Welcome to Puget Sound!

We will be welcoming new and transfer students to campus on Friday, August 23, 2024. There may be minor changes to the schedule as we keep the health of students, families, staff, faculty, and the Tacoma community at the forefront of our planning and respond to any updated public health recommendations.

View information about the arrival process, testing, and vaccination guidelines.

Key dates to pay attention to in order to be ready for Passages 2024:

  • April 15:  Passages registration is live! You can find your registration form in your myPugetSound portal.
  • Mid-July:  Immersive Experience assignments are revealed in your myPugetSound portal.
  • August 2:  Required, pre-move-in prevention and educational modules due. You will see these in your To Do list on mypugetsound.
  • August 23:  Move-in Day and the kick-off of Passages.
  • August 23-30:  Passages Week
  • August 24:  Transfer Essentials Day
  • August 24:  Parent Orientation. Sign up through Alumni and Parent Relations to learn more about the wide variety of opportunities and support systems in place for your student and how to best support them at college. Your student will be participating in Passages programming during the Parent Orientation sessions.
  • August 30:  Graduate Student Orientation
  • September 3:  First Day of Classes
  • September 4:  Veterans' Welcome Lunch
  • September 6:  Log Jam
  • September 10: Students, Faculty, & Staff of Color Welcome Dinner
  • September 12:  LGBTQIA+ Welcome Dinner
Passages Orientation Schedule

The calendar below provides a quick view of events for the week. Scroll down to see the general event descriptions and times. This posted schedule is subject to change. Students should check their myPugetSound portal for their individual schedules which will include dates, times, locations, and event descriptions. Students will refer to their individual schedules to know where they need to be throughout the week. 

 Residential Life Sessions
 Students & Family Events
 Parent-specific Sessions
 Transfer Orientation
 Academic Orientation (Undergraduates)
 Graduate School Orientation
pink box School of Music
 Undergraduate Orientation

8 a.m.
1:00 p.m.
Campus Resource Tables 
Wheelock Plaza and the Rotunda
9 a.m.
1:00 p.m.
Move-in
Various Locations
9 a.m.
1:00 p.m.
Passages Check-in
 Wilson Welcome Center
9 a.m.
1 p.m.
Grizz's Garage
Thomas Hall, Room 270
1 p.m.
3 p.m.
Open House for Campus Offices
Various locations
4 p.m.
 
Convocation & Class Photo
Baker Stadium and Peyton Field
5:00 p.m.
7 p.m.
Welcome Festival 
Karlen Quad
6 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Black Alumni Union Welcome BBQ
Wilson Welcome Center
7:40 p.m.
 
First Floor & Hall Meetings
The Tahoma Room in Thomas Hall (South Quad) and Schneebeck Concert Hall (North Quad)
8:45 p.m.
 
Playfair
Todd Field
8 a.m.
 
Breakfast Begins
Wheelock Student Center
9:00 a.m.
10:20 a.m.
Work-Study Employment Information Session
Kilworth Chapel
10:30 a.m.
11:20 a.m.
Overview of Passages and First Passages Group Meetings
Schneebeck Concert Hall
11 a.m.
 
Parents' Welcome Brunch
Location TBD
11:30 a.m.
12:20 p.m.
Transfer Welcome and Campus Orientation
Rotunda

11:30 a.m.  12:20 p.m.

Lunch with Passages Group
Wheelock Student Union Building
12:30 p.m.
1:50 p.m.

Community Expectation Session                                          Schneebeck Concert Hall

2:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
Campus Engagement Historical Journey
Schneebeck Concert Hall and Kittredge Gallery
3:30 p.m.
4:20 p.m.
Experiential Learning Session 
Wheelock Student Center
4:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
Student Success Coaches Session
Location TBD
5:00 p.m.
 
Havdalah (Optional)
Ferguson Plaza
5:30 p.m.
 
Sin Fronteras Welcome Dinner
Location TBD
5:30 p.m.
 
