New Student Orientation Schedule

6–8 a.m. Varsity Practice, various locations

8–9 a.m. Breakfast, Rosenfield Center, Marketplace

8:30 a.m. Invitation Only - Disability Services Breakfast, East Side Lawn in Front of Steiner

9:30 a.m.–noon. Grinnell Farmers Market, Central Park

The Grinnell Farmers Market is a 100% producer-grown or made market, meaning that all items for sale must be entirely grown or made by the vendor or immediate family members in the state of Iowa. 

9:20–10:20 a.m. Sexual Respect Session Harris Center, Cinema 

9:20–10:20 a.m. Substance Use Session Harris Center, Concert Hall 

10:20–10:30 a.m. Break 

10:30–11:30 a.m. Sexual Respect Session Harris Center, Cinema 

10:30–11:30 a.m. Substance Use Session Harris Center, Concert Hall 

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Lunch, Rosenfield Center, Marketplace

1–3 p.m. First Tutorial Meeting, Tutorial Classrooms

3–5 p.m. Languages and Cultures at Grinnell, Kington Plaza

Rain Location: HSSC Multipurpose Room, Room A1231

4–6 p.m. Varsity Practice, various locations

5:30–7:30 p.m. Dinner, Rosenfield Center, Marketplace

7:30–9 p.m. All Campus Jamboree, Cleveland Beach

9–11 p.m. Arcade Night,  Harris Center, Concert Hall 

8–9 a.m. Breakfast,  Rosenfield Center, Marketplace

8 a.m.–5 p.m. Individual Advising Appointments, Tutorial faculty offices (unless directed otherwise by faculty)

8 a.m.–5 p.m. Registrar open consultation for registration questions, John Crystal Center (JCC)

9–11 a.m. Student Health and Wellness: Discuss Outstanding Health Requirements, Student Health and Wellness (SHAW), Forum, Lower Level

9–11 a.m. Varsity Practice, various locations

9–11 a.m. Grinnell Singers Auditions, Bucksbaum Arts Center, Room 152

9–11 a.m. Student Employment Paperwork, Rosenfield Center, Room 209

9 a.m.–noon Placement Consultation with Math Department, Faculty offices, Noyce, 2500 hallway, southeast corner

9 a.m.–noon Placement Consultation with Statistics Department, Faculty offices, Noyce, Rooms 2515, 2218, 2249, or 2042

9 a.m.–noon Placement Consultation with Computer Science Department, Faculty offices, Noyce, Room 2811

9 a.m.–noon Placement Consultation with Physics Department, Faculty offices, Noyce, Rooms 1030–1037, southwest area

10–11 a.m. 3-2 Engineering Information Session, Noyce, Room 1023

10:45–11:30 a.m. Becoming Global Grinnellians, HSSC, Multipurpose Room, Room A1231

11 a.m.–noon YGB (Young, Gifted and Black) Choir Information Session, Herrick Chapel

The YGB Choir is a music ensemble with its roots in the African American gospel tradition and is open to all students. The choir sings a range of traditional and contemporary gospel hymns and songs. We invite you to become a part of a Grinnell tradition since its humble beginnings in 1967. 

11 a.m.–noon Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies Information Session, Bucksbaum Arts Center, Roberts Theatre

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Lunch, Rosenfield Center, Marketplace

1:30–2:30 p.m. Dining Employment Training, Rosenfield Center, Marketplace

2–3 p.m. Music Department Information Session, Bucksbaum Arts Center, Sebring-Lewis Hall

2–3:30 p.m. The Grinnell Social Justice Walking Tour, John Crystal Center (JCC), Front Steps

Rain Location: John Crystal Center, Room 010

3–5 p.m. Cultural Centers and Identity Spaces Open Houses

• Conney M. Kimbo Black Cultural Center, 1003 10th Avenue 
• Stonewall Resource Center, Younker Hall, Lower Level 
• Disability Cultural Center, Steiner Hall, First Floor, Room 205 
• Latinx/e Cultural Center, 1026 Park Street 
• First-Generation and Low-Income Lounge Rosenfield Center, Third Floor 
• Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice, 913 Eighth Avenue  
• Office of International Student Affairs,  HSSC 

