So, you are Fordham bound this fall. Congratulations! We’re excited to welcome the newest class of Rams, and we have a ton of fun Welcome Week activities planned to help you learn the ins and outs of life at Fordham.
It all begins Aug. 22, when the residence halls open and orientation programming gets underway. To help you feel prepared, here are 10 things to know about Opening Day.
1. You’ll need your student ID
Before you arrive on campus, activate your electronic student ID. Just upload your photo through the student portal and then activate your ID through the Fordham Mobile app. The app is also where you’ll find your class schedule, Ram Van tickets, and dining account, so make sure to download it and learn your way around before orientation.
2. The Orientation app has your schedule and more
You should also download the Fordham Orientation app before Opening Day. Just search “Fordham Orientation” in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app will have your orientation schedule along with other important resources, including a campus map. You can view the main University orientation schedule and build your personal orientation schedule in the app so you won’t miss a thing.
3. You have an assigned move-in time
If you’re living on campus, you will have received an email from the Office of Residential Life with your assigned move-in time slot. To ensure the day goes smoothly, make sure you arrive on time.
At both campuses, you’ll be able to pull your car up to the front of your residence hall, or pretty close. Public safety officers will direct you to your unloading spot; when you’re done, you and your family can move your car to a parking garage. This move-in day guide has step-by-step instructions.
4. You won’t lift a finger!
When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by orientation leaders, easily recognizable by their maroon shirts. They’ll move your belongings from your vehicle into moving carts and then deliver them to your room. Label all of your boxes with your name, residence hall, and room number so that everything makes it to the right spot. And be sure to review the list of items to bring and those to leave at home before you start packing.
5. You don’t want to miss the Welcome Mass
Both campuses will hold a Welcome Mass for students and their families on Opening Day. It’s a great chance to celebrate the beginning of your college journey and come together as a community with your new classmates.
6. Opening Day is just the beginning
Aug. 22 is the first day of Fordham’s mandatory four-day orientation for new students. The scheduled programming for Lincoln Center and Rose Hill includes activities to help you meet your classmates and adjust to life in New York City, learn your way around campus and find your classes, and learn about Fordham’s history and all the resources available to you here.
During orientation, you’ll have the opportunity to explore both campuses, and you’ll learn how to travel between them.
7. You’ll get to know your class
Orientation is your chance to start finding your friends at Fordham, and there will be several Welcome Week traditions that bring you and your fellow Rams together. On Opening Day, there will be a welcome reception for multicultural and first-generation college students and their families. All students will gather on the Rose Hill campus Aug. 23 for a class photo, followed by a barbecue and the traditional candlelighting ceremony.
You can upload photos of the fun to social media and then tag @fordhamuniversity. We can’t wait to see Welcome Week through your eyes!
8. There will be time to explore both campuses
Rose Hill students will also get the chance to explore the Lincoln Center campus. Students can climb aboard a Metro-North train on Aug. 24 for a special celebration on the Lincoln Center Plaza. When the party is over, you can ride the train back home with your fellow Rams.
Beyond orientation, you can travel between campuses on the Ram Van. Tickets are $3.50, but free for students taking classes at the opposite campus.
9. There are special events for commuter students
Opening Day is not just for students living on campus. There will be orientation activities for all new students, including some events specifically for commuter students. During breakout groups and check-in events, you’ll learn from student mentors about commuter student services like career chats, workshops and programs, and ways to get involved on campus.
10. Opening Day is for families, too!
Parents and families are invited to attend the Welcome Mass, the president’s address, and other orientation events to learn about the resources available to them and their students. In the evening on Opening Day, there will be a “farewell to families” before parents depart.
Getting ready for Opening Day
If you’ve got more questions ahead of Opening Day, review the orientation websites for Rose Hill and for Lincoln Center. There, you’ll also find contact information for Rose Hill’s orientation team and Lincoln Center’s orientation team.
