All new students to Goshen College participate in on-campus orientation before classes start.
Leaf Launch is our mandatory orientation for new students. This orientation is a necessary time of transition, and activities and sessions are required unless otherwise noted. Students should plan to be available from Thursday, August 21, through Sunday, August 24, and begin making plans accordingly. Different campus groups will offer optional activities on Sunday, August 24.
It is important to note that this is not only orientation but also the beginning of CORE 100, a required class for first-year students and transfer students with less than 17 credit hours. For both of those reasons, it is crucial that students are present to complete their first day of classwork and lay the foundation for success in the rest of the semester. We ask that students treat this schedule like a job schedule: your attendance is required for the work we need to do.
Check out our FAQ page for answers to our most commonly asked questions.
* = required activities for new first-year students
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
New International Student Move-In (parents and families welcome!) | Residence Halls & Apartments
New international residential students will move into their fall housing early to be on time for the mandatory new international student orientation on Thursday, August 21. They should confirm and coordinate their arrival time with Kellam Venosky, the international students’ admissions counselor.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
New International Student Move-In (parents and families welcome!) | Residence Halls & Apartments
New international residential students will move into their fall housing early to be on time for the mandatory new international student orientation on Thursday, August 21. They should confirm and coordinate their arrival time with Kellam Venosky, the international students’ admissions counselor.
Thursday, August 21, 2025
9 – 11:30 a.m. — Check-In for all new students (parents and families welcome!) | College Church, Fellowship Hall *
All new students will sign up for a time to go through the check-in line and complete the final tasks and forms required to begin the fall semester. Interpreters will be available.
Tasks include completing any missing forms that weren’t required for course registration, confirming how you will pay for college (a cashier will be available for payments), receiving your laptop (for students who opted in via the Laptop Selection Form and submitted the Laptop Agreement Form), and picking up your ID card (if you didn’t already during NSO). You’ll also receive a folder with the necessary documents for Leaf Launch.
Students should look for an email in their Goshen College email account at the beginning of August with instructions on selecting their time.
9:30 – Noon — New International Student Orientation | Location TBA
New international students at Goshen College must participate in an orientation session hosted by the International Student Advisor.
9:30 a.m. – Noon — Move-In for residential students (parents and families welcome!) | Kratz, Yoder, Miller and Kulp Residence Halls and Student Apartments *
Residential students will receive their room key during Check-In.
9:30 – 11:30 a.m. — Commuter Student Open House (parents and families welcome!) | Union, Commuter Student Lounge
Commuter students can stop by after completing Check-In to meet student leaders from the Commuter Student Association (CSA) and to visit the Commuter Student Lounge.
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. — Lunch | Westlawn Dining Hall, Off-Campus
On-campus dining is available (pay at the door), or you can go off-campus for lunch.
1 p.m. — Doors open for New Leaf Launch (students) | Umble Center
Students, parents, and family members can pick from several sessions that provide helpful information about the start of school. The Office of Orientation will share more details at the beginning of August.
1:30 – 5 p.m. — New Leaf Launch (all students) | Umble Center
We officially kick off Leaf Launch at this exclusive event for new students. Orientation Leaders will introduce the team. You’ll also get helpful tips on what to expect for the remainder of the week and take a pre-Leaf Launch survey. Afterward, students will join their orientation groups for small group activities, followed by whole group activities on the KMY lawn. Finally, students will connect with their CORE 100 – ICC sections and walk to their classroom so they know where to go the following morning.
1:30 – 5 p.m. — Family Sessions (parents and families) | College Church, Fellowship Hall
Various sessions will be offered to parents and families of new students. The sessions will be provided in English and Spanish. More details available beginning June 1.
2:15 – 4 p.m. — Academic Overview (all new transfer students with 17 or more credit hours) | Newcomer Center, 17 *
New transfer students will break off from New Leaf Launch to meet members of the Registrar’s Office and the Academic Dean’s Office to review academics at GC.
4 – 5 p.m. — Library iTour (all new transfer students with 17 or more credit hours) | Good Library *
Completing the Library iTour will allow new transfer students to meet the librarians and learn about available library services and support.
5 – 6:30 p.m. — Welcome Dinner (parents and families welcome!) | Westlawn Dining Hall
President Stoltzfus and her husband, Kevin Miller, invite all new students, parents, and family members to the Welcome Dinner. Students with an unlimited meal plan (carte blanche) will swipe their cards. The dinner is complimentary for students without a meal plan, on a limited meal plan (30-,65-, or 90-block), and all parents and family members.
