Bear Beginnings activities for new students will begin at 5:00pm on Thursday, August 22, 2013 with Residential College Floor Meetings, however all on-campus and University-owned housing will be accessible for move-in beginning at 8:30am.

Students living on the South 40 will enter on Shepley Drive, located off Big Bend Boulevard. When you turn onto Shepley, members of the First Year Center staff will be there to greet you and give you directions to  your building and unloading areas. 

To ensure a smooth move-in process, we ask that the driver stays with the car until all belongings are unloaded and then relocate the car to a more permanent location.
 
Check-in will be located in the lobby of your Residence Hall. At check-in, you will receive your Bear Beginnings packet which includes the schedule, your Student ID and your U-Pass. You will also receive your room key.  Please be sure to bring a photo ID.

On move in day, you will have plenty of time to unpack and begin to meet you Residential Advisors (RA), your Residential College Directors (RCD) and your WU Student Associates (WUSA). Don't forget to eat at Bear's Den and visit the many information tables located around the clock tower. There will also be tours of campus available and several receptions to attend.  A schedule will be available in July.

Bear Beginnings activities for new students will begin at 5:15pm on Thursday, August 22, 2013 with the Transfer & Exchange Welcome in Holmes Lounge, however all on-campus and univeristy owned housing will be accessible for move-in beginning at 8:30am.

Students living on the South 40 will want to enter on Shepley Drive, located off Big Bend Boulevard. When you turn onto Shepley, members of the First Year Center staff will be there to greet you and give you directions to your building and unloading areas.

Students living on the North Side or in Residential Life owned off-campus apartments will want to enter on Snow Way, located off Big Bend Boulevard and check in at The Village. Residential Life staff will be there to greet you and give you directions to parking and your building.

At check-in, you will receive your Bear Beginnings packet which includes the schedule, your Student ID and your U-Pass. You will also receive your room key.  Please be sure to bring a photo ID.

If you are living off-campus, be sure to join us at the Transfer & Exchange Student Welcome at 5:15p.m. in Holmes Lounge on Thursday, August 22, 2013. You will receive your Bear Beginnings packet at this event.

When you arrive on Thursday, August 22, 2013, you will be greeted by First Year Center staff who will give you a temporary parking pass for the day and give you information on where to unload your belongings.
We ask that the driver of the vehicle stay with the car until all belongings are unloaded and then move the car to a more permanent location.

Parking permits are not needed during Bear Beginnings or Parent & Family Orientation. Cars may be parked in any lot, except for those designated as red spaces. You can also download a PDF parking map. You will need to pay if you choose to park in metered parking. We encourage families to park in the Danforth University Center or the lot by Brookings Hall on Thursday, August 22, because the evening activities will end near this location.

Freshmen are not allowed to have cars on campus. This regulation is taken very seriously and violations of this will have serious implications. For more information, or to contact Parking and Transportation Services, go to http://parking.wustl.edu.

When you arrive to campus, you will receive printed versions of the Bear beginnings: New Student Fall Orientation schedules.

You may view PDF versions of the 2012 schedules below.  Schedules for 2013 will be available in early August, 2013.  When you arrive to campus, you will receive a printed copy of the schedule at check-in.  All events and times are confirmed.

To help navigate around campus during move in, download a campus map.
Click here to view an electronic version of the 2012 schedule for freshmen students.
Click here to view an electronic version of the 2012 schedule for transfer & exchange students.
Click here to view an electronic version of the 2012 schedule for parent & family members.

Keep an eye out for your First Year Reading Program book, which will be arriving in your mailbox in late summer. Chosen by a selection committee of students, faculty, and staff, the First Year Reading Program book is an interesting and stimulating read around which your first academic exercise at Washington University will be based. Complete the book before your arrival on campus and explore its themes in your mind. What do you think? What are your opinions? What would you like to ask your new classmates or professors?

The Washington University First Year Reading Program aims:

• To provide a common intellectual experience for incoming students, as well as participating members of the faculty and staff.
• To provide an opportunity for students to meet and interact with a member of the Washington University faculty or staff in an informal discussion, outside the boundaries of the classroom and formal academic requirements.
• To introduce students to the spirit of inquiry and debate that is integral to the Washington University academic community.

During Bear Beginnings, you will participate in a faculty or staff led discussion of the book along with students from your freshman floor or transfer/exchange group. We urge you to approach the First Year Reading Program discussions in a spirit of openness and the delight of discovery. This is a unique and valuable opportunity to challenge yourself, share your ideas, learn about different viewpoints and to meet and engage in dialogue with your classmates and a university faculty member or other member of the university community. There are no right or wrong answers, no grades, and diverse viewpoints and perspectives will be encouraged and respected. The more involved you choose to be, the more you will take away from this experience.

Throughout the first semester, you will encounter themes from the book in classes, discussions, and engaging on-campus programming. Happy reading! 

Convocation is the signature event during Bear Beginnings.   Chancellor Wrighton welcomes students, parents and family members as well as welcome speeches from a rising senior and invited faculty speaker.

Watch the convocation videos from 2012!

• WUSTL Convocation 2012: Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton
• WUSTL Convocation 2012: Andreas Mitchell, Arts & Sciences, Class of 2013
• WUSTL Convocation 2012: Jen Smith, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences