Orientation Records

Orientation at Tufts University is a program that allows for new and transfer students to visit campus before classes begin, creating an opportunity to learn about the university and what their life as a student will be like. There are multiple orientations based on the college or program the student is attending at Tufts. Responsibility for new student orientation once fell under the purview of the Orientation Committee. Currently, the Office for Campus Life takes a leadership role in the planning and implementation of New Student Orientation. The incoming undergraduate orientation is run by the Undergraduate Orientation Office, which is a member of the Office of Student Life. The Undergraduate Orientation Office is made up of professional administrators, student leaders, student orientation coordinators, and a graduate student program coordinator. Orientation for the Graduation School of Arts and Sciences is run by the Office of Graduate Admissions. During the undergraduate orientation, students learn about campus, financial aid, mental and physical health, and more. There are sessions for family members, and sessions that are strictly for students only.

Prior to orientation, students also have the opportunity to participate in the Pre-Orientation Programs. The Pre-Orientation programs allow students to participate in campus activities, meet fellow students, explore the Boston area, and more before classes start. As of 2020 there are eight Pre-Orientation Programs at Tufts including: BEAST (Building Engagement and Access for Students at Tufts), CAFÉ (Conversation Action Faith and Education), CREATE (Cultivate Relationships by Engaging with Arts at Tufts Experiences), FIT (Fitness and Individual Development at Tufts), FOCUS (First-Year Orientation CommUnity Service), GO (Global Orientation), SQUAD (Students’ Quest for Unity in the African Diaspora), and TWO (Tufts Wilderness Orientation). Each program is run by current students at Tufts. Each program focuses on different activities, and students can choose which program they are interested in. Activities include camping, environmental work, working with children, hiking, backpacking, volunteering in nursing homes, working out, visiting various religious institutions, exploring Boston, repairing and creating trails in parks, and more.