New Student Orientation

We are so excited to meet you and share opportunities for you to get acclimated to Weitzman and Penn.

Please find the New Student Orientation schedule below:

8:30 AM - 10:50 AM
Succeeding in Graduate School (Mandatory)
Meyerson Hall, B1
Welcome to Weitzman! Kick-off NSO with some breakfast bites and learn about campus partners and resources to help you make the most of your time at Penn.

10:50 AM - 11:55 AM
Building Community at Weitzman (Mandatory)
Meyerson Hall, B1
The Weitzman Engagement + Community (WE+C) platform creates opportunities and spaces to increase understanding of others experiences and strengthen the Weitzman Community through cultural humility. This session is presented in collaboration with International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS).

11:55 AM - 12:30 PM
Community Connections
Meyerson Hall
Connect with your new classmates, as well as current students and staff!

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch
Meyerson Hall, Plaza Gallery
Join classmates and current students for Real World Weitzman “RWW,” and enjoy lunch!

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Print Your Own Postcard with Common Press
Fisher Fine Arts Lobby
Get hands on with the history of literacy through learning about letterpress printing and typography. Leave with a print of your own design!

1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Chill-Out Zone
Weitzman Hall, 120
Need a break from all the activity and noise during NSO? Take a moment and unwind in Student Services’ Chill-Out Zone, equipped with fidget toys, games, yoga mats, and more!

1:30 PM - 3:20 PM
Architectural Archives Tours
Architectural Archives Tours
Join the Archives staff on guided tours to see the works of more than 400 designers. Tours occur every 20 minutes until 3:20 PM.

1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Fisher Fine Arts Library Open House
Fisher Fine Arts Library
Explore the globally renowned library and materials collection through a self-guided tour, or join a guided tour from 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM (15 spots available; first come, first served.

1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
Success with Integrity: Navigating Academic Expectations at Penn
Weitzman Hall, 119
Join The Center for Community Standards and Accountability to learn about academic expectations, integrity, and resources to confidently begin your graduate experience.

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Student Groups & Campus Resources Fair
Weitzman Hall, Gordon Gallery
Learn more about Weitzman Student Groups and Campus Resources, including:

• Wellness @ Penn
• Restorative Practices @ Penn
• Penn Cultural Resource Centers “CRCs"
• Financial Wellness @ Penn
• Weitzman Real Estate Club
• Weitzman Student Council  “StuCo”
• American Institute of Architecture Students Penn chapter “AIAS”
• Rebuilding Together Philadelphia
• National Association of Minority Landscape Architects Penn chapter  “NAMLA”
• Raíces
• Black Designers Society “BDS”
• Student Planning Association “SPA” 
• Weitzman Fabrication Lab
• Penn Family Resource Center
• Graduate Student Center
• GradHillel
• Spiritual and Religious Life Center “SPARC”
• Weingarten Center
• Weitzman Financial Aid
• Penn Student Registration & Financial Services “SRFS”
• Weitzman Registrar

And more!

3:30 PM - 4:20 PM
Living, Connecting, and Thriving in the U.S.
Weitzman Hall, 119
What helps a new place start to feel like home? Through interactive scenarios, conversation, and practical tips, this session will explore how to live safely and confidently in the U.S., communicate across cultural differences, and build meaningful connections and a sense of belonging at Penn.

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Happy Hour BBQ & Quizzo
Meyerson Hall, Plaza & Upper Gallery
Wrap up the day with BBQ, drinks, and friendly competition with your classmates! Drinks and light fare provided. Top three Quizzo teams (pre-made or randomly assigned) win prizes! An RSVP is not required but is strongly encouraged. Please click here to RSVP.

If you are an incoming student with questions about access or need to request accommodations to participate in this event, please email Ember Bennett, Student Services Coordinator, at emberb@design.upenn.edu by Friday, August 14th.

If you require any accessibility accommodation, such as live captioning, audio description, or a sign language interpreter, please email news@design.upenn.edu. Please note, we require at least five (5) business days’ notice.