Welcome to the First-Year Experience (FYE) at Kalamazoo College
The transition to college is full of excitement and challenges, and our goal is to help all incoming students successfully navigate their first year. Staff, professors, and peers associated with the First Year programs and spaces all across campus are invested in supporting you academically and personally during your transition. We hope that you take advantage of the resources available to you to have a great first year (and four years) at Kalamazoo College!
Please see the helpful resources on this website for more information, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Taking initiative to ask questions and get help are the very best ways to be successful.
One resource available to you is me, Dana, your First-Year Class Dean. I’m your “go to” person for first-year students. If you have a question and you are not sure who to ask, have a concern and need someone to talk to, or are struggling and need someone in your corner, please contact me. I am here to listen, help problem-solve, and direct you to helpful resources across campus.
Dana Jansma, Dean of Students and First-Year Class Dean, dana.jansma@kzoo.edu
Important Dates
First Year Programming
Campus Resources
Class of 2028 Orientation
Orientation is the time for all new students to move in, and get acquainted with campus and each other prior to classes starting. The days are busy with a lot of important learning and a lot of fun!
At Kalamazoo College Orientation is mandatory for all incoming students and it takes place just prior to the first week of classes. The dates of First-Year Student Orientation for 2024 are September 11-15. Students will move into their residence halls on September 11 from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. and formal Orientation activities will begin that evening. Classes start on Monday, September 16, 2024.
The full schedule was mailed to incoming first-year students in June 2024 as part of a larger mailing,and will be posted in the Orientation Schedule section in July. The current schedule posted is from 2023 to provide incoming first-year students a general idea of what to expect.
Parent and Family Orientation activities are offered starting late afternoon September 11 and all day September 12, 2024 until 5 p.m. Parents are asked to do their farewells at that time and depart campus to enable their student to fully participate in the rest of Orientation activities. Parents/guardians were mailed the Parent and Family Schedule in June 2024 as part of a larger parent/guardian mailing.
Parents and Families, check back on September 12th, 2024 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time to watch the Convocation Livestream if you are unable to join us in person!
Transfer students have their own Transfer Student Orientation on Friday and Saturday, September 13-14, 2024 and were mailed a packet in June 2024, including their specific schedule of events.
Any questions about Orientation can be directed to Sally Read, Associate Director of Student Involvement sally.read@kzoo.edu or Adam Kubiak, Associate Dean of Students adam.kubiak@kzoo.edu.