Bear Beginnings: Fall Welcome

Move-in dates and times

You can choose your move-in date and time on the Housing Portal starting Monday, July 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM CDT. Instructions for this process can be found there. First-year students will move in on either Friday, August 16 or Saturday, August 17.

Fall varsity athletes may have different arrival dates; please connect with your head coach for details.

Incoming first-year international students are scheduled to move in on Wednesday, August 13.

Move-in information stations

Staff from Student Transitions & Engagement will be available to answer questions on Friday, August 15 and Saturday, August 16 from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM CT. Student Transitions & Engagement is located in the lower level of Umrath House on the South 40 (across from the Bear’s Den entrance).

We will have schedules, resources, and maps, including directions to local St. Louis shopping and dining locations.

Convocation

A time-honored tradition at WashU, Convocation is the official academic welcome to the university.

Parent & Family Orientation

Parent & Family Orientation experiences will take place from Friday, August 15 to Sunday, August 17. Some programming will be available virtually. All programming will end by 3:00 PM CT on Sunday, August 17. A schedule of events will be posted in spring, 2025.

For families who are unable to join us for Parent & Family Orientation, we will record the sessions and livestream Parents as Partners. The livestream link for Parents as Partners will be available on the Parent & Family Engagement website.

Religious observances

The Office of Religious, Spiritual, and Ethical Life (ORSEL) offers connections with a wide variety of religious organizations on campus and in the St. Louis area. Please reach out to ORSEL to get connected with campus ministry groups and St. Louis organizations. 

It often happens that religious services occur during Fall Welcome. It is our goal that students will be able to fully observe their faith, practices, and traditions without missing important information. Students should reach out to their WUSA if they plan on missing an orientation event for a religious observance to ensure the student has access to any information they may miss. 

Accommodation statement

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events. If you have a disability and require accommodations (such as assistive listening device, captioning, large print, reserved front row seat, advanced copy of slides to be projected, etc.) in order to fully participate in Fall Welcome, please list them in your Bear Beginnings: Fall Welcome Registration Form on your WashU Pathways account. After we receive your submission, a member of Student Transitions & Engagement will contact you for more information. Requests should be made as soon as possible, but at least two weeks prior to your arrival on campus. For any other questions about accessibility during Fall Welcome, please contact Student Transitions & Engagement.