First-Year Family Orientation

When your student begins their journey at Carnegie Mellon University, the entire family experiences excitement, transition and change. We are here to support family members as well as our new students. The First-Year Family Orientation program provides the opportunity to learn more about the university experience and resources available to your first-year student.

Due to the volume of family visitors and the university’s prioritization of an in-person student Orientation experience, First-Year Family Orientation will be offered as a primarily remote program with some limited in-person activities on August 22.

Parents and families can assist their student with residence hall Move-In on Saturday, August 21, 2021.

All family members who are listed as a contact by their student in Student Information Online (SIO) will be invited to a Family Orientation Canvas course on August 13. The course will include pre-recorded videos and information about campus resources, as well as links to remote synchronous events, including webinars hosted by leaders in your student’s college or school. Webinar links will also be provided via email.

In-Person Events

• August 21: Move-In Day
• August 22: 10 a.m. ET, President's Welcome to the Class of 2025+ (preshow begins at 9:50 a.m.)
  This event will be livestreamed from the First-Year Orientation website.
• August 22: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET, Campus Tours
• August 22: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET, Grab-and-Go Lunch for Students and Families
• August 22: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, Special Office Hours with the Miller Institute for Contemporary Art, University Stores, Housing and Dining, Computing Services, PNC, and The HUB. (Specific hours will vary, please check the Orientation schedule on the CMU App for details.)