Fall Orientation

Move-in Day for New Students

Students and families will arrive to campus during their assigned time block and follow instructions for move in. Details will be shared prior to arrival.  

If unexpected plans arise on your move-in day, please email orientation@middlebury.edu or call 1-802-443-3006 to update us on your travel. 

For Families: Meet the First Year Dean & Care Management

Parents can meet with the First Year Dean and Care Management team to learn more about Middlebury’s CARE network and other resources available to support students.

Families only

Ice Cream Truck

Middlebury Campus Tours

Tours will begin at three separate times: 11:30, 12:00, and 12:30. All will meet at the same location. Tours are available in Spanish and English. 

Open to students and families

For Families: Welcome Address

President Baucom and members of the Senior Leadership Group will welcome families to Middlebury.  

Families only

This time is reserved for parents only, but it is recommended that students take this time to unpack their rooms or rest and prepare the the upcoming events. 

For Families: Navigating Transitions

Learn more about how to support your young adult’s well-being during their transition to college. Participants will leave with concrete recommendations for supporting and maintaining a connection with your new student.

Families only

Note: Space is limited and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. 

For Families: Resource Fair

Families will connect with various departments and learn about what resources and programs are available to students. Find the letter-writing station and write a letter of encouragement and warmth for your student. 

Families only

Note: Students will have an opportunity to attend the Community Fair later during the week of Orientation as well as the Student Involvement Fair that takes place typically within the first couple of week of classes. 

Orientation Group Meeting

This is the first official program of the new student orientation. Students are welcomed by their Orientation Leaders and meet their Orientation Groups. 

Required

For Families: Anderson Freeman Center (AFC) Resource Center Tours

Join us for a guided tour of the Anderson Freeman Resource Center to learn about the resources, programs, and support available to Middlebury students. 

Families only
Open to all families

For Families: Family Philanthropy Circle Meet & Greet

Mix and mingle with fellow families, along with Middlebury senior leaders and volunteers. Learn about the Family Philanthropy Circle, a vibrant and engaged community of Middlebury parents who offer their support to the College as donors and volunteers.

Families only

First@Midd Welcome

A welcome for students participating in the First@Midd pathway and their trusted adults to join the Anderson Freeman Staff to learn about First@Midd and be introduced to the First Generation Experience. 

Required for First@Midd pathway
Optional for families

International@Midd: Family Welcome and Q&A

International families to meet the ISSS staff and current international students, as well as learn about the services offered by, and how to engage with, the ISSS office.

Families only 

Block Party Dinner

A celebratory meal with other students, families, faculty, and staff!  This is also the perfect time for those last goodbyes with your family. Join us for burgers and hot dogs and plenty more to kick off the week! Click here to see the scheduled breakdown for this event. 

Open to students and families

Note: Families depart from campus at 7 PM.

ResLife Welcome

During floor meetings, students meet with Residential Life staff and residents from their resident halls. 

Locations are based on res hall and status: 
• New Battell: Robison Concert Hall (Mahaney Arts Center)
• Old Battell: Dana Auditorium
• Hepburn (with Transfer and Exchange Students): Wilson Hall

Required for all students

Floor Meetings

Students will meet Residential Life staff who will support them in their transition to Middlebury College and build community within their residence halls. 

Specific locations will be shared during the previous event. 

Required for all students

Meet Your Neighbor

Not ready to go to sleep just yet? Students can connect in lounge spaces, with their floor, or roommates for some quality hangout time while playing games, crafts, or just hang out while getting to know your peers. 


• Hepburn (first floor lounge)
• Old Battell (basement lounge)
• New Battell (first lounge)

Breakfast w/ Orientation Groups

Students will kick off their first full day of orientation with their orientation groups over breakfast.

Required for all pathways

First Year Seminar (FYS)

Students will meet their first-year seminar professor and learn about expectations for the course. 

Required for all first-year students

Transfer Student Academic Support

Transfer students will use this session to learn about degree requirements and academic policy.

Required for transfer students; Not open to non-transfer students.

Orientation Group Meetings

Students will spend time connecting with their orientation groups. Students will participate in skill-building, information gathering, and opportunities to build community. 

Required for all pathways

Transfer Student Lunch with Dean Longman

Required for transfer students

Pre Major Advising Meetings

Students will meet with their academic advisors to discuss upcoming course registration and plan their first semester. Check with your advisor for locations. 

Required for all first-years

Academic Forum & Registration Support Drop In

Academic Forum is a drop-in event for new students. This event is an opportunity to speak directly to representatives from every academic department or program at the College. Knowledgeable faculty will be on hand to answer any questions that students might have about course offerings, appropriate student placement, or potential majors.

It is highly encouraged that all students attend. Click here to see the scheduled breakdown for this event.

International@Midd: Intro to ISSS Office & FIS Host Program

Meet the ISSS team, learn about the services they offer, and the ways to engage with the office. Hear from current international students and ISSS about the Friends of International Students’ host family program.

