New Student Orientation

This page will be updated as more information becomes available. A complete schedule will be posted prior to Fall Orientation in August. Please also consult your field’s website for field-, college-, and program-specific orientation programs.

Fall 2025 Orientation Highlights:

Dean’s Welcome – Thursday, August 21, 2025, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., Bailey Hall

The formal program features the Cornell President, the Graduate School Dean and Vice Provost for Graduate Education, and a panel of esteemed faculty and students.

Grad Connect: A Resource Fair for Graduate and Professional Students – Thursday, August 21, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Location TBA

This collaborative resource fair will allow graduate and professional degree students from across programs to engage with each other while learning more about the resources, offices, and organizations that help support their development and progression at Cornell. Open to incoming and current students.

Graduate School Primer: Navigating Academia Workshop Series – dates from mid-July through August 2025

This workshop series is designed exclusively for first-year graduate and professional students and covers topics like understanding doctoral funding, mentoring, and much more. Sessions are all online via Zoom.

Community Events for New Graduate and Professional Students – dates starting August 2025

The Big Red Barn Graduate and Professional Student Center will provide connection opportunities for all incoming students, including trivia night, a language mixer, socials, TGIF, and more! View the Graduate School events calendar for a list of events, dates and times, and descriptions.

For Our International Students:

Fall 2025 International Graduate and Professional Student Orientation – Friday, August 22, 1 – 4 p.m., Statler Auditorium

Register to attend the International Student Orientation! The Office of Global Learning’s orientation is for first year international graduate and professional students. It gives students an early start on their Cornell experience by introducing them to important resources for international students and helping them connect with their classmates from around the world.

The English Language Support Office (ELSO) provides writing, speaking, and language support to Cornell graduate and professional students who use English as an additional language. Learn more about ELSO. 

If you have any questions, or need any support regarding accommodations, please contact Janna Lamey, associate dean for graduate student life (607-255-5184 or janna.lamey@cornell.edu).

Please note: This information and related orientation events are designed for students in programs administered by the Cornell Graduate School. See our Graduate School Degrees page for more information.