New Undergraduate Student Orientation

Were you involved in community service in high school? Are you hoping to grow as a leader? Do you want to engage in the Brandeis and Waltham communities? Join other actively engaged peers in discovering how service can become part of your identity at Brandeis, while gaining the tools you need to become a leader in your new community. 

Participants will actively engage in community service, discover and reflect on the diverse populations, perspectives, and roles that exist in the Waltham and greater Boston communities; develop leadership skills; and become part of a community committed to personal growth through service and reflection.  

Students will explore the city of Waltham through the lens of community engagement, social justice, and local activism, while building relationships with prominent student leaders, faculty members, and community partners who are actively engaged in this work. Participants will leave the program with the connections, skills, and knowledge to jump into service at Brandeis and have a positive impact on their new community.

Queer Academics and Activism (QAA) will offer first-year students a thought-provoking examination of the many dimensions of queer lives and experiences in the United States: the history of struggles around LGBTQIA+ rights, the development of queer activism, the intersections of queerness with questions of race, class, gender, and other vectors of oppression, and how scholars have theorized these realities. 

Students will have the opportunity to learn from renowned faculty members in the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Brandeis as well as to hear about queer life and resources on campus. Through lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and seminar-style discussions, students will be introduced to an intersectional approach to queer theory and queer studies, and the relationship between queer studies and queer activism. In the process, students will learn about opportunities to contribute to queer community progress and forge memorable, lasting friendships in a safe space for personal growth through a well-rounded understanding of their place in history.

RISE Pre-Orientation Program & HWL67 Fall Semester Course

Starting college is exciting, but it is also a big transition full of new experiences and challenges! RISE is a Pre-Orientation program for students who would benefit from learning skills to help them thrive in college, supporting their mental wellbeing and academic success.

This program is designed for students who would like some extra support in navigating the transition to college, especially those who have previously experienced mental health challenges like depression and/or anxiety. We will focus on skills for coping with and bouncing back from stress, and strategies for preventing stress by using effective time management and goal-setting. We will also work on strategies to navigate the social side of college life, and connect with resources throughout the university.

Students will work on these skills with faculty and clinicians from the counseling center. Learning is primarily experiential with discussions and hands-on opportunities to practice skills.  Friday evening we’ll have fun, relaxing activities on campus including crafts and games. On Saturday evening, we’ll be exploring your new home of Waltham on foot, with a stop for ice cream.

Unique to this program, students can also choose to enroll in a Health, Wellness and Life Skills course (HWL 67) to continue practicing these skills and learning new skills throughout the semester. This fall, HWL67 will meet Mondays 9:05-11:55 a.m. (schedule block S6) for 12 weeks. Students will have the opportunity to master and implement time management and study skills, while receiving continued support on how to deal with challenges throughout the semester. This course fulfills 2 Mind & Body Balance Modules toward the Health, Wellness and Life Skills general education requirement. You can enroll in this course during your class registration period over the summer.

If you participate in the RISE Pre-Orientation, we highly suggest you also enroll in the Health & Wellness Course so you can continue to work on the skills introduced in Pre-Orientation throughout the semester. However, participation in both parts is NOT mandatory or necessary to benefit from RISE. Participate in just the Pre-Orientation, just the course, or both!

Join amazing Brandeis Hillel student leaders and staff for the Hillel First Year Retreat from Friday, August 25 to Sunday, August 27 at Brandeis University during Pre-Orientation.

This is a great opportunity to connect with new friends and to learn about Jewish life at Brandeis while enjoying a beautiful Shabbat together. The weekend includes fun activities and games, spirited services, delicious kosher meals, as well as a special late-night activity off campus on Saturday night.

The retreat is welcome to students of all Jewish backgrounds and practices. If you have questions about the retreat, please email hillel@brandeis.edu

This Social Justice Pre-Orientation program is a comprehensive experience designed for first year students to develop a deeper understanding of the importance of diversity, equality, inclusion, access, and belonging in society. Through this program, students will explore historical and contemporary issues related to social justice, racism, biases, and discrimination. The course will combine theoretical and practical knowledge to enhance the students' awareness of the role they play in creating a more equitable and inclusive community, both on-campus and in their future careers.

Throughout the program, students will engage in open and honest discussions around topics such as cultural sensitivity, bystander intervention, and having difficult conversations. The program will equip students with the skills to address and challenge biases and empower them to advocate for social justice and inclusion, creating a safer and more welcoming space for everyone. Participants will also examine the Civil Rights Movement and learn from best practices for creating and sustaining healthy, inclusive communities. The DEI Pre-Orientation aims to expose students to diverse perspectives and foster a greater appreciation for the value of equity and inclusion in building a more just and equitable society.

There will be an opportunity for ongoing engagement in DEI advocacy during the academic year for those students interested.