Syracuse Welcome Small Groups

• Meeting other new students outside of your residence hall and major.
• Gaining mentors through upper-division student leaders.
• Campus wayfinding.
• Campus resource information.
• Addressing hopes and fears ahead of your first semester.

• “I am grateful to meet people that are not in ECS (College of Engineering and Computer Science).”
• “Meeting new people that I could talk to one on one and knowing that they will start to be familiar faces over the next couple of days as we meet again was the most valuable part!”
• “The Orientation Leaders made us feel comfortable. It was very relaxed and informal.”
• “I really liked having the LGBTQ+ Small Group. It helped me feel a lot less lost starting out at SU.”
• “I found the group sharing to be most valuable. I felt like our group truly connected and bonded in a closer way with that hopes and fears activity.”
• “Hearing people who’ve been in college longer than us dispelling myths and telling us how it actually is, instead of how media or non-students might lead you to believe.”

See below for the tentative schedule.

There are 1,500 spots available for the Syracuse Welcome Small Groups. Register for Syracuse Welcome Small Groups through the New Student Orientation Registration Required Task by July 15, 2023. If spots fill up prior to July 15, then you will not see Small Groups as an option. You should still complete that Required Task, however.

• 2-2:45 p.m. | Small Groups 1-25
• 3-3:45 p.m. | Small Groups 26-50

*There are no conflicts with other Required Events during Syracuse Welcome.

6-7 p.m. | Small Groups 1-25

7:15-8:15 p.m. | Small Groups 26-50

*This meeting will conflict with Shabbat Services and Shabbat Dinner. If you wish to observe, please prioritize going to Syracuse Hillel!

• 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Small Groups 1-25
• 12:45-2:15 p.m. | Small Groups 26-50

*This meeting will conflict with some optional/as-needed advising appointments. School of Architecture may have required events as well. Please prioritize your advising needs and School of Architecture events if they apply to you.

This is open to anyone regardless of their identity or interests. Curriculum in this small group includes community-building, wayfinding and campus hotspots, addressing hopes and fears for your first semester and more!

These small groups are led by and designed for BIPOC students (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). Those that do not share this identity should not choose this option. Curriculum includes everything in the General Small Groups but through the lens of a BIPOC student.

Though these groups are designed to explore college life as a BIPOC student, students of all racial/ethnic identities may participate.

These small groups are led by and designed for students who are the first in their families to attend college. This may look different for different students. Please define this as you wish! Curriculum includes everything in the General Small Groups but through the lens of a first-gen student.

These small groups are led by and designed for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Allies should not select this option. Curriculum includes everything in the General Small Groups but through the lens of an LGBTQIA+ student.

Though these groups are designed to explore college life as a LGBTQIA+ student, students of any sexual orientation or identity may participate.

*If interested in participating in a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) LGBTQIA+ Small Group, please select both!

These small groups are led by and designed for students whose home is not New York. New Yorkers should not select this option. Curriculum includes everything in the General Small Groups but through the lens of an out of state student.

These small groups are led by and designed for women in a STEM major (science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics). Curriculum includes everything in the General Small Groups but through the lens of a woman in STEM.

Though these groups are designed to explore college life as a female student in the STEM disciplines, students of any sex, gender, or gender identity may participate.

Syracuse Welcome Small Groups end on Saturday, Aug. 26. In the past, Small Groups have met up during the school year to reconnect on their own, but there are no further programmatic expectations once class starts.

There is no cost.

Syracuse Welcome Small Groups are limited to 1,500 students on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be no wait list. Interested students are encouraged to register for New Student Orientation as soon as possible to be able to opt-in for Syracuse Welcome Small Groups.

Once Small Groups are assigned this summer, you will receive an email from New Student Programs with details about your Orientation Leaders, their contact information, your Small Group number and meeting locations. Details will be shared in early August.

International students are strongly encouraged to opt-in for the Syracuse Welcome Small Groups! During International Student Orientation, you will be in small groups led by Welcome Ambassadors International (WAI Leaders). The Syracuse Welcome Small Groups offer opportunities to connect with domestic students.

We have created a schedule that will allow students to participate in both Syracuse Welcome Small Groups and Pre-Welcome Programs.

We have made every effort to reduce conflicts with all programs. Details on conflicts can be found in the Small Group Schedules.

There is no difference in the Small Group curriculum. The identity-based small groups are designed to explore college life through the lenses of those identities (i.e. Out-Of-State, Women in STEM, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC) but are open to any student regardless of sex, gender, racial/ethnic identities, sexual orientation, gender identity and similar.

Peer Advising is part of your orientation schedule through your school or college. Student leaders known as "Peer Advisors" will have a small group of students within their school or college and review academic-specific details with new students. These meetings are required for most students.

Syracuse Welcome Small Groups are focused on students' transition to college. These are led by Orientation Leaders, which are student leaders representing all corners of campus in terms of involvement and academic programs. This is an optional experience.