Required for International@Midd pathway

First@Midd: Intro to Study Skills

Students will be introduced to the wealth of resources and tools that the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research provides to students throughout the year. Learn about how to engage with the tools to support your academic journey.

Required for First@Midd Pathway

New@Midd: RealTalk

Get the tea on student life at Midd from current students! Students will be sharing personal stories and insights based on questions submitted beforehand. Enjoy tea drinks and snacks while you listen! Submit questions here.

International@Midd: F-1/J-1 Status and Responsibilities

How to maintain your F-1/J-1 status: the must-knows for students in F-1/J-1 status. Bring your travel documents to this session. 

Required for International@Midd pathway

Note:
1. J-1 status will be held in BiHall 220.
2. F-1 status will be held in BiHall 216.

First@Midd: Digging Deeper Social

Join staff at the Anderson Freeman Resource Center and experience connecting with peers by building bridges across differences. This will be an engaging opportunity to learn about the AFC and connect with classmates through facilitated activities.

Open to all pathways

Speed Friending (All Students)

Students can get to know folks from other pathways and orientation groups for some speedy connections. 

Game Night & Karaoke & Sexy Bingo

Join other students in the student center for an evening of board games, video games, Sexy Bingo, karaoke, and more! There will be snacks and delicious mocktails to kick off the celebration of Recovery Month. Game Night is open to all first-year students; however, please note that Sexy Bingo will have designated rounds for different Orientation Groups - Click here to see the scheduled breakdown for this event.

Pre Major Advising

Students will meet with their academic advisors to discuss upcoming course registration and plan their first semester. Check with your advisor for locations and times. 

Required for all first-years

Unlearning at Midd

Unlearning at Midd gives students the opportunity to:

• Examine, engage with, and challenge assumptions related to anti-oppression, anti-discrimination, and/or disrupting societal norms.
• Reflect on their own experiences and positionalities they are bringing with them to Middlebury.
• Explore what it means to be in a living and learning community with diverse people, experiences, and perspectives.  

Required for all students

Orientation Group Meetings

Students will spend time connecting with their orientation groups. Students will participate in skill-building, information gathering, and opportunities to build community. 

Required for all pathways

Pre Major Advising

Students will meet with their academic advisors to discuss upcoming course registration and plan their first semester. Check with your advisor for locations and times. 

Required for all first-years

Green Dot

An introductory session to Green Dot, Middlebury’s Violence Prevention Strategy that trains students, faculty, and staff in bystander intervention to help prevent instances of power-based personal violence (PBPV). A “Green Dot” is defined as any action, choice, word, or attitude that counters or displaces a “red dot” of violence, reducing the likelihood that someone will be hurt. This not only promotes safety for everyone in the Middlebury community, but also sends a clear message that we do not tolerate violence on our campus. 

Required for all students. Click here to see the scheduled breakdown for this event.

Campus Tours

Join a quick 30-minute campus tour led by Orientation Leaders, where students can get to know the campus and learn a bit about its history. Sign up here.

Pre Major Advising

Students will meet with their academic advisors to discuss upcoming course registration and plan their first semester. Check with your advisor for locations and times. 

Required for all first-years

First@Midd: Peer Exploration

Students can connect with others about their experiences navigating their academic journey. Come prepared with questions about how upperclassmen have found their way to their majors and academic areas of interest.

Open to all pathways

International@Midd: Cultural Adjustment

Transitions and new environments: how do we cope with them?

Required for International@Midd pathway

First@Midd: First Gen Knoll Night

First@Midd participants will deepen connections to the campus Knoll and learn about the Educational Garden, the Outdoor Kitchen, and the Serenity Garden.

Required for First@Midd pathway

Sunset Yoga

As part of the wellness events, students can participate in a beginner-friendly yoga session led by Joanna Colwell, an instructor from Otter Creek Yoga in town. They’ll flow through gentle movements while taking in the beauty of the sunset. Spots are limited, so be sure to sign up here.

Square Dance

Bring out your finest Vermont flannel and get ready to do-si-do to McCullough Lawn with live music, beverages, and snacks! The Square Dance is an orientation tradition that we are ecstatic to bring back this year. Join us for an unforgettable night of orientation fun! 

Sunrise Yoga

As part of the wellness events, students can participate in a beginner-friendly yoga session led by Joanna Colwell, an instructor from Otter Creek Yoga in town. They’ll flow through gentle movements while taking in the beauty of the rising sun. Spots are limited, so be sure to sign up here.

First@Midd: Resilient Leadership

Consider your lens of leadership and challenge it. Explore your leadership values, consider the role of your education in your future impact, and engage in intercultural dialogue to broaden your understanding of what it means to be a leader.

