From the moment they arrive on the Mount Carmel Campus until the time they depart, first-year students gain confidence as they set their fall course schedule, find comfort in their new academic home, and anticipate deepening new connections when they return.

“By the end of orientation, we want students to feel like they’ve made a new friends and connections, know their way around campus, and have a sense of how to get involved. Most of all, they should start to feel like Quinnipiac is their home,” said Hannah Cranston, senior director for campus life.

Cranston said the purpose of orientation is to provide the tools, connections and support for a successful transition to college life. Students who participate in orientation learn how to thrive academically, access resources, and understand the responsibilities and values tied to being member of the Quinnipiac community.

Orientation sessions are packed with programming, information sessions, icebreaking games, memorable engagements and plenty of first experiences. Just a few include dining together for the first time at the Carl Hansen Student Center, staying overnight in a dormitory, learning the Quinnipiac Creed and making their inaugural roar together as Bobcats.

On June 26, just moments after checking in for the fifth of six summer orientation sessions, Cooper Deko ’29, of Cheshire, Connecticut and James Tischio ’29, of East Haddam, Connecticut, met for the first time.

“I looked at him in line, and he gave me a look, and I asked what his name was, and here we are,” said Deko.

After checking in at the Recreation and Wellness Center, they checked out the Resource Fair. The fair warmly welcomes new Bobcats and their families to learn more from faculty, students and staff about diverse student activities, interests and essential support programs before the day’s orientation session begins.

“We just went over to the sports club section, and now we’re in the line for housing, because we’re trying to figure out roommate requests,” said Tischio, who plans to study finance.

Deko said he was interested exploring the university’s different disciplines.

“I’m undecided right now, so I want to learn more about the different programs,” he said.

Friends Keowna Young ’29, and Alexa Banbury ’29, came to orientation together from their hometown of Windsor, Connecticut.

“We’re friends in school and we both decided to apply to Quinnipiac. It’s a comfort knowing you always have someone there for you while you’re navigating this new chapter. I came to orientation because I’d like to get to know the campus a little bit more and try to meet new people and feel things out, and also I think it’s good to stay overnight to see what the dorms are like,” said Banbury, who will begin her direct-entry ELMPA (entry-level master’s in physician assistant program) academic journey in the fall.

Young plans to study marketing at Quinnipiac.

“From orientation, I want to take away learning more about what I’m going to be doing classes-wise, and also getting to know new people,” said Young.

Three Cheshire residents and friends, Paige Warburton,’29, Charlotte Depalo,’29, and Lily Simenka-Glick ’29, scheduled the same dates, June 26 and June 27, for their orientation session, but had different reasons for attending.

“I want to learn a little bit more about course registration and get a better lay of the land before I come back in the fall,” said Simenka-Glick, who will study nursing. “I chose Quinnipiac because they have a really strong nursing program, I like the class sizes, and they have a lot of really good professors here, so I’m excited.”

Warburton plans to study radiologic sciences.

“I think one of my biggest questions is asking about peer tutoring and the other study options at beginning of the year when we get started, because with a big course load I want to make sure I have everything set and prepared for my classes,” said Warburton.

Depalo, who will study communications, said she was glad that orientation would provide time to assist her with her academic plans for the first semester, including setting up her course schedule.

“I really want to try to figure out my classes and schedule, so I’m glad that’s something we’re doing at orientation,” said Depalo.

Orientation connects incoming students with university leadership, faculty, staff and 50 student orientation leaders who help to guide and prepare first-year undergraduates to begin their unique Quinnipiac journey in August.

Student Orientation Logistics Coordinator, Ethan Mazza ’26, a nursing major, said students who attend orientation develop an important level of comfort that readies them for their first semester as new college students.

“I’m hoping these students take away their first experience in college from being at orientation, and it helps them adjust to the homesickness that they might experience when they’re just getting to campus for the first time in the fall. I want them to be able to come in comfortable, ready, and knowing what’s happening on campus,” said Mazza.

Student orientation leaders are pivotal to helping familiarize the undergraduates with their new campus, dorm life, student life, academic life, and the university community. Undergraduates can also reach out to them with questions when they return to campus in the fall, or just to stay in touch, Mazza said.

“The orientation leaders understand that you only grow when you leave your comfort zone; and that’s the same for everybody in this world. So they have to make sure they’re an open door for those students to walk into, so they have someone they can relate to, talk to and come with any questions they have during this experience and during the school year,” said Mazza. 

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