Dinner and Family Farewells
Various locations
7:00 p.m.
 
Equipment Check for Overnight Immersive Experiences
Tennis Pavilion 
8:30 p.m. Resident Student Association (RSA) Event (Optional)
Meet on the Wheelock Plaza
8 a.m.
 
Breakfast begins
Wheelock Student Center
9 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
Passages Leader Meeting
Location TBD
9 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
Opening Chapel Service (Optional)
Kilworth Memorial Chapel
9:45 a.m.
 
Gather with your Passages Group
Location TBD
10 a.m.
11:20 a.m.
Consent Workshop
Schneebeck Concert Hall
11:30 a.m.
12:15 p.m.
Water Fun
Event Lawn
12:30 p.m.
1:15 p.m.
Lunch/First Generation College Students Luncheon 
Location TBD
1:30 p.m.
2:20 p.m.
Opening Academic Orientation Panel
Schneebeck Concert Hall
2:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m.
Academic Orientation
Various Classrooms
5:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Beer Goggles to Blackouts, the Munchies to Memory Effects: The Science of Alcohol & Marijuana
Schneebeck Concert Hall
6:45 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
Student Interests Dinner
Throughout the Diner, Rotunda, & Wheelock Plaza
8:30 p.m.
9:30 p.m.
Root Beer Floats & Greek House Tours (Optional)
Wheelock Plaza
10:00 p.m.
 
Jam Session (Optional)
Rotunda
7:30 a.m.
 
Breakfast begins
Wheelock Student Center
8:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
Peer Advising Session
Various Classrooms
10:00 a.m.
11:00 p.m.
Academic Fair
Jones Circle & Wheelock Plaza
pink box 11 a.m.
Noon
Individual Advising Meetings, Music Placements, Job Interviews, Free Time to purchase books, find your classrooms, etc.
Various Locations
pink box Noon
1 p.m.
School of Music Welcome Lunch
Rotunda
pink box 1:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
Individual Advising Meetings, Music Placements, Job Interviews, Free Time to purchase books, find your classrooms, etc.
Various Locations
4:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
Last-minute Equipment Rentals
The Expeditionary
6:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Dinner with your Passages Group
Various Locations
7:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
Maroon Society Social (Optional)
Event Lawn
8:30 p.m.
10 p.m.
ASUPS Hypnotist (Optional)
Schneebeck Concert Hall
7:30 a.m.
 
Breakfast begins
Wheelock Student Center
7:30 a.m.
9:15 a.m.
Backpacking Trips Depart
Wheelock Plaza
pink box 8:00 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
Individual Advising Meetings, Music Placements, Job Interviews, Free Time to purchase books, find your classrooms, etc.
Various Locations
1:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
Immersive Experiences Commence/Car Camping Trips Depart 
Various Locations/Wheelock Plaza
pink box 6:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Dinner
Wheelock Student Center
7:30 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
Mario Kart Tournament and Tie Dye (Optional)
Rotunda and Wheelock Plaza
7:00 a.m.  
 
Breakfast begins
Wheelock Student Center
8:30 a.m.
4 p.m.
Immersive Experiences
Various locations
5:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Dinner
Wheelock Student Center
7:00 p.m.
 
Campus Garden Open House (Optional)
Campus Garden
8:00 p.m.
 
Tabletop Games (Optional)
Location TBD
7 a.m.
 
Breakfast begins
Wheelock Student Center
8:30 a.m.
4 p.m.
Immersive Experiences
Various locations
3:00 a.m.
4 p.m.
Overnight Immersive Experiences Return and Clean Up
The Expeditionary
6:00 p.m.
 
Dinner with your Passages Group
Wheelock Student Center
7:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
Free Time
Various Locations
8:30 p.m.
10:00 p.m.
Movie Night (Optional)
Rotunda
7 a.m.
 
