New Student Orientation
Welcome to Lee University!
Your journey at Lee starts with your #LeeUArrival and New Student Orientation (NSO)! Your #LeeUArrival will begin Friday, August 12 when you move into your residence hall. We will have some key offices available to serve you throughout the weekend, as well as some suggestions for family activities and events within your residence hall.
We hope that you are as excited about your #LeeUArrival as we are! We know that it can be a stressful process, but we are always here to help. Please email studentengagement@leeuniversity.edu or call us at (423) 614-8405 if you have any additional questions about your first week at Lee. Starting June 1, you will have access to a required pre-orientation course through our Moodle platform. This course will share key information tailored to your needs as a new student at Lee University. Be on the lookout for information from the Office of Student Engagement to access and complete this required course.
You can download the Lee University app from the App Store or Google Play to find further details about your arrival as we approach orientation. The Lee mobile app is your one-stop shop for all you will need throughout your Lee experience and NSO weekend. This resource features interactive schedules, information about our campus, access to Portico and Moodle, and more!
Follow the Office of Student Engagement on Instagram at @LeeU_SE and use the hashtag #LeeUArrival to share your experiences!
Schedule for New Student Orientation
It all begins Friday, August 12 with New Student Orientation (NSO) Check-In and Move-In Day! Residential Life & Housing will be in communication regarding an appointment time to move into your residence hall if you are an on-campus student. After moving in, head to 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.
Friday 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!
NSO is just getting started! On Saturday morning, you will meet first with your Gateway or transfer group. Keep an eye on your Lee email for your meeting location. You will also receive your group meeting location during NSO Check-In. All new students will then attend the New Student Opening Session in the Conn Center. Following the session, all freshman and transfer students will spend time learning about life at Lee with their Gateway and transfer groups. During this time, parents are invited to attend several parent orientation sessions, ending with a keynote session with President Walker 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. Commuters, join us in the Paul Conn Student Union Saturday evening for a Commuter Student Social!
On Sunday afternoon, new students will attend two different sessions to continue learning about the resources the Lee community provides.
Half of the 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."
Monday afternoon, Gateway and Transfer groups begin the event with a rally in the Conn Center. 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. Directly following the Welcome Walk, new students are invited to attend Club Lee to learn about all the student-led clubs and organizations our Lee community has to offer as you find your place.
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 will have the opportunity to connect with dozens of Lee’s different clubs and organizations at Club Lee. Club Lee is a club and organization fair to meet and greet over 75 clubs that Lee has to offer. For more information about how to get involved, connect with your Peer or Transfer Leader or contact Student Engagement at studentengagement@leeuniversity.edu.
We hope that you are as excited about your #LeeUArrival as we are! This transition can be a stressful process, but we are always here to help. Feel free to email studentengagement@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 browse our Parent Page for additional information.
The Office of Student Engagement is here to help answer any questions you may have about New Student Orientation, so feel free to contact us at studentengagement@leeuniversity.edu or at (423) 614-8405.
What is New Student Orientation? Do I have to attend?
New Student Orientation (NSO) is required for all incoming students. NSO is an introduction to life as a Lee University student. During NSO, you will have the opportunity to move into your residence hall, check in with the Office of Student Engagement, finalize your registration, confirm enrollment, and learn about all of the resources and opportunities Lee has to offer new students. NSO is a great opportunity to meet new and returning students, faculty, staff, and student leaders. Make plans to join us starting Friday, August 12.
Do I need to register for New Student Orientation?
There is no additional registration required for NSO, however we encourage students to fill out the NSO RSVP Form so that we can best prepare to serve you and your family. After moving into your residence hall on Friday, be sure to check in for NSO with the Office of Student Engagement at the Science & Math Complex on Friday, August 12.
What if I have scheduling conflicts?
If you are not able to attend New Student Orientation, please be sure to contact the Office of Student Engagement prior to NSO Weekend. You can reach us by email at studentengagement@leeuniversity.edu or by phone at (423) 614-8405.
Can I bring a guest to New Student Orientation?
We encourage students to bring family members with them to assist with such a significant transition! Family members will not be allowed to stay in campus residence halls, so be sure to book your hotel rooms at any of our local hotels!
Will I meet with an advisor and finalize my class schedule during New Student Orientation?
If you have not completed early class selection prior to NSO, you will have the opportunity to sign up for an appointment time during NSO Check-In to meet with an advisor and finalize your class schedule on Monday during Registration. If you have a class schedule, but still need to confirm enrollment, you will be able to do so when you arrive.