A crowd walks under an archway with a sign hanging that says "Welcome to the College"

College Programming and Orientation

Welcome, Class of 2028

Congratulations on your admission to UChicago. We are excited to welcome you as a new member of our community. College Orientation begins the summer before you arrive through Online Orientation and continues when you arrive on campus for Orientation Week. Scroll below for more Online Orientation and O-Week programs.

Quick Links

Information about

O-Week

College Orientation

Online Orientation

Before You Arrive – Online Orientation

Online Orientation is designed to help incoming students develop foundational knowledge of the University’s values, expectations, structures, and resource. Before you arrive, you’ll receive Orientation Newsletters, online learning modules, virtual webinars, and access to your UCMP Peer Mentor.

Learn more about Online Orientation programming here. 

A large group of students sit in the pews of a chapel listening to a speaker. Flags for The College and the Class of '22 are displayed.

When You Arrive – Orientation Week

The College is delighted to welcome the Class of 2028 and incoming transfer students to the University. College Orientation Week, or O-Week, began in 1934 as a way to introduce a new class of students to the traditions and community that has made the University of Chicago a unique destination for students from around the world. This multi-day series of events, programs, and meetings provides new students with an in-depth overview of how the College works.

Learn more about Orientation Week programming here. 

Upcoming Orientation Programs

Unique programming for incoming first-year and transfer students.

Visit the full College Calendar of Events here

Welcome to the UChicago community of parents and families. As your student begins to make the transition into the College, we know that there will be a period of transition for you as well. As a parent or family member of a UChicago student, you are considered part of the extended UChicago community. We hope you will take advantage of the many opportunities we offer to engage with the faculty, staff, students, and alumni on campus and around the world. 

Quick Links

Housing & Residence Life is here to help develop and support inclusive communities that engage residents in exceptional living experiences within secure and well-maintained environments that foster a sense of belonging and support the academic initiatives of the University.

The University of Chicago has a six quarter residency requirement – all traditional first-year students (have never attended college previously) are required to live on campus during the first six quarters of enrollment. Students transferring from other colleges or universities are required to live on campus for their first three quarters of enrollment. 

The new student housing application generally opens within the myHousing portal in early May, closing at the end of June. Each student has the opportunity to provide responses to several lifestyle and living preferences within the application. More general information about the new student housing application and assignment process can be found here.

Students that require specific housing accommodations must initiate their request through Student Disability Services. We strongly encourage students seeking specific housing accommodations to engage Student Disability Services as soon as possible after accepting their offer of admission. 

Quick Links

Safety is our top priority – it’s also a community effort. The Department of Safety and Security helps connect students, employees, local residents, and visitors with the resources and information they need to stay safe and enjoy our thriving city. The Department of Safety and Security operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support the safety of our community and respond in times of need.

Quick Links

One of the defining aspects of study at UChicago is its setting in the city of Chicago and the Hyde Park neighborhood. Here, opportunities to interact with the city’s cultural institutions, neighborhoods, and more are woven into student life. Chicago offers countless experiences—in every field imaginable—that connect learning on campus to the world outside the classroom.

Quick Links

There are many people and resources here to help make your transition into the College as smooth as possible. At the University of Chicago, there are two main offices that will help you with financial questions. 

Financial Aid aims to ensure all admitted students have access to an affordable University of Chicago education. The primary responsibilities of this office are to determine the eligibility of students for University and federal funds, as well as to award student funds like the Perkins/Stafford loans and Federal Work-Study allocations. They also handle questions about alternative, emergency, and parent loans. Finally, Financial Aid handles all outside scholarships including National Merit scholarships.

The Office of the Bursar handles all accounts and payments receivable/payable for the University. These include tuition payments, phone bills, and paychecks for most student employees of the University.

Quick Links

To ensure the intellectual richness of research and education, the University of Chicago seeks to provide an environment conducive to learning, teaching, working, and conducting research that values the diversity of its community. The University strives to be supportive of the academic, personal, and work related needs of each individual and is committed to facilitating the full participation of students with a disability in the life of the University. The University is committed to complying with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Student Disability Services (SDS) works in collaboration with University of Chicago faculty and staff to provide resources, support, and accommodations to ensure that all aspects of student life are accessible and inclusive of persons with disabilities. The process of determining eligibility and considering what is a reasonable modification or adjustment is an interactive and collaborative process. Incoming students with disabilities should begin the accommodation process as soon as they have submitted their enrollment deposits in order to ensure that appropriate accommodations are approved and in place before classes begin.  If a disability determination is made, the Office of the College Dean of Students will facilitate the implementation of approved auxiliary aids and services.

 

It often happens that religious holidays occur during Orientation. It is our goal that students will be able to fully observe their holiday without missing important information. The Office of Spiritual Life offers connections with a wide variety of religious organizations on campus, in Hyde Park and throughout the city of Chicago. Many students who are observant take advantage of the programs offered by UChicago Hillel and Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Life & Learning during these times.

 

The University of Chicago does not supply wheelchairs or scooters. To arrange for a wheelchair or scooter rental, please see below for a preferred rental company in the Chicagoland area. 

 

Quick Links