Welcome to the Drover Family!
We are so happy to welcome new students to their home at USAO. As we approach move-in and orientation, we will be sending emails to your university email account with important information, so be sure to keep an eye out! If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to reach out to Housing or Admissions.
MOVE IN INFORMATION
We are just two weeks away from New Student Move-In, and we can’t wait to welcome you to campus! Here is everything you need to know to prepare for your arrival on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
- 08:00 AM - Move In
- 02:00 PM - Mandatory Meetings
- Housing Meeting: Located in Te Ata Memorial Auditorium (required for all students living on campus), followed immediately by your RA Community Meeting (required for all students living on campus).
- Optional Parents Meeting & Reception: Located in the Student Center Ballroom (2nd Floor).
- 04:00 PM - Break
- 05:00 PM - Dinner
- 06:00 PM - Housing Hang Out
ORIENTATION - Daily Schedule
- 07:00 AM - Optional Breakfast
- 09:00 AM - Opening Ceremony
- 09:30 AM - Drove Meeting
- 11:00 AM - Lunch
- 01:30 PM - Green and Gold Games Opener
- 02:30 PM - Academic Open Houses
- 03:45 PM – Drover Resources
- 04:45 PM – Drove Meeting #2
- 05:00 PM - Dinner
- 07:00 PM – Minerva Minute Madness
- 07:00 AM – Optional Breakfast
- 09:00 AM - Morning Meeting
- 10:00 AM – Drove Meeting #3
- 11:30 AM – Lunch and Drover Resources
- 01:30 PM -Drover Meeting #4
- 03:30 PM – Green and Gold Games
- 05:30 PM – Dinner
- 06:30 PM – Break
- 08:30 PM – Drover Disco
- 07:00 AM – Optional Breakfast
- 08:00 AM - Optional Religious Activities
- 11:00 AM - Morning Meeting
- 11:45 AM - Lunch and Drove Meeting #5
- 01:30 PM - Medallion Hunt
- 02:00 PM - Drove Meeting #6
- 03:00 PM - Dusty Dress to Impress
- 03:45 PM - Class Photo and Alma Mater
- 04:00 PM - Closing Ceremony
Orientation Information
We are excited to welcome all incoming freshman students to campus to participate in USAO Welcome Week!! This is a three-day event free to all freshman students that begins on Friday, August 21 (day after move-in), and runs through Sunday, August 23. The purpose of orientation is to help you successfully transition to the USAO community, get acquainted with campus resources, and find your place in our Drover Family!
Follow the Admissions Instagram (@usaobound & @usaoreslife) to meet the Orientation Leaders and find out what advice they have for you along with what to expect from Welcome Week! You can also DM either Instagram account to get answers to questions you may have. As the school semester is fast approaching, start getting excited for USAO Welcome Week 2026!
*Note: Transfer students are welcome to join in on USAO Welcome Week, but are not required.