Breakfast begins
Wheelock Student Center
9:30 a.m./
10:00 a.m.
Residence Life Meeting
Various locations (Start time varies by floor/hall. Talk with your R.A.)
11 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
Experiential Learning Session
Schneebeck Concert Hall
12:00 p.m.
12:45 p.m.
Lunch
Wheelock Student Center
1:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
Intergroup Dialogue Groups
Various Classrooms
5:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
Free Time
 
5:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Dinner
Wheelock Student Center
6:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Welcome Back Shabbat (Optional)
Location TBD
7:00 p.m.
8:30 p.m.
Final Jam
Location TBD
Orientation Event Descriptions and Locations

Students will get the opportunity to discuss with professors about areas of study they are interested in pursuing while at Puget Sound.  Come check out all the options.  You do not need to know your major(s) of study.

 

Location:  Jones Circle

Day and Time:  Monday, August 21 3:30am-4:30pm

 

Location: Kilworth Memorial Chapel

Sunday, August 20

Times:

          Group A & C: 4:30-6:00pm

          Group B: 6:30-8:00pm

Join incoming Black students and families, members of the Black Alumni Union and Black Student Union, and university staff and faculty.

This event requires an RSVP.

Friday, August 18, 6-7:30pm

Stop by the Campus Garden to learn more about our small-plot organic farm, the Garden Club, related courses, and how you can plug in.  No gardening experience necessary.

Location:  Corner of N. 17th and N. Alder Street

Day and Time: Wednesday, August 23 at 7pm

 

Stop by the Rotunda to connect with various campus office resources. Pick up your Logger Card here or get one printed if you didn't already submit your photo prior to arriving. Visit with representatives from Career & Employment Services to complete your I-9 Form for campus employment. Have questions about technology services or need help connecting your computer to the campus network? Stop by the Tech Services Table. Chat with members of Campus Security and more!

Location:  Rasmussen Rotunda, Wheelock Student Center

Day and Time: Friday, August 18, 8:00am-2:30pm

 

Annual group photo of the incoming class of students taken following convocation on Friday, August 18.

Location:  Peyton Field

Day and Time:  Friday, August 18 directly following Convocation, ~5:15pm

 

This session helps new students better understand the expectations we hold for each other as Loggers.  We will talk about student rights and responsibilities, being part of a sustainable campus, and cover important Title IX information.

Location: Schneebeck Concert Hall

Date:  Saturday, August 19

Time: 12:30-2:00pm

This workshop will review the meaning of consent, provide strategies for communicating healthy boundaries in personal relationships as well as how to intervene when you see something of concern, and will review the existing resources on the Puget Sound campus and in Tacoma for those who experience interpersonal and/or sexual violence. Mental health counselors and other professional staff will be onsite to support those who may need it due to the content of this presentation. 

Location: Schneebeck Concert Hall

Date and Time:  Sunday, August 20, 10:00am

Join us for the President’s Welcome to Puget Sound!

Location: Baker Stadium and Peyton Field

Day and Time: Friday, August 18, 4:00pm

 

In this session, all students participating in backpacking and car camping Immersive Experiences will bring the indicated clothing and equipment from the provided packing list for leaders to review with their groups. Leaders will provide an overview of the trip and equipment required to help make sure you have everything you need for a successful and enjoyable experience. The Expeditionary will be open the next afternoon should you need to rent any additional equipment. Bring all required equipment for inspection. Students not participating in backpacking or car camping do not need to attend.

Location: Tennis Pavilion 

Day and Time:  Saturday, Aug 20 6:45-8:15pm

 

Location: Schneebeck Concert Hall

Date and Time:  Sunday, August 20, 8:30pm

Location: TBD

Time: 8pm

Students will have the chance to learn about experiential learning opportunities available to Puget Sound students including internships, study abroad/away, community-based learning, and summer research. These experiences draw students outside the traditional classroom to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts. Through active engagement, problem-solving, and reflection, students make connections between their academic growth, future goals, and understanding of self, others, and the world.

