New Student Orientation
WELCOME TO MEREDITH!
Immerse yourself in the campus community, connect with new classmates and upperclass Student Advisors, explore academic and campus resources, and have tons of fun!
Through New Student Orientation you will find everything you need to get off on the right foot at Meredith. We look forward to welcoming you to campus, balloon arches and all.
Orientation for students starting Meredith College for the 2025-2026 year will occur on August 16-19, 2025. Check back later this Spring for a more detailed schedule.
Contact Information
Chrissie Bumgardner
Co-Director, First Year Experience
bumgardner@meredith.edu
Lisa Brown
Co-Director, First Year Experience
lmbrown@meredith.edu
Move-In Day
New students and their families receive a fun-filled arrival on campus starting at the front gate! Our boisterous team of students (known as the OCrew) pay forward the welcome shown to them while alumnae, members of our Parent’s Council, and upperclass Student Advisors are on hand all day to extend the welcome.
Honor Code Ceremony
During this long-held tradition, new students recite the honor pledge and sign pledge cards to “faithfully uphold the principles of the Honor Code.” According to the Student Handbook, a student’s enrollment is not considered complete until the Honor Pledge has been signed.
Tour of the Massey House
Since the 1970s, it’s been a tradition for new students to visit the President’s home during their very first few days on campus. President Jo Allen hosts tours of the lovely residence, more formally known as the Massey House, and personally greets each student upon arrival.
As a first-year commuter student, you will participate in the full four-day orientation program which will take place from Saturday, August 16 – Tuesday, August 19. Plan to arrive on campus on Saturday between 2:00 and and 2:45 PM to check-in. Our full program starts at 3:00 PM.
We do our best to arrange the schedule so that commuter students are able to maximize their time on campus. Expect to be busy with orientation programming throughout the four-day experience. A detailed schedule will be available in early August.
As an international student, you will need to familiarize yourself with so much more beyond Meredith College. To help you in your transition to the states, there is a pre-orientation program designed specifically for you before you join the campus-wide program. This International Orientation will take place August 13 – 15, 2025.
Undergraduate students will then join their peers for New Student Orientation from August 16 – 19, 2025. For more information, be sure to visit our page for International Students.
We recognize that you have been to college before and may have different needs than our first-year students do. Therefore, our orientation for transfer students is designed to help distinguish Meredith from your previous institution, while not to devalue your growth that has occurred along the way.
Transfer students will be placed into groups with other transfers to foster an environment for you to meet and get to know other students like you. These groups will be led by our Wings and Transfer Advisors (WTAs) who are upper-class students, many of which were transfer students too.
As a transfer student, you are expected to participate in the four-day orientation program. However, you may be eligible to opt into our “Fast Track” program alongside of our Wings students.
The Student Success Center will reach out in early August to discuss your options and set you on the right course for your transition.
We recognize that as an adult student, you have different needs as well as unique time constraints compared to other new students. Therefore, we have condensed our four-day experience to a “Fast Track” Program for you on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. Your orientation program will connect you to the right people at the right time and give you the information you need to start strong. You will have the opportunity to meet other adult students, receive advice from our Wings and Transfer Student Advisors, and participate in some of our most favorite New Student Orientation traditions.
While the one-day program for Wings students is required, we also encourage our adult students to attend several key programs during the four-day program, if your schedule allows. These include the Welcome Session for New Students, the Campus Life Skit, the Massey House Tour, Celebratory Dinner, and the Honor Code Ceremony. A detailed schedule will be available in early August.
New Student Move-In: Saturday, August 17, 2024
To alleviate wait times for resident students, a staggered arrival schedule has been created for Move-In Day. Please adhere to your assigned move-in window of time between 8 a.m. and 12 Noon as best as possible.
Some students may arrive early for our pre-orientation programs. International Students, those enrolled in Bridge, and Fall Season Athletes will move in on Wednesday, August 14. These students will receive additional information regarding move-in and their schedule from their program.
For more move-in information, please consult Residence Life’s New Student Newsletter.
First-Year Student Orientation: August 17-20, 2024
Programming begins for all new students– first year and transfer– at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 17th. Commuting students should plan to arrive on campus between 2 and 2:45 p.m. for check-in.
All new students should expect to be busy with orientation throughout the four-day experience.
Wings Student Orientation: August 20, 2024
Wings Students will have a condensed orientation program on Tuesday, August 20th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We strongly encourage our Wings students to stay for the Massey House Tour, Dinner, and Honor Code Ceremony that evening.
Transfer Student Orientation: August 17-20, 2024
Transfer students are expected to participate alongside our first-year students for the four-day program. Transfer students will be assigned to the same small groups, allowing participants to meet other transfers.
Transfer students are also eligible to participate in our one-day program with our Wings students. Please contact Steven Lemmons in the Student Success Center for more information about this option.
