Your orientation experience will take place before the start of your semester. We look forward to welcoming you on campus! If you have any questions about orientation, please contact oge@montclair.edu.
The international graduate student orientation session that is hosted by the Office of Global Engagement is MANDATORY for all incoming graduate students. This orientation session will be held on August 28 and 29, 2024. Check in is 8:30 am-9:30 am both days. Orientation sessions will begin promptly at 9:30 am and the day will conclude at 4:00 PM, both days. This session is for incoming Fall 2024 international graduate students only. We ask that you do not bring guests as they cannot be accommodated, this includes family members, parents, significant others, and children. Pets are not allowed. All service animals must be approved by the Disability Resource Center before they are permitted on campus and the confirmation of approval must be sent to OGE before the orientation day.
Orientation is held in-person, on-campus at University Hall, Floor 7. Once you arrive to campus, you will see signs and orientation leaders who will direct you where to go. Register for Orientation – please only sign up if you have received your visa.
What to bring:
- Sweater or jacket – the room can get cold
- Appetite – Light breakfast will be served both days from 8:30-9:30 AM. Hot lunch will be served on day 1. This is your opportunity to try some American food!
- Questions – Bring any questions you have!
Other Orientation Sessions:
Incoming graduate students may be required to attend multiple orientation sessions before the start of their program. Please see the list of sessions below and take note of the orientations that you may have to attend. You will receive an email regarding any sessions that you must attend.
Thursday, August 22 at 9am and 12pm – New Graduate Student Orientation (Virtual)
- This orientation is held by The Graduate School and is mandatory for ALL new incoming graduate students, both international and domestic.
Monday, August 26 – Student Instructor Training – Day 1
- Only students who are required to attend this session will receive an email from the Office of Faculty Excellence with more information.
Monday, August 26 – NEW Graduate Assistants Orientation & Training
- This session is ONLY for students who have received a Graduate Assistantship.
- Students who are required to attend this session will receive an email from The Graduate School with more information.
Tuesday, August 27 – AM: Makeup-Graduate Student Orientation
- This orientation is held by The Graduate School and is mandatory for any student who missed the new graduate student orientation on August 22.
Tuesday, August 27 – PM: College/Program Information Session
- Some colleges/programs may hold their own information session. If you receive an email from your college with information about a separate session, you must attend. Please note that not every college hosts an incoming student information session.
Wednesday, August 28 – Student Instructor Training- Day 2
- Only students who are required to attend this session will receive an email from the Office of Faculty Excellence with more information.
Wednesday, August 28 – International Graduate Student Orientation- Day 1
- Mandatory in-person orientation session for incoming international graduate students. This session is hosted by the Office of Global Engagement and will cover all topics related to your F-1 visa status.
Thursday, August 29 – International Graduate Student Orientation – Day 2
- Mandatory in-person orientation session for incoming international graduate students. This morning sessions are hosted by the Office of Global Engagement and will cover all topics related to your F-1 visa status. The afternoons are hosted by Academic Affairs and will cover topics related to your program of study and meet your GPCs.
Friday, August 30 – Graduate Assistants Orientation (New & Returning Training for who did not attend 8/26)
- This is a makeup session for students who missed the GA orientation on August 26.
- This session is ONLY for students who have received a Graduate Assistantship.
- Students who are required to attend this session will receive an email from The Graduate School with more information.
Opening Week Schedule:
Monday – No classes, U.S. holiday – Labor Day
Tuesday – Red Hawk Day, 10 am to 4 pm
Wednesday – First day of classes
Freshmen and transfer students will attend the college-wide new student orientation. You can find more information on this orientation here: Undergraduate Orientation. ALL incoming international undergraduate students are required to attend a MANDATORY Maintaining Your F-1 Status session in addition to the campus-wide undergraduate orientation. This session will be run by the Office of Global Engagement (OGE).
OGE will host a mandatory international student session on Friday, August 30, 2024 at 3:00 PM. You will receive an email with more detailed information about this session once you receive your visa and confirm your intent to enroll for the fall 2024 semester.
Opening Week Schedule:
Monday – No classes, U.S. holiday – Labor Day
Tuesday – Red Hawk Day, 10 am to 4 pm
Wednesday – First day of classes
Orientation for J-1 Exchange students will be held on Friday, August 30, 2024. This mandatory immigration session begins at 9:00 AM. Please contact the International Academic Initiative’s office for more information about this orientation. The college will be hosting multiple incoming student resource fairs: All resource fairs will take place on the Student Center Quad. If you are on or near campus on these days and would like to learn more about what the different offices/departments on campus can offer to you as a student, please feel free to attend! Please review the International Student Resource Guide on CANVAS, which you will be added to after you receive your visa and confirm your intent to enroll. This guide has information about everything Montclair and what it means to be an international student here! When coming to campus for orientation or just a visit, you can park in either the Red Hawk Parking Deck or Car Parc Diem Parking Deck for $12 for the entire day. You can find the location of each deck on our Campus Map. Campus is also accessible via New Jersey Transit bus (Montclair Heights stop) or train (Montclair Heights station and Montclair State University station). The NJ Transit bus schedule can be found here and the NJ Transit train schedule can be found here.