Location: Kilworth Chapel

Date and Times:

          Groups A & C: Saturday, August 19, 3:15pm

          Group B: Saturday, August 19, 2:10pm 

While there are a few orientation events during the first week of class, by Friday most of Passages Orientation is finished.  Join us for this end of Passages celebration.  

 

Location: TBD

Time: 7:15pm

Students will meet their Resident Assistants (RA), Resident Directors (RDs), and gather with their Residence Floors for this first Floor Meeting.  Learn about hall resources and safety protocols, how your RA can assist you, and start getting to know those in your new living community.  

Location:  Various, see your myPugetSound schedule or signs in your Residence Hall

Day and Time:  Friday, Aug 18, 7:30pm

 

Are you a first generation college student? (You are considered first-gen if neither of your parents/guardians possess a four-year college degree). If so, please join us at this welcome lunch to connect with other first-gen students as well as first-gen Puget Sound faculty and staff. You will also learn about the resources and support available to help you navigate your way through and thrive at Puget Sound. We hope you can join us!

Location:  Upper Marshall Hall, Wheelock Student Center

Date and Time:  Monday, August 21, Noon-1pm

Visit Grizz's Garage for an inexpensive, reused, convenient, and sustainable way to approach outfitting your room!  We have a number of useful items for your residence hall. Check us out before heading to a retail store.  Supplies are limited and once it’s gone, it’s gone so plan to visit us right away! While we can accept both cash and card, small bills ($1s and $5s) are the preferred payment method.

Location: Thomas 270

Time: Friday, August 18, 9am-1pm

Group Faculty Advising Session

This session is designed to help students understand the role of their first-year advisor and the advising relationship. Students will also sign up for their individual advising sessions during this time.

Location: Various classrooms around campus

Time: Tuesday, August 22, 8:30-9:15am

All are welcome to this casual, celebratory gathering within the Jewish tradition to mark the close of Shabbat. This event will be led by student leaders from the Jewish Student Union and the University Chaplaincy. While the Havdalah is open to all, this gathering is one of cultural and spiritual meaning; please attend respectfully.

Location: Ferguson Plaza, outside of Wyatt Hall

Day and Time: Saturday, 4:30-5:15pm

 

For more information about I Am Puget Sound, please see our page dedicated to this important program. 

Location: Tennis Pavilion

Day and Time:  Tuesday, August 22, 7:15-8:45pm

 

In addition to your campus-based orientation we offer a wide range of immersive experiences (IEs) designed to help you connect with a smaller group of incoming students while engaging in all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Your Passages Group will be facilitated by two returning student leaders who are excited to get to know you and show you around. Immersive experiences range from connecting with local social justice work and environmental justice engagement to exploring local theater arts or three-day backpacking trips and rocking-climbing adventures. When you register for Passages, you'll select your top Immersive Experience preferences. Placement in your IE is based on your top choices, overall incoming student interest, and availability of local community partners and student leaders. We do our best to place you in an IE that meets your interests. For information about immersive experience, see the page dedicated to our offerings.  

Location:  Various locations around campus, Tacoma, and the Pacific Northwest, depending on your individual IE

Day and Time:  Wednesday-Friday of Passages Week

 

Students will meet with their faculty and peer advisors individually to review current class schedule, discuss any changes that may be needed, and work on editing your course schedule. Your faculty advisor will invite you to sign up for an advising appointment during group advising on Tuesday morning. Students may meet with their academic peer advisor before, after, or during their meeting with their faculty advisor.

The annual LGBTQIA+ Welcome is an opportunity for incoming students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or non-binary, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, agender, or as generally within the queer umbrella to meet and be welcomed by returning students, faculty, and staff who share these identities.  We acknowledge the diversity of experiences and identities within this large umbrella while also recognizing the power in building relationships within and across identities. Thus this gathering seeks to be one of the initial touchstones available for students to begin connecting with each other and with faculty and staff of shared identities.

