Juneau New Student Orientation Fall 2025

Join us at the UAS Rec Center for a free meal! New and returning students alike will get together for socializing, games, and a proper welcome to the new academic year.

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 and to the Áak’w Kwáan. You will get the opportunity to meet your peers, hear from the UAS Chancellor, and learn more about your community!

Built to keep everyone well informed but also moving, the two student orientation groups will split up throughout the morning to learn more about your rights and responsibilities under Title IX followed by a tour of your campus resources. You will have received your group assignment during check-in.

The first group will be sent to lunch while the second group is sent to their first session. A switch will occur at approximately 12:50 PM. You will have received your group assignment during check-in.

This is the chance to choose your own Orientation adventure! Over the course of three 40-minute sessions, each session will host three to four possible breakouts in which you will get to choose one for each session. All breakouts 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.

The first group will be sent to lunch while the second group is sent to their first session. A switch will occur at approximately 12:50 PM. You will have received your group assignment during check-in.

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!

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. You will also learn more about managing some of the finer but still important points about being a successful university student.

This is the chance to choose your own Orientation adventure! Over the course of three 40-minute sessions, each session will host three to four possible breakouts in which you will get to choose one for each session. All breakouts 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 chance to choose your own Orientation adventure! Over the course of three 40-minute sessions, each session will host three to four possible breakouts in which you will get to choose one for each session. All breakouts 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! Need a last minute appointment? Need to turn in documents? Want to just say hi and get to know your resources? Orientation Leaders will be on hand to take students to Novatney for their Whale Card and an advisor will be present to help make appointments.

After your previous and final breakout session, you will be led back to the Egan Library floor where you will receive your Orientation swag and finish up for the day.

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.

Downtown buses will pick-up from both Housing locations. Students should be ready to go by 9:20 AM for a 9:30 pick-up. Buses back to campus will depart downtown at 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM.

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!

Meet at John Pugh Hall no later than 8:40 AM to walk down to Auke Bay's Statter Harbor. The boat leaves the harbor promptly at 9:00 AM. 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 and available to the students participating in Orientation. You may even see some wildlife on the shoreline.

[Time is tentative and subject to change]

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 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. New and returning JPH students are required to attend.