Each year, some first-year students are invited to participate in programs that allow them to arrive on campus before New Student Orientation. These programs enable incoming students to learn more about the resources available to them, make new friends, and have fun.
Grinnell’s International Pre-Orientation Program (IPOP) is held just prior to New Student Orientation (NSO). Attendance is required for new international students, and sessions address regulatory (immigration), cultural, and systemic nuances that students from abroad often encounter as they transition to life and learning in a U.S. context. This program is sponsored by the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA). IPOP participants are also required to attend NSO.
The Peer Connections Pre-Orientation Program (PCPOP) is a year-long program designed for first-year students from historically marginalized identities and backgrounds, including but not limited to, students of color, first-generation students, students with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ students. PCPOP creates opportunities for emerging student leaders to express their authentic self, acknowledge the realities of others, and recognize the impact of the environment they are in. PCPOP serves as a chance for students to build intentional relationships with students, staff, and faculty to greatly enhance their academic, social, and cultural capital during their tenure as students at Grinnell College. This program is sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Affairs.
The Grinnell Science Project (GSP) includes a one-week pre-orientation for new students who are deeply interested in the mathematics and sciences and are from historically marginalized identities that are typically underrepresented in STEM fields. In early summer, students are selected to be invited to the pre-orientation week. With a focus on community building, GSP creates opportunities to develop a cohort among students and with student leaders and faculty in the sciences, acquaints students with how science is “done” at Grinnell, and introduces the structures and resources of the college that will support science success. Without the pressure of earning grades for the first week, students have the opportunity to experience all of the science facilities, get to know science faculty, and see what academics are like, including engaging in a mini lab activity, and much more. This offers a chance to learn about and feel part of the sciences at Grinnell.
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