Orientation

One-day Orientation sessions for the Class of 2030 are set for Tuesday, June 16, Wednesday, June 17, Monday, June 22, and Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

Registration for Orientation will open in mid-April, so keep an eye on your email for instructions on how to begin your New Student Onboarding Tasks in Workday, which includes the Orientation Registration form. Registering for Orientation is at a first-come first-serve basis and spots fill up quickly.

To help you prepare, an initial welcome email will be sent to the email address you provided to Admissions in March. After that, you’ll receive updates and additional information from orientation@fairfield.edu in your Fairfield Gmail account. Be sure to check your Fairfield email regularly to stay up-to-date on all things Fairfield!

What to Expect at Orientation

Orientation provides an opportunity for students to get acquainted with Fairfield University. Students who participate in Orientation will:

Meet

New Student Leaders.

Get to Know

fellow new students.

Receive Advising

from faculty and professional staff.

Register

for fall semester academic classes.

Make Connections

with faculty, staff, administrators, and other students.

Learn Strategies

for navigating a transition to Fairfield.

Academic Planning Forms

Students should print out or download their Academic Planning Form and bring this to Orientation. The Academic Planning Form is a tool that you will use during your advising session at Orientation that helps create your fall semester classes. Your advisors will assist you in completing the form. Be sure to download the form that is attached to your major. If you are studying Education, your form is titled Curriculum and Instruction.

This form will be available on the Stags ’30 Orientation Guide a week before the first Orientation session.

Can’t Attend Orientation?

We understand June can be a busy time! If students can’t attend Orientation, that is okay! Academics will work to create schedules for students who are unable to attend Orientation using major and graduation requirements and the Academic Interest Questionnaire that is a part of the New Student Onboarding Tasks in Workday. All students will be able to make changes to their fall semester schedule at the end of August.

Students should continue to check their Fairfield University gmail account as that is where orientation@fairfield.edu will provide next steps for students who are unable to attend Orientation.

Orientation Recap

Sessions from Orientation will be recorded and posted here approximately 3 weeks after the final Orientation Session.

Students are allowed to bring two guests with them to Orientation. Guests will follow a separate schedule, with sessions focused on sharing resource information that will assist them in supporting their student's transition to Fairfield. Guest attendance is optional but encouraged.

Students should register their guests on the Orientation Registration Form in WorkDay by the deadline. If students need to make adjustments to their guest registration information after submitting the form, please email orientation@fairfield.edu for assistance.

Students

Casual, comfortable clothes and shoes
Rain jacket & umbrella
Laptop or tablet for course registration
License, passport or other state-issued photo-ID for StagCard picture to be taken
NetID login information

Guests

Casual, comfortable clothes and shoes
Rain jacket & umbrella

At Orientation, students will meet with advisors to learn more about the academic planning process prior to registering for the remainder of their first semester courses.

All students are pre-registered for their FYE section.

Academic administrators will reach out to students who are unable to attend Orientation to help them complete their fall 2026 course schedule.

Completion of the Academic Interests Questionnaire and Language Placement Exam via WorkDay is required for a fall 2026 course schedule to be created.

Our students utilize both Apple and PC based laptops for the majority of schools/majors. The exception is the School of Engineering, where we recommend our students use/purchase a PC based laptop. All students should download Microsoft Office 365, which is available at office365.fairfield.edu for no additional cost.

Students entering Fairfield University may be eligible to receive college credits for work previously completed in several ways: through Advanced Placement exams, through high-level international baccalaureate courses, or through college courses completed while in high school.

New students should make sure that official results or transcripts are sent to Pamela Kelly, Academic Commons, DiMenna-Nyselius Library Complex, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824-5195.

Parents & Guardians

We're committed to every aspect of your student's education. As part of their onboarding process in Workday, your student has several action items to accomplish. However, there are specific action items that they may need your help with and/or for you to complete on your own. To help both you and your student navigate the process as a whole, we've compiled parent/guardian resources and a checklist to reference.

Check out the Resources and Checklist

Orientation

You're in Stag Country Now

What to Expect at Orientation