New Student Orientation

8 a.m.-2 p.m.

International Student Orientation

8 a.m.-2 p.m.

New Residential Freshman Student Arrival
See the full arrival schedule for your move-in time

1:30-2:30 p.m.

New Commuter Student Arrival and Connection Reception
A. W. Clausen Center for World Business
New commuting students arrive on campus and check in at the A. W. Clausen Center for World Business. Join fellow commuter students for helpful information about commuting to Carthage at the Commuter Connection Reception.

11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Lunch 
The Caf
Students and their families can enjoy a complimentary welcome lunch in the Caf (2nd floor in the Todd Wehr Center).

1:30-3:30 p.m.

Campus Resource Fair
Campbell Student Union
All first-year students and their families are invited to learn more about campus resources, meet select faculty advisors, and plug into the campus community. Attendees will be able to meet with career coaches, speak with faculty advisors, complete student employment forms, pick up their course textbooks, and interact with support staff from all areas of the College.

4-5 p.m.

Community Welcome Session
Tarble Arena, N. E. Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center
Residential and commuter students and their families are invited to the official freshman orientation kick-off! Hear remarks from Student Government President Tyler Kelly, Carthage College President John Swallow, and others as we welcome the newest Firebirds to campus!

5 p.m.

Meet Your Small Group
Campus Drive
Students will meet with their orientation small groups for the first time.

5:15 p.m.

Parent/Family Reception
Donna’s Bytes, Hedberg Library
After saying a final “see you later!” to your student, please join other parents and families for refreshments in Hedberg Library.

5:15-8:30 p.m.

Activity Rotation A: Getting Things Started
After meeting their small group leaders, students will rotate through three sessions in their small groups. Use the Orientation Guidebook to see your group’s complete schedule.

• Dinner with Your Small Group, the Caf
• Small Group Meeting #1: Getting to Know You, assigned small group meeting location
• Sign Kissing Rock and Take a Group Photo, Kissing Rock

Please note: At 7:30 p.m., the entire Class of 2026 will gather at Augie Schmidt Field for the Class of 2026 group photo. 

8 p.m.

Playfair
TARC Field House
It’s entertainment! It’s fun! It’s the perfect way to make new campus friendships! Playfair is a team-building experience that has a long-lasting effect on the members of your campus community.

7:45-8:45 a.m.

Breakfast
The Caf, 2nd floor in the Todd Wehr Center
Students can eat breakfast in the Caf before beginning the day’s Orientation activities.

8:45 a.m.

Meet with your small group
Assigned small group meeting space
Meet with your small group and get ready for a day of Orientation activities.

9 a.m.

Small Group Meeting #2: Getting to Know You Part 2
Assigned small group location

10:15 a.m.

Communicating in a Diverse World
Assigned small group location

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Activity Rotation B: Navigating Life on Campus
Students will rotate through two sessions in their small groups. Use the Orientation Guidebook to see your group’s complete schedule.

• Lunch with Small Group, the Caf, Todd Wehr Center
• Campus Tour as Small Group, assigned small group meeting location

1:30-4:15 p.m.

Activity Rotation C: Campus Academic Resources
Students will rotate through three sessions in their small groups. Use the Orientation Guidebook to see your group’s complete schedule.

• Classroom Expectations, Jockey Rooms, Todd Wehr Center
• Academic Support Services, 128s, Todd Wehr Center
• Tech Tools for Success, A. F. Siebert Chapel

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Small Group Meeting #3 
Small Group locations

5:30-8 p.m.

Activity Rotation D: A Community of Care
Students will rotate through a series of presentations and attend dinner with their assigned small groups. Use the Orientation Guidebook to see your group’s complete schedule.

• Dinner with Small Group, the Caf, Todd Wehr Center
• Bystander Intervention, Jockey Rooms, Todd Wehr Center

8 p.m.

Evening Social Program: VIP Night
Campbell Student Union
Join us for food and entertainment in the Campbell Student Union! The Carthage bookstore will open and offer special deals for new students, and Parkhurst will feature new snacks for all to try!

7:45-8:45 a.m.

Breakfast
The Caf, 2nd floor in the Todd Wehr Center
Students can eat breakfast in the Caf before beginning the day’s Orientation activities.

9:15 a.m.

Meet Your Small Group
Campus Drive
Meet with your small group before beginning Orientation activities.

9:30 a.m.

Small Group Meeting #4
Assigned Group Meeting Space

10:30 a.m.

Sex Rules Presentation
A. F. Siebert Chapel
Sex Rules is an interactive, multimedia Title IX-compliant lecture that discusses sexual assault awareness and prevention. The program’s focus is to simultaneously educate and empower your students to understand safe sex practices, interactions, and exploration. Sex Rules trains students to understand and recognize all forms of sexual violence, along with proper methods for healing or helping survivors who have experienced any form of sexual misconduct.

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Activity Rotation E: Being a Firebird
Students will attend lunch and a student panel on a rotating schedule with their assigned small group. Use the Orientation Guidebook to see your group’s complete schedule.

• Lunch with Small Group, the Caf, Todd Wehr Center
• I am a Firebird: Student Engagement Panel, 128s, Todd Wehr Center

1:30-2:30 p.m.

Break / Optional Activities

• LGBTQIA Meet-Up, 2nd floor lounge, Campbell Student Union
• First-Gen Meet Up, Living Room, Campbell Student Union
• Lawn Games, Kissing Rock
• Book Store Assistance, Barnes and Noble, Campbell Student Union
• Schedule Specific Campus Tours, flagpole outside the Todd Wehr Center

2:30-5:15 p.m.

Activity Rotation F: Engaging in Community
Students will attend three informational session on a rotating schedule with their assigned small group. Use the Orientation Guidebook to see your group’s complete schedule.

• Carthage Lingo Trivia, 128s, Todd Wehr Center
• Center for Student Success, A. F. Siebert Chapel
• The Aspire Center, Jockey Rooms, Todd Wehr Center

5:30-7 p.m.

Activity Rotation G: Reflecting and Goal Setting
Use the Orientation Guidebook to see your group’s complete schedule.

• Small Group Meeting #5, Small Group Location
• Dinner with Your Small Group, the Caf, Todd Wehr Center

8 p.m.

Evening Social Activity
Throughout the Carthage campus (read description for more information)
Join us for food and fun while enjoying our beautiful Lake Michigan view. S’mores and popsicles will be available in the Denhart Courtyard, and a tie-dye station will be set up behind the Tower with free pillowcases available for you to dye. Yard games will be available to play in the Johnson courtyard, and sand volleyball will be happening on both sand courts.

7:45-8:45 a.m.

Breakfast
The Caf, 2nd floor in the Todd Wehr Center
Students can eat breakfast in the Caf before beginning the day’s Orientation activities.

8:45 a.m.

Final Small Group Meeting #6
Outdoor Small Group Location
More information will be available soon. 

9:15-10:30 a.m.

Creating Campus Connections (Optional Programming)

• LGBTQIA Meet-Up, 2nd floor lounge, Campbell Student Union
• First-Gen Meet-Up, Living Room, Campbell Student Union
• Lawn Games, Kissing Rock
• Bookstore Assistance, Barnes and Noble, Campbell Student Union
• Schedule Specific Campus Tours, flagpole outside the Todd Wehr Center
  Students wanting a guided campus tour to locate all spaces on their course schedule should meet at the Kissing Rock. Please be sure to bring a copy of your schedule or have access to it virtually during the tour.

9:15 a.m.

BIPOC Student Gathering
Location TBD
More information will be available soon.

11:30 a.m.

Lunch 
the Caf, Todd Wehr Center
More information will be available soon.