Within the next few days, some 3,500 first-year and transfer students will arrive at Syracuse University for the start of the fall semester. When they do, Syracuse Welcome, SU's award-winning orientation program, will help them get acclimated and ready to start the new academic year.

As the students move into residence halls Aug. 26-27, a team of students and staff will assist them with their move, answer questions, and help get them settled in their new homes.

In its seventh year, Syracuse Welcome begins with move-in, which begins at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, continues through the weekend, and leads into the first day of classes, Monday, Aug. 31. The five days between move-in and the start of the academic year are filled with events designed to get new students acquainted with each other, the campus, and its resources so they can begin the new year with confidence.

For a complete listing of the week's events, visit http://orientation.syr.edu. The site also contains answers to frequently asked questions, updated schedules and registration information. Syracuse Welcome is a University-wide effort coordinated by the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs.

Welcome to the academy
As always, intellectual engagements will play a central role in Syracuse Welcome. The Chancellor's Convocation for New Students opens the academic year on Friday, Aug. 28, in the Carrier Dome. SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry President Cornelius B. Murphy Jr. will greet students and their families with opening remarks. The convocation begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends with SU's traditional Lunch on the Turf (tickets required), after which families will be encouraged to depart campus.

Academic events follow, with school and college convocations from 1-5:30 p.m. in various locations. Hosted by the deans, these convocations provide important academic information and begin the advising process. The convocations will introduce students to their home school or college and classmates, and will be the first of many common experiences that support the University's vision of Scholarship in Action.

One way in which students will encounter this together is through the Shared First-Year Experience, a cultural event that will be a touchstone for explorations and discussions across the academic disciplines and intellectual traditions of the University. On Sept. 24 and 25, first-year students will gather at the Landmark Theatre to see a special performance by Shen Wei Dance Arts, the company of renowned choreographer Shen Wei. Wei, known best for his work at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics, has been hailed by The Washington Post as "one of the great artists of our time." The company will perform a piece specifically created for the event. For more information, visit http://orientation.syr.edu. Following the convocations, students will meet academic advisors and more than 500 peer advisors to finalize class schedules.

Welcome to University living
"There is power in numbers-in particular when it is thousands of dedicated and welcoming Syracuse University students, faculty, staff and alumni," says Greg Victory, G'04, director of the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs. "Syracuse Welcome is Orange spirit at its core. The sense of community and commitment to caring are palpable as our team of amazing volunteers greet over 3,500 new students and their families."

This year's welcome team consists of:

• the Goon Squad, a traditional SU team of more than 700 returning students;
• OrangeSeeds, a student leadership development group;
• Los Colores, a group of students who help welcome Spanish-speaking families and students; and
• faculty and staff from across campus, and even some local SU alumni.

Orientation Leaders, a select group of 31 student leaders, will be on hand to answer questions and share their first-hand experience with new students; highly visible in their orange Syracuse polo shirts, they work in collaboration with student peer advisors and resident advisors. New students who commute or live off campus will have opportunities to connect at events produced by the Office of Off-Campus and Commuter Services.

Once students have moved in, a variety of student life activities will prepare them for a successful first year:

• "From Home to the Dome": Thursday, Aug. 27, 9 p.m., Carrier Dome: At this event, students will experience the energy of the Carrier Dome and discover SU traditions.
• "Everyday Heroes": Friday, Aug. 28, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., Goldstein Auditorium. This presentation by representatives from the national Mentors in Violence Prevention program will focus on the importance of being an empowered bystander and raising students' awareness about violence prevention.
• Residence hall floor meetings, socials and other events: These will take place at various times and locations, enabling students to build connections with each other and the University.
• "Juice Jam": Sept. 13, noon-6 p.m., South Campus. This event, open only to students, will introduce the high-quality performing-arts programming offered by University Union. Several national headlining acts will be announced at a later date.

Welcome to Central New York
Syracuse Welcome also introduces students to the many opportunities to experience life off the Hill. "With our many community partners, our goal is to excite, inform and engage our newest students with the vision of Scholarship in Action, on our campus and in our community," says Victory. "The first days on campus are a great time to discover the many artistic, culinary and cultural assets our community has to offer."

Many of those discoveries will be made on Saturday, Aug. 29, when the Division of Student Affairs hosts "Feel the Pulse of Syracuse," an exploration of downtown Syracuse and the Connective Corridor. "Feel the Pulse" will move some 3,000 first-year students from the Hill to the Armory Square area, introducing them to the cultural, commercial and social center of Syracuse.

The University has purchased the meters along the 100 and 200 blocks of Walton Street as well as along Franklin Street between Jefferson and Fayette streets. These meters will be bagged starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday. In addition, Walton Street and Franklin Street between Fayette and Jefferson will be closed from 4-9 p.m.

The evening will feature a taste of Armory Square restaurants' offerings in a street festival atmosphere; a chance to shop in the historic Armory Square district; and a sampling of eclectic showcases of live music, dance and artisans. Community partners of the University's Pulse performing arts program will be on hand to build connections with students, and local cultural and nonprofit organizations will show students how to become involved in the Syracuse community. As the evening unfolds, giant puppets from the Open Hand Theater and the SU Marching Band will move a festive procession along Armory Square. The evening will culminate at the historic Landmark Theatre for a performance by Comedy Central's Mike Birbiglia.

Schedules for these and other school and college events are listed in the "Orientation Schedules" section of the Orientation website. For more information on Syracuse Welcome 2009, contact the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs at (315) 443-1012.

Note: traffic volume in and around the University will be heavier than usual, due to the move-in on Aug. 26 and 27. Assisted moves will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. Those travelling in the University area should keep this in mind as they enter and leave the area.

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