Starting college is a big transition for incoming students, and they often feel a little nervous before they arrive. Stetson’s Summer Orientation is designed to calm those worries. Incoming Hatters can spend the night in a residence hall, make friends, and learn their way around campus before classes start in August.

The two-day Summer Orientation includes fun activities like a pool party and faculty meet-and-greets, as well as sessions about academic experiences on campus. Parents can attend the information sessions, learn more about their students’ transition to college, and explore campus.

The program spans four sessions on the DeLand campus, including June 4–5, June 25–26, July 9–10 and July 13–14.

The Summer Orientation Effect

The Summer Orientation program was brought into reality by Jimmy Kelly, director for Student Development and Campus Vibrancy, and Kristin Graham, associate director of First Year Experiences and Transitions, after the two noticed a large gap in time between when students committed to attend Stetson around April and when they arrived on campus in August.

“There was a significant gap between the moment students decided to attend Stetson and when they arrived on campus in the fall,” Kelly said. “Summer orientation was designed to bridge that gap — giving students a chance to begin building connections, learning about campus resources, and feeling like part of the Stetson community long before move-in day.”

However, Summer Orientation doesn’t only fill this gap. It also allows incoming Hatters to connect with current students who serve as Summer Orientation Leaders, overseeing the new students during their overnight stay on campus. Those student leaders also guide smaller break-out groups along with larger events, where incoming students can get to know one another.

Graham noted, “We intentionally built this program to provide opportunities for students to make friends, see what it’s like to be here on campus, and when they come back for FOCUS in August, we see a lot of those friend groups still persist.”

While the students are having fun, their parents can learn about Move-in Day so both students and parents will not only be prepared but also excited about the big day.

Register Today

Registration is open — so pick your session. Students must make their deposit to attend.

• June 4–5: Now closed
• June 25–26: Open for Registration
• July 9–10: Open for Registration
• July 13–14: Open for Registration

For more information, visit the Summer Orientation website.

-Ginger Anders ’27