Location:  Upper Marshall

Date and Time:  Tuesday, September 5, 5:00-6:00pm

 

Location: TBD

Time: TBD

Matriculation is the formal marking of your enrollment as a student at Puget Sound and entrance to the Puget Sound academic community.  At this ceremony, you will hear from the Provost for Academic Affairs and other esteemed faculty. You will learn the alma mater, integrity principle and pledge, and will formalize the beginning of your academic career at Puget Sound in the traditional Color Post ceremony and signing of the official register. 

Location:  Schneebeck Concert Hall

Day and Time:  Tuesday, August 22, 3:30pm

 

On Tuesday, August 22, students have less scheduled time to allow them to schedule individual meetings as needed.  

Advising

During their Academic Orientation and Group Advising sessions, students will schedule individual meetings with their faculty advisors to discuss their class schedule, address questions they may have about majors, begin mapping out their academic pathway, or troubleshoot other academic concerns.  These individual meetings are scheduled for these less scheduled afternoon and morning times.


Music Ensemble Placements

Students interested in the School of Music will have individually scheduled music auditions based on their instrument throughout this timeframe. Ensemble Placement Auditions are open to all regardless of major or minor! For more information or to sign up for an audition please click here.  For more information about the School of Music in general, click here.  


Campus Employment

Students who are eligible for campus employment will need to reach out to the hiring manager for the position they are referred to schedule an interview.  Interviews can be scheduled during these more open times in the Passages schedule.

All events to be scheduled by students during the following time frames:

Monday 8/21, 9:30am-1:30pm

Tuesday 8/22, 9:30am-3:30pm

 

 

All are welcome to attend this short, informal chapel service celebrating community, liberation, and radical hospitality drawn from the Christian traditions.  Students and other guests are welcome to participate in or respectfully observe this time of prayer, reflection, and connection.

Location: Kilworth Memorial Chapel

Day and Time:  Sunday, 9:00-9:30am

 

Featuring the breadth of what the liberal arts has to offer, you will get a taste of faculty research through this panel discussion, demonstrating how you'll be able to connect your learning across classes and disciplines to tackle challenging real-world issues. Students will attend the panel with their Advising Course. 

Location: Schneebeck Concert Hall

Time: Monday, August 21, 8:30-9:30

 

Hosted by Alumni and Parent Relations, parents and families helping their students move-in to their residence halls will be able to register to attend these sessions geared toward helping parents connect with Puget Sound and be prepared to support their students throughout their college experience. The Parent Welcome will be kicked off by lunch on Karlen Quad at noon. Sessions include a welcome from Vice President for Student Affairs Sarah Comstock, a session on career and employment services, financial aid, technology support, supporting your students’ mental health needs, research and library services, and study abroad. Please register here to attend the Parent Welcome.

Location:  Karlen Quad, Schneebeck Concert Hall, and various locations for concurrent sessions

Day and Time: Saturday, Noon-3:45pm

 

Stop by the Welcome Center to get checked in for your Passages experience.  Pick up your pre-ordered Passages T-shirt, go over your schedule for the week, and get ready for a great week learning about and settling into Puget Sound. Then head over the to Expeditionary to pick up and pay for any reserved equipment rentals.

Location:  Welcome Center Patio

Day and Time:  Friday, Aug 18 9:00am-2:30pm

 

Come get an overview of all you'll get to participate in during Passages at this Passages Welcome. We'll help provide you with a big-picture sense of the week and learn who is here to help you navigate it and support your transition to Puget Sound. This meeting will be followed immediately by a brief introductory meeting with your Passages Group and Leaders.

Location:  Schneebeck Concert Hall

Day and Time:  Saturday, August 19 8:45am

 

 

Your first full-length meeting with your Passages group - a time to get to know each other and learn more about your immersive experience.

