Juneau New Student Orientation Fall 2023

Join us down at the UAS Auke Lake docks for some fun lake activities, rain or shine! Take advantage of free use of UAS Recreation water equipment for either some fun games or just relaxing on the lake.

Meet at the harbor docks no later than 2:50 PM. See some of the many whales found in Southeast Alaska up close on a Whale Watching boat excursion! Be sure to bring your Orientation name tag to participate in this activity that is only free to Orientation participants. You may even see some wildlife on the shoreline.

Hang out, eat smores, and tell your favorite ghost stories. This is your last chance to make some great connections before heading into your first day of classes!

There are many ways to get up close to Mendenhall Glacier, including a moderately easy and well-marked trail to Nugget Falls. Winding along Mendenhall Lake, the closest trail to the glacier itself, you’ll find a stunning 377-foot waterfall cascading into an iceberg lake with a magnificent glacier in the background. You might even get lucky and see some wildlife up close!

Juneau is many things: a mountain town, a coastal community and the most scenic capital city in the U.S. A natural wonder, wildlife hotspot, and cultural jewel, Juneau is rich in history, art, music and Native heritage. We will begin our downtown trip at the Sealaska Heritage Institute to explore a replica Clan House and other Native Alaskan works of art. From there you will have the opportunity to break off into smaller groups to explore downtown, do some shopping, take the tram, and try the local cuisine.

Check in for Orientation, get your name badge, and grab some breakfast and caffeine to fuel you through the day. Families are more than welcome to join!

Join us at the Egan Library for an official welcome to your university. You will get the opportunity to meet your peers, hear from the UAS Chancellor, and learn more about your community! You may even get the opportunity to take part in our cultural welcome and Traditional Games demonstration.

Hear from your peers! With other UAS resources available, you will get to hear about students' firsthand experience utilizing some common UAS services and resources. This is a chance for you to ask your questions about the UAS experience from a student's perspective.

Join us at the Lakeside Grill for a chance to eat and build community, along with meeting some of the on-campus faculty, staff, and campus community resources. This is a great opportunity to meet potential professors, make some new connections, and sign up for appointments with Health and Wellness, Student Accounts, and your Advisors. We'll also be taking a group photo of all Orientation attendees!

This is the chance to choose your own Orientation adventure! Over the course of three 45-minute sessions, each session will host three to four possible breakout sessions in which you will get to choose one for each session. All breakout sessions will have important information to share along with offering engagement opportunities. We recognize that each student will have a unique student experience and this is the chance for you to tailor your breakout experience in a way that ensures that you receive the information that matters to you the most.

This is the perfect time to ensure you're all set for classes to start! We will have the resources on hand in the Egan Library to ensure that you have all of the tools you need to start the year strong. We'll help you to ensure you're registered, finished with financial aid requirements, and more.

Meet your staff and your neighbors! We will wrap up the evening with a chance for you to meet your fellow community members and discuss what it means to promote a safe and fun community to live in for the year. Open to John Pugh Hall residents only.

Join us at the UAS Rec Center for a free meal!