On May 10, IUPUI faculty and staff attended Explore the Roar: A Campus-Wide Orientation Kick-Off for the first time since 2017. Campus leaders shared updates on admissions, orientation, and the first-year experience, along with information specifically for advisors.
Explore the Roar includes New Student Orientation, Jaguar Launch, Bridge Week, Weeks of Welcome (WOW), and first-year seminar. Through these events, faculty and staff across campus prepare to support students as they begin their journey at IUPUI.
“The process of building relationships with new and incoming students has already begun,” said Eric Weldy, vice chancellor for student affairs.
Over 2,400 students have reserved their spots at orientation, and messaging continues to encourage more reservations. To eliminate barriers for students, IUPUI removed the deposit previously required before reserving orientation spots.
“What we’re talking to students about now is orientation,” said Jackie Acosta, executive director of undergraduate admissions. “That is something that matters more to students than an arbitrary deadline. We’re seeing more deposits with that approach.”
Students attending orientation events, including Freshman Orientation, Transition Orientation, and International Orientation, June through August, will receive information about housing, financial aid, advising, registration, and available resources. As a complement to orientation, students will also complete Jaguar Launch, self-paced modules created to help new students learn more about Jaguar life and deepen their knowledge about IUPUI and the support and resources available.
This fall will mark the second year all incoming freshmen will attend Bridge Week. Along with Bridge Week, students enroll in a first-year seminar course to further acclimate them to college. As classes begin, the Division of Student Affairs will again lead the Weeks of Welcome effort, with a series of events welcoming all new and returning Jaguars to campus.