To the Parents and Family Members of new students,

We hope our Orientation Week main page answers all of your questions/concerns.

Welcome to a whole new journey with your new SMUdent; and what a journey it will be! I recognize that your son or daughter is not the only one going through the transition from high school to university. It can be just as difficult for family and friends to adjust to a new atmosphere and way of life. I am here to provide you some information to help ease the transition for everyone!

The first week here at Saint Mary’s is a time we use to introduce new students to a new type of social network. Here, students have the opportunity to interact with friends, staff, and faculty in a positive way to make the transition from home life and high school to university, and more independence, as pleasant as possible. The Saint Mary’s community is full of enriching academic, social and cultural atmospheres that we encourage all students to immerse themselves into. Orientation Week may only be one week long but it is designed to introduce new students to all of what Saint Mary’s University has to offer, making it one of the most rewarding experiences of a student’s university career.

We are well aware of the mixture of emotions a new student has when entering their first week here at Saint Mary’s University as, we too, were once first year students with anxious jitters. Orientation Week is a week full of fun and exciting events that help encourage students to interact with the returning students and staff, as well as, each other! The whole week itself is a participate-if-you-please only so your loved one will never be pressured to do anything they do not want to as ‘hazing’ is not an option here at Saint Mary’s University. Orientation Week would not be, without our team of over one hundred Orientation Week Leaders and Facilitators who dedicate the last piece of their summer to ensure that each new student has received the most they possibly could have out of the week. Our Orientation Week Leaders and Facilitators will be here waiting to welcome each new individual with open arms and ready to be a part of their new journey. Our team of over 100 volunteers strive to make a positive impact on all of those who attend our events and use our services throughout both Orientation Week and the academic year. Each year we strive to create fun and informative activities; to keep the needs of first year students in our minds at all times; and to respect the diversity of our student body.