Required for First@Midd pathway
Open to all

International@Midd: Stories from the Inside

As you begin your journey at Midd, you’ll be shaping your own story. Along the way, we’ll explore key topics such as maintaining your status, staying safe, and planning next steps that contribute to your story.

Required for International@Midd pathway

Orientation Group Meetings

Get a sense of how students feel sure they know how Middlebury systems work and provide learning opportunities to practice navigating them. 

Required for all pathways

Burlington Shopping Trip

Students will get the chance to go to Burlington and shop for dorm essentials and other items they may need as they enter and continue into their college lives. RSVP here. 

Students should expect to arrive back on campus at around 6 PM. There will be time to eat afterwards. 

New@Midd: Take & Make

Students will be able to spend a sunny afternoon recharging outside. Take a moment to create through journaling or painting, connect with some friendly campus dogs, or energize with some games of volleyball or spikeball. Shaved ice will be available to keep you cool, and students are welcome to bring a blanket to stretch out and relax in the grass.

Open to all pathways

New@Midd: Identity Beads

This activity is designed for students to reflect on their own identities and gain an understanding of salience in a simplified manner. We want students to take a critical look at the parts of their identities that are most prominent and maybe finally think about the ones that are not and why.

New@Midd pathway only

New Student Run

Join new students on a moderate 2-3 mile run around campus/ town led by Orientation Leaders! Sign up here.

Art Night & Spark A Connection

Head to the McCullough Student Center to be in community and build connections over a variety of arts and crafts, an open mic session, beverages, and snacks!

New Student Run

Join new students on a moderate 2-3 mile run around campus/ town led by Orientation Leaders! Sign up here.

International@Midd: U.S. Classroom Culture & Orientation Group Meetings

Receive your first Midd class from Professor Shawna Shapiro…all about the U.S. classroom and academic culture.

Required for International@Midd pathway

Orientation Group Meetings

Students will spend time connecting with their orientation groups. Students will participate in skill-building, information gathering, and opportunities to build community. 

Required for New@Midd pathway
Required for First@Midd pathway

Community Care Fair

Spend time with offices across campus and organizations in our community learning about their services and participating in activities promoting giving and receiving care as a student! Each group will have information about what they do, giveaways, and offer a chance to connect with their team. Each table you visit earns you a raffle ticket to enter to win prizes.

Required for all students. Click here to see the scheduled breakdown for this event.

Jummah Prayers

Class Dean Meetings

Class Deans will introduce themselves and share the resources and support they offer to help students navigate their college experience.

Required for all first-year students; Not open to transfer students. Click here to see the scheduled breakdown for this event.

Open Gear Room Hours

Come visit Middlebury Outdoor Program’s headquarters in the Gear Room, where students can borrow gear such as skis, kayaks, bikes, and more throughout the school year! This will also be a time for students to borrow gear for their New Student Weekend trips taking place on Saturday.

Open to all first-year students

International@Midd: Knoll Experience

Explore the campus garden. Heads up! The views are gorgeous, weather permitting.

Required for International@Midd pathway

Connect & Learns

Connect and Learns are short, informational meet-ups with staff and student leaders who will share about community-connected opportunities with the Center for Community Engagement (the CCE). Click here to view individual sessions and register. Sign up here!

Posse Dinner

This is a chance for Posse scholars and their mentors to come together and bond in a relaxed environment as they begin their college journeys. 

Transfer & Exchange Dinner

Required for transfer and exchange students

Shabbat Dinner

Students can celebrate their first week at Middlebury with a warm, home-cooked Shabbat dinner hosted by Rabbi Danielle Stillman and students active in Jewish Life. Open to all students, this gathering at the Jewish Center includes traditional blessings, good company, and great food—no Jewish background necessary. RSVP here.

International@Midd: Got Talent Show

It could be a talent show. Or a non-talent show. Totally up to you.

International@Midd pathway only

Rec Night

Join us for some outdoor recreation and games. Or just relax with new friends around our portable fire pits. Snacks and beverages will be provided.

Orientation Group Meetings

Students will spend time connecting with their orientation groups. Students will participate in skill-building, information gathering, and opportunities to build community. 

Required for all pathways

New Student Weekend Trips

New Student Weekend is a program that allows you to explore and connect to Middlebury and surrounding areas, make new friends through shared experiences, and gain a deeper sense of belonging here at Middlebury. 

Required for all pathways

Movie On the Lawn

Join your peers for a chill, outdoor screening with popcorn and snacks.

Floor Meetings & Class Photo

Meet with your RAs and members from your floor, then join your fellow peers & classmates for a class photo on Pearsons Hill!

Required for all students. 

Orientation Group Meetings

Students will spend time connecting with their orientation groups. Students will participate in skill-building, information gathering, and opportunities to build community. 

Required for all pathways

Convocation & Honor Code

Students embark on their academic journey and are led by college dignitaries for this traditional college event. Afterwards, students will sign the Honor Code with their classmates. 

Required for all students