Welcome Week 2009

Get Answers

I came to campus this summer and registered for classes. Wasn't that Orientation?
Do I have to come to Welcome Week?
Do I have to sign up for Welcome Week?
Is there a fee for Welcome Week or Parent and Family Orientation?
What do my parents and/or family do while I’m at Welcome Week?
Where can my parents stay the night?
How many people can I bring to Welcome Week to help me?
What is the purpose of Welcome Week?
When do I get my SPU ID card?
Are meals provided for students during Welcome Week? What about parents and families?
I need a ride from the airport. Can someone pick me up?
I need disability accommodations for Welcome Week. What do I do?

Yes, that was one part of the Orientation process called New Student Advising. But you’re not done yet! Welcome Week is the next part of the process, where you become officially inducted into the SPU community.

The question really should be, “Do I get to come to Welcome Week?” Yes, you do. (And as a new student it’s also required.) If you are a transfer student or a non-traditionally aged student, you can attend Transfer Express — a shorter, two-hour Welcome session at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, September 27. You are also welcome to join any other Welcome Week events.

Like all good things, reservations are required. Register for Welcome Week at the same time that you register for New Student Advising. It’s also easy to update your information between events, in case anything changes.

No fee! Just think of it as our welcome gift to you.

Don’t worry. We have a welcome gift for mom and dad too: Parent and Family Orientation! While many of the events are separate, students and their parents will participate in some of the same events. See the Parent and Family Orientation Schedule. The parent and family program ends Friday afternoon, September 25. Parents can plan to leave town Friday evening or Saturday morning.

We have a list of local hotels and motels to help your parents plan their trip. Your parents have lots of options (except to stay with you — no guests are allowed to stay in the residence halls during the first week).

This could possibly be one of the easiest moves of your life, since we will have plenty of returning students available to help. You don’t technically need anyone.

But feel free to bring family members to experience the excitement of moving into college. We only ask that you limit your guests to four and register them as well.

To help you suceed socially, academically, and spiritually, and getting started right is the key. This is a great time to have fun, make friends, and learn about all of the services that are available on campus.

Just so you know, we call it the “Sea Pac Pass.” If you took your photo at New Student Advising this summer, you can expect to pick up your Pass at Welcome Week when you check-in.

If you need to have your photo taken, plan to visit University Services sometime during the first couple days of Welcome Week.

If you have a "metal meal plan," you're set starting with dinner on Thursday, September 24. Your parents, or anyone without a meal plan, can pay for meals in Gwinn or go to another area restaurant.

Lunch on Friday, September 25, will be provided free for all new students, parents, and families. (Just another reason why we love Welcome Week.)

For a fee of $10, we offer transportation to SPU for students arriving alone and arriving in Seattle by train, bus or plane on Thursday, September 24. To plan for transportation, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 206-281-2021 or admissions@spu.edu.

Students should plan to arrive in Seattle between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. All SPU transportation arrangements must be made by September 11.

Students traveling with their families will need to arrange their own transportation from the airport or station. Here are three choices available in the Seattle area:

Shuttle Express: 206-622-1424
Yellow Cab: 206-622-6500
Far West Taxi: 206-622-1717

Any new student or guest needing disability accommodations should contact Disability Support Services at 206-281-2272 or disabilityservices@spu.edu by September 5, to ensure accommodations. All requests received after September 5 will be accommodated if possible.