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New Student Orientation (NSO) is designed to help you settle into campus life and fully prepare you for the start of your classes and college journey. You’ll learn more about campus resources, bond with classmates at social events, and familiarize yourself with campus before classes begin.
All Orientation events listed on this schedule are mandatory unless otherwise noted with an asterisk, and attendance will be counted towards your grade in your University 1000 class.
Yes, attendance is mandatory for the entire New Student Orientation NSO program. This program is your first step to success as a GSW Hurricane! If you have further questions, contact fye@gsw.edu.
Breakfast will not be required or provided during Canes Fest (NSO). If you would like to grab a bite to eat, we encourage you to stop by one of the campus dining locations prior to entering the gates.
The Caf - Dining Hall, Marshall Student Center
Opens at 7:30am
Café Campesino - Marshall Student Center
Opens at 8:00am
Closed Sunday
Download the Corq app from the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. This app includes your required event passes needed to check in and out of New Student Orientation events. After download, you will select GSW as your campus and sign in with your CanesNet credentials.
Download the Corq App for CanesConnect!
Opening Ceremony
9:30am | Storm Dome
Check in with the Office of Recruitment and Admissions to receive your entry pass for your Gold Force experience and begin your New Student Orientation experience.
Opening Act
10:00am | Storm Dome
Receive a Hurricane Welcome from Georgia Southwestern's administration and campus leadership.
Meet the Teams
11:00am | UNIV 1000 Classrooms
Meet your UNIV 1000 class and get to know each other with ice breakers.
Connecting Canes
11:30am | UNIV 1000 Classrooms / The Caf
Enjoy lunch at the Caf and Connect with other Canes.
Connection Canes
12:30pm | UNIV 1000 Classrooms / The Caf
Enjoy lunch at the Caf and Connect with other Canes.
Preliminaries
1:30pm | SSC Conference Rooms
Receive tips on health and wellbeing, healthy relationships, and FYE Survival Tips
Preliminaries
2:30pm | Jackson Hall
Receive tips on health and wellbeing, healthy relationships, and FYE Survival Tips
Preliminaries
3:30pm | Storm Dome
Receive tips on health and wellbeing, healthy relationships, and FYE Survival Tips
Treading the Path
4:15pm | SSC Conference Rooms
Hear from GSW Commuter students on tips to engage and succeed as a commuter.
Commuter Students Only*
Homebound
4:30pm | Storm Dome / SSC Conference Rooms
Meet with the Director of Residential Life and learn more about residence life and living on campus.
Power Up*
5:00pm - 7:00pm | Marshall Student Center, Caf
Enjoy dinner with other new students in our dining hall.
Gold Force Rave*
8:00pm - 10:00pm | Marshall Student Center, The Pods
Go for the gold and dance the night away.
Taking Care of Business*
9:00am - 1:00pm | GSW Shuttle from Oaks 2 Parking Lot
The GSW Shuttle will be available to provide transportation to local business, including Walmart, and to the local churches in the community. Please call the Shuttle at (229) 815-9689 for a ride.
Local Church Service*
9:00am - 1:00pm | Off-Campus
Visit local churches and explore the downtown Americus community.
Breakfast*
11:00am - 1:00pm | Marshall Student Center, Caf
Grab a bite to eat before beginning the rest of the day.
Gates Open
1:00pm | Storm Dome
Check in with the Office of First-Year Experience and Student Success to begin Day 2.
Opener: Dr. Patrice Buckner Jackson
1:30pm | Storm Dome
Keynote speaker Dr. Patricia Buckner Jackson highlights the methods to Discover your Brilliance and how students can, will, and must.
Gold Medal Strategies
2:30pm | Administration Room 127
Receive more information on student conduct, campus safety while on campus, and student life.
Gold Medal Strategies
3:30pm | SSC Conference Rooms
Receive more information on student conduct, campus safety while on campus, and student life.
Gold Medal Strategies
4:30pm | Storm Dome
Receive more information on student conduct, campus safety while on campus, and student life.
Power Up*
5:00 - 6:30pm | Marshal Student Center, Caf
Enjoy dinner with other new students in our dining hall.
Game Night*
6:30pm - 7:30pm | Marshal Student Center, Private Dining Room
Grab your team and compete at game night.
Gates Open
9:30am | Storm Dome
Check‐in with the Department of First‐Year Experience and Student Success for all questions!
Opener: Dr. Jill Drake
10:00am | Storm Dome
GSW's Provost Dr. Jill Drake explains how "Mindset is Everything."
Team Excellence
11:00am | UNIV 1000 Classrooms
Meet and greet with University 1000 instructors.
Medal Mindset
12:00pm | Assigned Computer Labs Across Campus
Receive tips and instructions on navigating technology services on campus before enjoying lunch.
Medal Mindset
1:00pm | Marshall Student Center, Caf
Receive tips and instructions on navigating technology services on campus before enjoying lunch.
Battle of the Canes: Final Showdown
2:00pm | Storm Dome
Receive your free orientation t‐shirt and compete in Battle of the Canes.
Olympic Charter: Chart Your Course
3:00pm | Academic Buildings
Meet with your academic advisor and professors, Locate your classrooms across campus and prepare for classes to begin!
Power Up*
5:00 - 7:00pm | Marshal Student Center, Caf
Enjoy dinner with other new students in our dining hall.
Go For the Gold!*
7:00pm - 9:00pm | Florrie Chappel, Game Room, IM Gym
Get competitive with a Dodgeball Tournament in the intramural gym or choose from other options such as a variety of games in the Game Room, climbing the rock wall, or walking over
to Florrie Chappell Gymnasium for a workout.
Go For the Gold!*
7:00pm - 9:00pm | IM Gym
Carry over into our various recreation and wellness facilities with a game of pool, videos games, air hockey, rockwall climbing, and more!
Gates Open
9:00am | Storm Dome
Check‐in with the Department of First‐Year Experience and Student Success for all questions!
Closer: Dr. Laura Boren
9:30am | Storm Dome
Begin the day with an introduction to Clifton Strengths by Dr. Laura Boren, Vice President for Student Engagement and Success.
Closing Ceremony
10:30am | Storm Dome
Prepare for our annual Convocation ‐ a celebration of your future achievments at GSW.
Pass the Baton
11:00am | Storm Dome
Pass the baton to mark the official beginning of your academic journey with GSW's annual convocation. Freshman will receive the Presidential Challenge Coin and complete the Freshman
Walk down Hello Walk while greeting the rest of campus. A freshman photo will be taken following the Freshman Walk.
Power Up*
12:30pm | Marshal Student Center, Caf
Grab lunch with new friends at the Caf and use this extra time to complete any last minute tasks.
Handle Business*
1:00pm - 5:00pm | Campus Offices
Use this extra time to complete any last minute tasks before classes begin such as touring campus, completing paperwork, setting up your residence hall, etc.
Movie Night*
7:00pm - 9:00pm | Storm Dome
Celebrate victory of NSO 2024 with a relaxing movie night with the Office of Recruitment and Admissions.