First-year hallmates and their families will sit together, as will transfer students and their families. Signs will direct you to your table. Come spend time with your new neighbors and friends!

Afternoon Activities

Choose from a variety of activities offered by campus offices and programs:

12:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

Computer and Device Setup Assistance
Residence Halls and Technology and Innovation on Main (213 N. Main St)
Drop by the Belk main entrance, the lounge on the first floor of Richardson, or Technology and Innovation headquarters, for wireless and network configuration assistance. Space is limited and we ask that only students attend.

1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.

Explore a Little (Library)
Lobby, E. H. Little Library
Check out places to study, browse treasures in archives & special collections, connect with library staff, and discover the unique features of the library! You can even enter a drawing for a library carrel!

*4 p.m.–5:30 p.m.

A Community of Respect
An exciting skit presentation in which we explore typical student experiences like drinking, party culture, sexuality and more! You will meet some very helpful resources on campus and  have a chance to meet to meet the student actors and the student Health Advisers.

*5:30 p.m.

Class of 2023 Picture
Richardson Stadium
This one’s for posterity! Join your classmates for a class picture on the Smith Football Field. Rain cancels.

*6:30p.m.–10:30 p.m.

Party a Little (Library)
E. H. Little Library
Food trucks, bowling, movies, and more. You’ve never seen a library like this before! Bring your CatCard with you. Dinner for all new students WILL ONLY BE AVAILABLE at the food trucks this evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

7:30 a.m.–11 a.m.

Breakfast
Vail Commons

10 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Davidson College Store Open
137 N. Main Street

*9 a.m.–11 a.m.

The Hook Up
Lilly Family Gallery, Chambers Building
*Residents of Watts, Cannon, and Richardson
Hooking up can often sound like harmless fun, but it can also be a cover for some very unhealthy behaviors. This presentation discusses hooking up, sexual violence, and how students can take care of each other.

*9 a.m.–10 a.m.

Davidson Serves: An Introduction to Civic Engagement
Duke Family Performance Hall, Knobloch Campus Center
*Residents of Belk and transfer students
Engage in small group projects that will support our community, learn about some of the community projects in which students and faculty are involved, and get details on how you can be involved during your time at Davidson.

*10:15 a.m.–11 a.m.

Center for Career Development
Duke Family Performance Hall, Knobloch Campus Center
*Residents of Belk and transfer students
Learn how The Center for Career Development will empower you through extensive career education opportunities and comprehensive resources designed to help you assess your skills, interests, values and experiences as you explore career options and develop targeted strategies for pursuing your professional development goals.

*11 a.m.–Noon

Lunch and OTM Chat
Vail Commons
Gather with your OTM and Orientation Group for lunch.

*1 p.m.–3 p.m.

The Hook Up
Lilly Family Gallery, Chambers Building Knobloch Campus Center
*Residents of Belk and transfer students
Hooking up can often sound like harmless fun, but it can also be a cover for some very unhealthy behaviors. This presentation discusses hooking up, sexual violence, and how students can take care of each other.

*1 p.m.–2 p.m.

Davidson Serves: An Introduction to Civic Engagement
Duke Family Performance Hall, Knobloch Campus Center
*Residents of Watts, Cannon, and Richardson
Engage in small group projects that will support our community, learn about some of the community projects in which students and faculty are involved, and get details on how you can be involved during your time at Davidson.

*2:15 p.m.–3 p.m.

Center for Career Development
Duke Family Performance Hall, Knobloch Campus Center
*Residents of Watts, Cannon, and Richardson
Learn how The Center for Career Development will empower you through extensive career education opportunities and comprehensive resources designed to help you assess your skills, interests, values and experiences as you explore career options and develop targeted strategies for pursuing your professional development goals.

3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. 

Fun at the Lake Campus!
Meet the shuttle buses at the Baker Sports Complex parking lot for a trip out to the Lake Campus. Bring a bathing suit and towel if you plan to swim.

3:30 p.m.

Guided Meditation
Meet in the Oasis, located on the 4th floor of the Alvarez College Union.
Prefer some quiet time? Join Grace Burford, Director of the Davidson Meditation Initiative, for some guided meditation this afternoon.

3:30 p.m.

Climbing Wall in Davidson Outdoors
Basement, Alvarez College Union
Go rock climbing in Davidson Outdoors! Equipment provided and no experience necessary. Students and staff members will be there to assist.

3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. 

Fun and Games!
Spencer-Weinstein Center for Community and Justice
Come to the Spencer-Weinstein Center for Community and Justice for board games and downtime.

5 p.m.–7 p.m.

Dinner
Vail Commons

8 - 11 p.m.

Welcome Back Party hosted by Davidson College Union Board
Alvarez College Union
Join the Union Board for a party under the big top!  Come for a night of carnival games, food, and fun.

9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. 

Brunch
Vail Commons

Noon–4 p.m.

Davidson College Store Open
137 N. Main Street

*1 p.m.

OTM Chat
Check with your OTM for the location of your chat.
Gather with your OTM and Orientation Group.

*2 p.m.

The Life of the Mind/Book Discussion
Duke Family Performance Hall Knobloch Campus Center
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Philip Jefferson addresses new students with comments about the common reading. Immediately following his address, author Issac Bailey ‘95 will discuss this year’s book. Q&A to follow.

5 p.m.–6:30 p.m. 

Dinner
Vail Commons

*7 p.m.–9 p.m. 

Honor Code and Code of Responsibility Commitment Ceremony
Meet on your hall at 7 p.m.
New students learn about the Honor Code and participate in the commitment ceremony.