6:30 p.m. — Doors open for Campus Welcome | College Church, Chapel*
Students, parents, and family members should pick up their name tags before finding a seat for the Welcome.
7 – 7:45 p.m. — Campus Welcome (parents and families welcome!) | College Church, Chapel*
Join Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus, president of Goshen College, and other members of the GC community as we welcome new students.
7:45 – 8:30 p.m. — Family Farewell (parents and families welcome!) | Scrock Plaza*
Following the campus welcome, students can say goodbye to parents and families. This is open to all new students, their parents, and their families.
9 p.m. — Residence Life Meeting (residential students only)| Kratz, Yoder, Miller, and Kulp Residence Halls and Student Apartments
New residential students will meet the Residence Life staff and learn what it means to live in a community.
Friday, August 22, 2025
7:30 – 8:45 a.m. — Breakfast | Westlawn Dining Hall
Students with an unlimited meal plan (carte blanche) will swipe their cards. The Office of Orientation will cover the breakfast cost for students without a meal plan or those on a limited meal plan (30-, 65-, or 90-block plans); sign in at the cashier’s station.
8:45 a.m. — Head to class | Westlawn Dining Hall
Students who opted in for breakfast should be done and walking to their classrooms. Students driving to campus should be parked and walking to their classrooms by now.
Look for Orientation Leaders outside buildings where ICC sections meet. They will have signs with the section numbers to assist everyone in locating the correct building for the first day of class.
9 – 10:20 a.m. — CORE 100: Identity, Culture, and Community (ICC) (all first-year students and transfer students with less than 17 credit hours) | Assigned Classrooms *
All first-year students will begin their first college course during Welcome Week: CORE 100—Identity, Culture, and Community (ICC). ICC is weekly on Mondays (M), Wednesdays (W), and Fridays (F) from 9 to 9:50 a.m. Students will sign up for advising appointments during class on Monday.
9 – 10:20 a.m. — Advising Appointments (all new transfer students with 17 or more credit hours) | Faculty Offices *
New transfer students will be assigned an advising appointment with their academic advisor.
10:30 – 11 a.m. — Morning Gathering (all new students) | College Church, Chapel *
ICC sections will walk to the Church-Chapel together, and then students will sit with their orientation group—look for your Orientation Leaders when you arrive. Everyone will gather for important morning announcements before orientation groups break off. Students who arrive on time will have their names put in a drawing for fabulous prizes! Orientation Leaders will take attendance.
11 a.m. – Noon — Rotating Sessions | various locations *
Students will rotate between sessions with their orientation groups. One rotation will take place before lunch.
Noon – 1:30 p.m. — Lunch | Westlawn Dining Hall *
Students with an unlimited meal plan (carte blanche) will swipe their cards. The Office of Orientation will cover the lunch cost for students without a meal plan or those on a limited meal plan (30-, 65-, or 90-block plans); sign in at the cashier’s station.
1:30 p.m. — Afternoon Gathering (all new students) | College Church, Chapel*
Students will sit with their orientation group—look for your Orientation Leaders when you arrive. Everyone will gather for important afternoon announcements before orientation groups break off. Students who arrive on time will have their names put in a drawing for fabulous prizes! Orientation Leaders will take attendance.
2 – 3 p.m. — Rotating Sessions (all new students) | Various locations *
Students will complete the final two rotations.
3 – 4:30 p.m. — Academic Open House (all new students) | Various locations *
Students can explore and meet with professors from their anticipated majors across campus.
4 – 6 p.m. — Athletic Practice | Various locations
New student-athletes participating in a fall sport will report to practice. Student-athletes should be dressed for practice following lunch so they can leave right after the last session. The dining hall will be open until 7 p.m. for dinner.
4 – 5 p.m. — Taking Care of Business (optional) | Various offices
The hour before dinner is an excellent time for students to stop by offices and take care of any school-related business that needs to get done before classes begin. Departments or student groups may opt to schedule meetings or gatherings during this time and will notify students in advance.
5 – 6:30 p.m. — Dinner | Westlawn Dining Hall
Students with an unlimited meal plan (carte blanche) will swipe their cards. The Office of Orientation will cover the dinner cost for students without a meal plan or those on a limited meal plan (35-, 65-, or 90-block plans); sign in at the cashier’s station.
