Orientation for New and Incoming Students
Kicking off your RISD experience, our orientation programming lets you meet friends, get a sense of campus and settle into housing before the start of classes. Read below for more information.
Pre-arrival emails and social media
Throughout the summer you will receive weekly Wednesday emails from welcome@risd.edu to help you get to know your community and learn about available resources at RISD. You can also get updates by following us on Instagram @WelcomeRISD.
Are you a first-generation student?
Consider applying for FGC POP
Running each summer before orientation, First-Generation to College Pre-Orientation Program (FGC POP) is designed to help first-gen students transition smoothly to life at RISD. Follow the link below for details.
International Student Orientation — Aug 29–30, 2025
At International Student Orientation, new and incoming international students will learn about available resources and support at RISD, and other important information to assist in your transition to living and studying in the United States.
Beginning the day after international student move-in day, orientation programming includes:
- access to shopping shuttles for essentials (families welcome).
- time to speak with local bank and phone representatives (families welcome).
- evening social events.
- presentations from International Student and Scholar Affairs, Student Employment, and the Center for Arts & Language
- F-1 Visa sessions.
- community time with your orientation leaders.
Request early arrival to attend International Orientation
If you are a dual citizen, permanent resident, a student with a J-1 visa status, or an international student without F-1 status, you must request to arrive to campus early to participate in International Orientation.
Complete the International Move-In and Orientation Request form to make sure you can arrive to campus early. All requests are due by August 19, 2025, and you will be notified of your approval by August 20, 2025.
Please note that completing the International Move-In and Orientation Request form is required to attend International Orientation if you are an international student without an F-1 visa (this includes: dual residents, permanent residents, and students with a J-1 visa sponsored by RISD). If you participate in International Orientation on August 29–30, you will also participate in the New Student Orientation on August 31–September 2.
If you will be living on-campus, you can use this form to confirm your early arrival into the residence halls.
If you do not complete the form, you will not be approved for early arrival and will move in on your predetermined move-in date, and will only attend New Student Orientation on August 29–September 3. If you arrive early without proper approval, you will be charged for an improper arrival fee of $150 and $70 for each additional day that you stay in the residence halls prior to your original move-in date.
New Student Orientation — Aug 31–Sep 2
Designed for all incoming first-year, transfer, international and graduate students, New Student Orientation provides information about campus resources and introduces you to faculty, student leaders, and your peers.
Orientation programming includes:
- a resource fair with representatives from campus departments (families welcome).
- opportunities to speak with local bank and phone representatives (families welcome).
- a welcome address by President Crystal Williams (families welcome).
- presentations from student resources and academic representatives.
- evening social events.
- panel sessions.
- lunch with your academic advisor.
- community time with your orientation leaders.
- campus tour opportunities.
Please note that you will receive your complete orientation schedule via email before you arrive on campus, and in person at Orientation check-in. The schedule will indicate which sessions family members can attend.