Students: All first-year and transfer students are required to attend Advising & Orientation. By participating in A&O, you will: 

  • Identify campus resources to assist your transition to the UW
  • Meet with an academic adviser to begin registering for courses, interact with faculty, staff, and the community
  • Understand academic and community expectations at the UW

The Advising & Orientation focus areas include the following:

  • A&O Part 1: Setting the Foundation (self-guided, asynchronous)
    • Focus: Completing University requirements through the New Husky Checklist (e.g. Code of Conduct, Alcohol module, Hazing, Immunization, Title IX ). This includes the Husky Foundations course, enabling students' understanding of how the university is structured and increasing knowledge about critical resources for the first year.  
  • A&O Part 2: Academic Identity, Transition, and Registration (Live in Zoom, synchronous)
    • Focus: Day-long sessions centered on academic advising connections, faculty and student expectations, and exploring campus resources. Students will meet with peer leaders and engage in conversations with other incoming Huskies in small community groups. 
  • A&O Part 3: Community Connections during Dawg Daze (on-campus, in-person) 
    • Focus: Small group meetings with Husky Ambassadors, identifying tools for academic success, understanding campus history and traditions, and engaging with campus resources.

Before school begins, In addition to Advising & Orientation, students have the opportunity to engage in two additional transitional programs:  

  • New Husky Experiences (in-person and online webinars in the summer) 
    • Focus: Wayfinding and connections to the physical UW campus, decision-making, relationships with Orientation Leaders, live webinars, transfer panels, regional connection groups, and peer leader meet-ups.
  • Dawg Daze (in-person before/start of autumn quarter) 
    • Focus: Events to encourage students to connect, explore and get involved in the UW Community.

What we learned about shifting to remote delivery for A&O:

  • Most first-year and transfer students enter the UW and need more certainty of a significant or guaranteed academic pathway. Students are navigating a maze of majors, and A&O must ensure that students understand how to navigate and help students identify their educational plans. 
  • We expect COVID-19 and its variants to fluctuate for the next few years. Because of this, we will plan to provide various program delivery methods.  
  • We have experienced success and will continue to be innovative in providing meaningful interactions and support to students in a virtual space.
  • The virtual environment has allowed for deeper one-on-one conversations with students and the ability to seek help and discuss their specific and unique circumstances, focusing less on general information that may not apply to all students. 
  • We can group students in a cohort of first-year and transfer students beginning in the summer through Dawg Daze to increase a sense of belonging and community.