6:30 – 8 p.m. — Evening Excursion (all new students, required) | various locations
Orientation groups will meet at various employee houses near campus.
8:30 – 10:30 p.m. — Outdoor Campus Movie (optional) | KMY Lawn
The Campus Activities Council (CAC) will host an outdoor movie for all students.
Saturday, August 23, 2025
7:30 – 8:45 a.m. — Breakfast | Westlawn Dining Hall
Students with an unlimited meal plan (carte blanche) will swipe their cards. The Office of Orientation will cover the breakfast cost for students without a meal plan or those on a limited meal plan (30-, 65-, or 90-block plans); sign in at the cashier’s station.
8:50 a.m. — Head to Morning Gathering | College Church, Chapel*
Students who opted in for breakfast should be done and walking to the Church-Chapel. Students driving to campus should also be parked and walking to the Church-Chapel by now.
9 – 9:30 a.m. — Morning Gathering (all students) | College Church, Chapel*
Students will sit with their orientation group — look for your Orientation Leader when you arrive. Everyone will gather for important morning announcements and hear from several campus organizations before orientation groups break off to do a group activity.
9:30 a.m. – Noon — The Maple Mile | Various locations on campus *
Orientation groups will work through a scavenger hunt that takes them around campus. Students will learn about available resources, meet employees who can help them connect, and visit spaces that aren’t on the Admissions campus tour.
12 – 1 p.m. –Lunch | Westlawn Dining Hall *
Students with an unlimited meal plan (carte blanche) will swipe their cards. The Office of Orientation will cover the lunch cost for students without a meal plan or those on a limited meal plan (30-, 65-, or 90-block plans); sign in at the cashier’s station.
1:30 p.m. — Afternoon Gathering | College Church, Chapel*
Students will sit with their orientation group—look for your Orientation Leaders when you arrive. Everyone will gather for important afternoon announcements before orientation groups break off. Students who arrive on time will have their names put in a drawing for fabulous prizes! Orientation Leaders will take attendance.
2 – 4 p.m. — Afternoon Sessions | Various locations *
Students will participate in afternoon sessions with their orientation groups.
4 – 4:50 p.m. — Closing Session | College Church, Chapel*
New student-athletes participating in a fall sport will report to practice. Student-athletes should be dressed for practice following lunch so they can leave right after the last session. The dining hall will be open until 7 p.m. for dinner.
5 – 6 p.m. — Dinner | Westlawn Dining Hall
Students with an unlimited meal plan (carte blanche) will swipe their cards. The Office of Orientation will cover the dinner cost for students without a meal plan or those on a limited meal plan (35-, 65-, or 90-block plans); sign in at the cashier’s station. This is the last meal covered as part of Leaf Launch.
6 – 7:30 p.m. — Slip ‘N Slide Kickball (optional) | KMY Lawn
The Campus Activities Council (CAC) will host Slip ‘N Slide Kickball following dinner.
7:30 – 11 p.m. — Rec the Night (optional) | Rec Fitness Center and KMY Lawn
Various indoor and outdoor activities will be offered, including group-oriented and individual activities.
Sunday, August 24, 2025
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Continental Breakfast | Union Dining
Students with a meal plan (30-, 65-, or 90-block plans) will swipe their cards. Students who do not have a meal plan can add money to their account via GET mobile (they must have their ID card available to swipe) or pay cash at the door.
12 – 1 p.m. — Brunch | Union Dining
Students with an unlimited meal plan (carte blanche) or a limited meal plan (30-, 65-, or 90-block plans) will swipe their cards. Students who do not have a meal plan can add money to their account via GET mobile (they must have their ID card available to swipe) or pay cash at the door. The dining hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; AVI will serve hot food between 12 and 1 p.m.
5 – 6 p.m. — Dinner | Union Dining
Students with an unlimited meal plan (carte blanche) or a limited meal plan (30-, 65-, or 90-block plans) will swipe their cards. Students who do not have a meal plan can add money to their account via GET mobile (they must have their ID card available to swipe) or pay cash at the door.
7 – 8:30 p.m. — Ice Cream Social (optional) | Union Dining
Join other students for an ice cream social on the eve of the first day of classes. Hosted by Student Life.
Monday, August 25, 2025
First day of classes for the fall semester.