Location:  Various, see your schedule in mypugetsound

Day and Time:  Saturday, August 20

                           Groups A & C:  2:10pm  

                           Group B:  3:15pm

 

These sessions allow you to get to know your Peer Advisor, who is a resource for you throughout the academic year.  This session will support your transition to college academics, offering time management tips, study skills, and help learning the academic culture at Puget Sound.

Location:  Various classrooms; please see your individual schedule in mypugetsound.

Time:  Sunday, 8/20, 1:00-3:00pm

 

Presented by ASUPS and the Resident Student Association, students will gather in their respective quads to learn a little about what their campus student government and their hall governments can offer them, learn about upcoming hall elections and then kick off the fun with some first-night-on-campus entertainment.

Location: North Quad or Todd Field, depending on a student’s residence hall

Day and Time:  Saturday, Aug 20 9pm

 

Join us for root beer floats and mingling at the end of a long day of academic orientation, music auditions, individual advising meetings, and settling into campus for incoming students.  This is a casual, drop-in event; get a float and mingle on the Plaza or head over to Greek row for an introduction to what Greek Life looks like at Puget Sound and get to tour the Greek houses.

Location:  Rotunda and Wheelock Plaza

Day and Time:  Saturday, August 19 9:00pm

 

Come get to know the School of Music, mingle with other incoming students, meet the faculty, and enjoy a free lunch. For students enrolled in or participating in walk-on auditions with the School of Music or who would like to learn more about opportunities to be involved with the School of Music.

Location:  Rotunda

Day and Time:  Tuesday, Aug 22 Noon-1pm

 

Students will gather with the RAs and residence floors. Following the meetings, students will head to the Tennis Pavilion in the Fieldhouse for the I Am Puget Sound Program.

Location:  Various, talk with your RA or see signs in your ResHall

Day and Time:  Thursday, Aug 26 6:00pm

 

All incoming Hispanic/Latinx students and families, members of the Hispanic/Latinx Alumni Union, and university staff and faculty are invited to attend the Sin Fronteras Welcome Dinner.  

This event is part of Passages Orientation at Puget Sound. Find your community and support, meet new friends, and glimpse everything campus has to offer you! Questions? Contact the office of Alumni and Parent relations at alumoffice@pugetsound.edu.

This event requires an RSVP.

Saturday, August 19, 5-6pm

The annual Students of Color Welcome is an opportunity for Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latin(e)/Hispanic, Bi- and Multi-Racial students and those who identify as People of Color to gather to welcome incoming students with these shared identities to campus.  We acknowledge the diversity of experiences and identities within this large group while also recognizing the power in building relationships within and across identities, in particular while at a predominantly White institution.  Thus this gathering seeks to be one of the initial touchstones available for students to begin connecting with each other and with faculty and staff of shared identities.

Location: Upper Marshall

Time: Thursday, September 7th, 5:00-6:00pm

Meet your new fellow transfer students and meet President Crawford too! Academic Advising & the Registrar's Office will present information specific to the transfer experience at Puget Sound.

Location:  Rotunda

Day and Time:  Monday, Aug 21 Noon-1:30pm

 

Location: Rotunda

Time: Monday, Aug. 21 2:30-3:30pm

If you are a Veteran or you grew in a family with Active Duty Members or Veterans then join us to be welcomed by student, faculty, and staff Veterans.

Location:  Trimble Forum

Day and Time: Monday, Aug 21 5:00-6:00pm

 

Stop by Wheelock Plaza to pick up some free swag from the Associated Students of University of Puget Sound leadership, chat with staff from the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, and be treated to music from the student radio.

Location:  Wheelock Plaza

Day and Time:  Friday, Aug 18 9am-2pm

 

If your financial aid award includes federal or state work-study, you are required to attend this session. You will receive your job referral notification and learn about procedures, expectations, and benefits of on-campus employment. Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in and pick up your federal or state work study employment packet.

Location:  Kilworth Chapel

Day and Time:  Saturday, Aug. 20 10:30-12:00pm