New Student Orientation

It all begins Friday, August 13 with New Student Orientation (NSO) Check-In and Move-In! Residential Life & Housing will be in communication regarding an appointment time to move into your residence hall. After moving in, you’ll meet the orientation staff at the Science & Math Complex (the corner of North Ocoee Street and Billy Graham Avenue) to check in and receive key information detailing the rest of the weekend’s activities, a free shirt, and instructions to complete any final steps in the registration process. If you are living on campus, watch for emails from the Residential Life & Housing staff with information about your move-in day and time. Commuter students can check in at the Science & Math Complex at any time during check-in.

That evening, all new students and family members are invited to attend the Service of Dedication at the Conn Center. The Service of Dedication is a tradition in which Lee’s faculty and staff come together to welcome new students and their families to Lee. The service will also be livestreamed. There will be a reception immediately following the service, and of course, it’s free!

Please note that due to COVID-19, various events and on-campus activities may be limited. If you and your family want to further explore Cleveland, we can help connect you with several family activities in the Cleveland community, including hiking trails or walking on the Greenway, dining at some of our local restaurants, and more. We encourage you to check out our parent resource guide, The Nest, for more information. After family farewells are made, students can connect with each other with activities in the residence halls and with their Gateway classes and transfer groups.

NSO is just getting started! On Saturday morning, new students are invited to attend the New Student Opening Session in the Conn Center. Following the session, all freshman and transfer students will spend time getting to know their Gateway and transfer groups. Freshman students will connect with their Gateway groups and meet their LEEU-101 Instructors for the first time. Transfer students will meet with their Transfer Leaders and participate in a session about their transition to Lee. During this time, parents are invited to attend several parent orientation sessions, beginning with a main session in the Conn Center.

After all the information sessions have ended, everyone is invited to join us for a free cookout in Alumni Park. In the afternoon, you can also swing by the Student Services Fair in the Science & Math Complex to speak with various campus representatives and offices who seek to support students.

Most parents leave on Saturday, and students living on campus have the opportunity to spend the evening with their residence hall learning more about what it will be like to live in this new community.

On Sunday afternoon, new students will attend two different sessions to continue learning about the resources the Lee community provides. Specific Gateway and transfer groups will start out in the Dixon Center to hear from the Center for Student Success, a student support office dedicated to giving students the resources they need to excel throughout their collegiate journey. Simultaneously, other Gateway and transfer groups will attend our “Community at Lee” session at Pangle Hall, in which new students learn what it means to live within the context of the Lee community; how we care for and believe in each other. At the end of the first session, students will switch locations and participate in the other session. Later that evening, new students can participate in a one-time rehearsal for the New Student Choir that will then be featured at the first U-Church of the semester that night! Whether you choose to participate as a member of the choir or simply through your attendance at the U-Church service, we hope that you will be able to share in this meaningful time with us. Afterwards, new students are in for a special surprise at the Ice Cream Sunday on the Walker Arena Lawn. This NSO tradition will be sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!

"Deke" is short for diakoneo, a Greek word which means, “to serve.” You will soon see that service is a core value of Lee University. Appropriately, all new students begin their time as a student by participating in "Deke Day: A Day of Service." The event begins on Monday afternoon with a rally with Gateway and transfer groups. There, you will learn about Deke Day and Lee's commitment to redemptive service throughout our community. You will learn about a local assisted-living facility that is specially assigned to your class and participate in a project to support the residents of that facility. Our goal is for you to begin gaining a deeper understanding of the community’s needs, the meaning of service, and the impact that you can have as a student. Not only will this be a highlight of your first semester, but you will receive your first service-learning credits toward your graduation requirement. Later that evening, new students will have the opportunity to participate in a special Lee University tradition – the Welcome Walk. You will meet at the Conn Center with your Gateway and transfer group for this meaningful ritual as a new student class.

Calling all new transfer students! On Tuesday evening, join us in the John D. Nichols Room (underneath the stone Chapel) for a transfer student open house! Several student support offices will be there to help guide you through the transition to life at Lee, as well as your Transfer Leaders! Connect with them one-on-one and be a part of the transfer student community. Free coffee and snacks will be provided!

There will be many opportunities for you to meet fellow students and get plugged in here at Lee. During your first week at Lee, you can meet virtually with dozens of Lee’s different clubs and organizations at the virtual Club Lee. For more information about how to get involved, connect with your Peer or Transfer Leader.

We hope that you are as excited about your #LeeUArrival as we are! This transition can be a nerve-wracking process, but we are always here to help. Feel free to email firstyear@leeuniversity.edu if you have any additional questions about beginning your Lee journey.

We are so excited that your student has chosen to attend Lee University! We know that this is a time of transition for you as well, so we hope that you will be able to join us for New Student Orientation. When you move your student in, we encourage you to take in all that our campus has to offer.

We encourage you to check out our Parent Page for additional information.

The Office of First-Year Programs is here to help answer any questions you may have about New Student Orientation, so feel free to contact us at firstyear@leeuniversity.edu or at (423) 614-8623.