2026 L&S First-year Student Academic Orientation

Gather with other new L&S students, connect with student support resources, get pro-tips from advisors and fellow students about starting the semester strong, hear a welcome address from L&S Dean Eschenfelder, and take photos with classmates.

Monday, August 31st

Pick up your free L&S t-shirt between 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at Allen Centennial Garden or between 1:00pm and 6:00pm at the Gordon Dining & Event Center lawn.

Remember to wear your L&S shirt to the Orientation events listed below!

Incoming first-year students wearing red "College of Letters & Science" shirts attend a Chancellor's luncheon on Library Mall ahead of the Chancellor's Convocation.

Tuesday, September 1st

1. College of Letters & Science Academic Orientation

Where: Memorial Union Theatre (Shannon Hall)
When: Watch your WiscMail for details.

visitors to the Memorial Union Terrace enjoy a warm spring day on the shore of Lake Mendota at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

2. Chancellor’s Welcome Lunch

Enjoy a free lunch with your new classmates!

Where: TBD

When: 11:15am – 1:00pm

New first-year students in the College of Letters & Science enjoying a free welcome lunch outside the Kohl Center.

3. UW-Madison Convocation

Chancellor Wilcots and others will welcome all new UW-Madison students. More details can be found on this UW Convocation webpage.

Where: Kohl Center

When: 1:30pm – 2:30pm. Doors open at 12:30pm.

First-year and transfer students listen to speakers during the Chancellor's Convocation for New Students, a Wisconsin Welcome event held at the Kohl Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Sept. 3, 2019. The event, attended by thousands of first-year and transfer students, is part of Wisconsin Welcome programming.