4–6 p.m. Varsity Practice, various locations

5:30–7:30 p.m. Dinner,  Rosenfield Center, Marketplace

6:15–9 p.m. Sunset paddle with campfire and s’mores at Jacob Krumm,  Rosenfield Center to Jacob Krumm

Preregistration in Guidebook Required - Available in Mid-August

Participation Max: Nine students

6:15–9 p.m. Sunset hike with campfire and s’mores at Jacob Krumm, Rosenfield Center to Jacob Krumm

Preregistration in Guidebook Required - Available in Mid-August

Participation Max: Ten students

6:15–9 p.m. Sunset hike with campfire and s’mores at Rock Creek, Rosenfield Center to Rock Creek

Preregistration in Guidebook Required - Available in Mid-August

Participation Max: Ten students

9 p.m. Madame Mystery (Hypnotist), Harris Center, Concert Hall

8–9 a.m. Breakfast, Rosenfield Center, Marketplace

8 a.m.–5 p.m. Registrar Office Hours,  John Crystal Center, First Floor

9–11 a.m. Varsity Practice,  various locations

9 a.m. Canoe at Rock Creek State Park, Rosenfield Center to Rock Creek

Preregistration Required - Available Mid-August

Participant Max: Nine students

Spend the afternoon paddling at Rock Creek State Park! You will learn about canoeing safety and basic paddle strokes before heading out to paddle on Rock Creek Lake. No previous canoeing experience is necessary. 

Driving Time: Approximately 10 minutes one way 

Amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets and potable water available near boat ramp 

9 a.m. Hike at Uhlenhopp Arboretum, Rosenfield Center to Uhlenhopp Arboretum

Preregistration Required - Available Mid-August

Participant Max: Ten students

Explore a natural area just outside Grinnell on foot. Uhlenhopp Arboretum spans 250 acres with thousands of trees and seven ponds named for the days of the week. On this trip, we will hike a 3.1-mile loop around the arboretum. 

Driving distance: Approximately 10 minutes one way 

Amenities: Pit toilets and potable water available at parking lot 

9 a.m. Hike at Jacob Krumm Nature Preserve, Rosenfield Center to Krumm Nature Preserve

9 a.m. Bike to Rock Creek State Park, Rosenfield Center to Rock Creek

Preregistration Required - Available Mid-August

Participant Max: Nine students

Check out one of Grinnell’s local trails by bike! The Rock Creek Recreation Trail begins near Grinnell High School and travels through rolling hills and farmland for 5.8 miles to Rock Creek State Park. On this adventure, we will bike from campus to Rock Creek State Park, where we will take a break before biking back to campus. We’ll bike approximately 14 miles in total. Bikes and helmets will be provided. You must have previous experience riding a bike. 

Amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets and potable water available at Rock Creek State Park 

10–11 a.m.–noon Colloquium Topic 1: Finances of the College, HSSC Auditorium, Room A2231

Noon–1:30 p.m. Lunch, Rosenfield Center, Marketplace

1–2 p.m. Colloquium Topic 2: Grinnell College in the Age of Generative AI, HSSC Auditorium, Room A2231

1–1:45 p.m. Get Ready for your Fall Semester to Begin,  Harris Center, Cinema

2–3 p.m. Colloquium Topic 3: Declarations of Independence, HSSC Auditorium, Room A2231

2:30 p.m. NSO Group Check-In, various locations

3-3:45 p.m. Bonus Colloquium Topic: Evolving the Honor G, HSSC Auditorium, Room A2231

3 p.m. First-Year Student Add/Drop, Colleague Self Service and adviser offices

If needed First year students who want to make changes to their schedule will have the opportunity to add, drop, and waitlist for classes using Colleague Self-Service starting at 3pm. Add/Drop/Waitlist opens to all students at 4:00PM 

3:30–7:30 p.m. All Campus Welcome Festival, Central Campus

Rain Plan: Rescheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026, 2–6 p.m.

4–6 p.m. Varsity Practice, various locations

5–7:30 p.m. All Campus Welcome Dinner, Rosenfield Center Courtyard

Rain Location: Rosenfield Center, Marketplace