Welcome

Welcome to Geneseo.  Whether you are a member of the Class of 2016 or a transfer student, January Orientation is designed to introduce you to Geneseo.  You'll have an opportunity to meet with faculty and staff and begin to discuss your academic career and learn about the expectations of a Geneseo student, register for spring classes, meet with current students, and begin to build friendships through the offered activities at Orientation.

The Orientation staff encourages you to take full advantage of all that Orientation has to offer, including meeting your Orientation Advisor and fully participating in all events.  We are excited to welcome you to our community, help ease your transition, and show you the many opportunities at Geneseo. 

Important Dates

Registering for Orientation

January orientation is a one-day program in which new students learn about campus life and academic expectations.  Each student will have an appointment with a faculty advisor to register for spring classes. Students should plan to arrive for orientation at 8am and stay until 9pm. 

Check-in for both residential and commuter students will begin at  8:00am in Wadsworth Auditorium. The program begins promptly at 8:30am.

If you do not attend orientation, your class schedule will be assigned by the Dean of the College.

The orientation fee of $75.00 includes materials, programs, advising, lunch and dinner for students.  The deadline for orientation registration is January 4, 2013.  

You cannot register for Orientation until you have paid your college deposit and received the Admissions Office confirmation letter that contains your Geneseo email address and ID number; and until you have affirmed the Student Code of Conduct.

To sign up for orientation online with a credit card click here. (Prefered method of payment).

However, if you prefer, you may download a registration form here and mail it with a check (made out to Campus Auxiliary Services #06) to the Office of Orientation & First-Year Programs, MacVittie College Union 354, SUNY Geneseo, 1 College Circle, Geneseo, NY  14454.

 Affirm the Code of Conduct

Every student at SUNY Geneseo is expected to adhere to the College’s Code of Conduct.  New students cannot register for classes until they have read and affirmed the Code.  The link below will take you to an abbreviated version of Geneseo’s Code of Conduct and instructions for affirmation.

You will need your Geneseo ID number to log into the Knightweb system to complete this procedure.  Your ID is in the letter that you received from the Admissions Office after submitting your deposit to Geneseo.

After logging in to Knightweb, be sure to change your password and write down your new one in a safe place as you’ll be using it in the future.

Affirm the Code of Conduct

 Family Participation

We strongly encourage family members to attend January Orientation with their student.  The more you understand about the college experience, the more helpful you will be to your student during his/her transition.

Family members can expect to gain an increased familiarity with campus life at Geneseo and be introduced to some of the faculty, staff and students who teach, advise, and guide students at Geneseo.  Information about residence life, campus safety and security, academic support services, student health care, community expectations, and tips on how to support students during their (and your) transition to college will also be provided at Family Orientation. 

Should you need overnight accommodations, please visit the following sites for information about local accommodations.  http://geneseony.com or http://fingerlakeswest.com.

The orientation cost for family members or guests includes orientation materials, a continential breakfast, and lunch.  The family program will wrap up by 4:30pm.

What to Expect

• Register for your spring classes
• Meet with faculty advisors who can answer your questions about majors, core requirements, etc.
• Meet other new and transfer students at Geneseo
• Meet Geneseo faculty, staff, and administrators
• Learn about campus life from current Geneseo students
• Explore ways to get involved in campus activities
• Become familiar with Geneseo's campus
• Get your Geneseo student ID card
• Increase your confidence about entering Geneseo

Schedule

Student Schedule

Family Schedule

Students should plan to arrive at 8am to have time to check-in before the program begins. The Welcome Ceremony begins promptly at 8:30am in Wadsworth Auditorium.

After the opening events, students will attend presentations by faculty in the academic departments.  Students will learn about course requirements and about opportunities related to their majors. Each student will have an assigned appointment time to meet individually with a faculty advisor in Milne Library to plan a schedule of courses.   

Students and participating family members will attend a presentation by the Dean of Students. Lunch and dinner will be in Mary Jemison Dining Hall. At midday, students and family members may stop by the Information Fair in the College Union Ballroom.  At this event, representatives from on-campus offices and nearby off-campus services will staff tables to provide information and answer questions.  More than twenty campus offices and programs will be represented, including Disabilities Services, Health and Counseling, Athletics, Career Development, Financial Aid, and the GOLD Leadership Program.  Off-campus services include banks and transportation. The advisement appointments and other activities will finish by 9:00pm for students.  The family program will conclude by 4:30pm.

What to Bring

Students should bring a list of the courses they are currently taking or have taken recently.  Be sure to write down the college, the course number, credit hours, and the course title.  We may not have this most recent information in your folder, so bringing this list with you will be helpful when you talk to your advisor.  (Your official transcripts should be sent directly to Geneseo's Records Office, Erwin 102.)

Residential students will move into their residence halls on Thursday, January 17, beginning at noon. Housing assignments will be mailed at the beginning of January.  When you arrive to campus you will go directly to your assigned residence hall and move your items into your assigned room.   After attending orientation on Friday, you'll have a few days to set up your room, purchase your books, and explore the campus and village before classes begin on Tuesday, January 22.

 What to do Before You Arrive

Every student must affirm the college's Code of Conduct. Students must complete this affirmation before registering for classes, so you should read the Code and do the survey before arriving on campus. Instructions are listed above. You will want to take a look at the course offerings for spring semester. You can do this through KnightWeb or by going to The Master Schedule.  Don't try to construct a schedule - you'll be doing that with your advisor - but write down some courses that interest you (especially an INTD105).  The website for the Dean of the College also has a link to the College Bulletin, which provides information on general education courses and requirements for specific majors.

Foreign Language Exam

If there is a chance you will be taking a foreign language course at Geneseo - to fulfill the graduation requirement, as part of a major/minor, or as an elective - you should plan to take the placement exam.  Placement exams will be available at the start of the spring semester.

The French, Spanish, and German tests are computerized.  Paper versions are available for Italian and Latin. For more information on the placement exams, see the Department of Languages and Literatures website (click on Academics) or call the department at (585) 245-5247.

Students and Family Members with Disabilities

SUNY Geneseo would like to ensure that no individual with a disability is excluded, denied access, or otherwise treated differently from any other individual attending Orientation.  Please contact us about accommodations at your earliest convenience, but no later than two weeks prior to the beginning of your orientation session, to give us sufficient time to make appropriate arrangements.  Contact the Office of Orientation & First-Year Programs at orientation@geneseo.edu or (585) 245-5852.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  If my plans change, is it possible to get a refund of the Orientation fees?

A:  Refunds are possible if your plans change.  Written notice one week prior to orientation is required. Emergency situations will be reviewed by the Director of New Student Programs.  There will be a 10% handling fee deducted for refunds requested after January 1.  Refunds can be requested online by filling out the Refund Request Form.

Contact Us

Kimberly A. Harvey, Director of New Student Programs
Office of Orientation & First-Year Programs
354 MacVittie College Union
(585) 245-5852
orientation@geneseo.edu