Classes Begin: Wednesday, August 21, 2024
More Information:
Move-In Day
New students and their families receive a fun-filled arrival on campus starting at the front gate! Our boisterous team of students (known as the OCrew) pay forward the welcome shown to them while alumnae, members of our Parent’s Council, and upperclass Student Advisors and Resident Assistants are on hand all day to extend the welcome.
Honor Code Ceremony
During this long-held tradition, new students recite the honor pledge and agree to “faithfully uphold the principles of the Honor Code.” According to the Student Handbook, a student’s enrollment is not considered complete until the pledge has been made.
Tour of the Massey House
Since the 1970s, it’s been a tradition for new students to visit the President’s home during their very first few days on campus. The President hosts tours of the lovely residence, more formally known as the Massey House, and personally greets each student upon arrival.
Resident students are assigned parking permits, which allow them to park in designated residential parking areas. Commuter students must park in designated commuter parking lots between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Between 4 p.m. and 7 a.m. during the week and throughout the weekend, all students may park in the following areas: Alumnae Parking Lot, Chapel Parking Lot, Cate Center Parking Lot, and the small parking lot behind Martin Hall. If students plan to bring their car to campus, they must purchase a parking permit from the Campus Police Building during their first week on campus.
The Campus Police Building is located behind Poteat Residence Hall and is open from 7:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Students may also visit Campus Police to have their CamCards created during Orientation. Campus Police can be reached at (919) 760-8888.
Meredith College is pleased to provide support during New Student Orientation for students or family members with disabilities or other special needs. If you need accommodations for a disability, please contact Disability Services at (919) 760-8427 or disabilityservices@meredith.edu to inquire about available services and to make the appropriate arrangements.
Greetings!
Welcome to Meredith College and the Meredith College family. The strength of Meredith is in its people – the students, the faculty, the staff, and…the parents and families of our students. We are proud and very excited that you and your family have chosen Meredith for your student’s higher education. We understand that so much of the success that she has attained so far has resulted from your support and encouragement.
Your continued support will be critical to your student’s success at Meredith. Families are invited to the first day of New Student Orientation, and we have provided information below that may assist you in supporting your Meredith student during the course of the year. Additionally, we want you to contact us if you have questions and concerns. We look forward to seeing you in August! Welcome to the MC family!
Ann Gleason, Dean of Students
(919) 760-8521 | deanofstudents@meredith.edu
Stay Involved With Your Student’s Meredith Experience!
See these tips for being an involved and supportive parent:
- DO Share in your student’s enthusiasm and excitement.
- DO Expect homesickness (if your student lives on campus) and times when college life seems overwhelming.
- DO Encourage your student to accept responsibility and become her own problem-solver.
- DO Expect change and give her space to grow.
- DO Listen, write, call, and send care packages – discuss what would work best in keeping the communication lines open.
- DO Find new interests to help you let go.
- DO Encourage your student to get involved on campus and to participate in weekend programs, traditions and events.
- DON’T rush to the rescue. Encourage and support, but let her handle concerns and issues. If she needs additional support, remind her of on-campus resources and offices available to her.
- DON’T Encourage coming home often. Students make smoother transitions and are happier if they stay on campus long enough to make friends and get involved.
- DON’T Expect many letters or phone calls. Sometimes students get caught up in a whirlwind of activity and forget to stay in touch.
- DON’T be surprised if she changes her mind on her major and career interests.
Important campus offices and resources.
Meredith College has a strong history of parent and family programming and philanthropy. For more information, click here.
Join the Meredith Parents and Families Facebook Page! 
Raleigh is often cited as one of the best places to live and work in America. We’re proud to call it home.
Find more information at https://www.visitraleigh.com/ to plan your stay while attending New Student Orientation.
Please email deanofstudents@meredith.edu if you have any questions.
Important Reminders for New Students
Academic & Medical Records
Acceptance for admission to Meredith College is contingent upon the receipt of a satisfactory final academic record.
Students must submit their completed medical forms through the Student Wellness Portal. Both medical and academic records must be complete before attending classes.
See the “Required Health Information” page for details: https://www.meredith.edu/required-health-information.
Questions? Contact the Office of Admissions at (919) 760-8581.
Health Insurance
All required* students must enroll in Meredith’s BCBS insurance or opt out by completing a waiver with your personal insurance information in the Meredith BCBS insurance portal.
*Required students include all full-time undergraduates, licensure only, pre-health, I-O Psych, international, study abroad, and dietetic interns.
What can I bring to campus?
Academic and Medical Records
Acceptance for admission to Meredith College is contingent upon the receipt of a satisfactory final academic record and a completed medical form.
Students must submit their completed medical forms promptly. The Health Center staff will advise students if any required health information was omitted. Both medical and academic records must be complete and submitted to the Office of Admissions before attending classes.
Questions? Contact the Office of Admissions at (919) 760-8581.
