Annapolis Opening Week 2025
Classes for the 2025–26 academic year will begin on Thursday, August 22, 2025, with New Student Orientation and Convocation happening during that week. As plans and schedules are finalized, we will update this page, so check back often.
Housing, Orientation, & Convocation Information
Wednesday, August 13
Arrival and move-in for first-year students attending Pritzker Bridge Program.
Wednesday, August 13–Sunday, August 17
Pritzker Bridge Program in session.
Monday, August 18
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m.–12 p.m. | New Student Check-in & Key Pick-up: Complete all the business and administrative steps to register for the fall semester and sign out your dorm room key. | Mellon Lobby |
| 12–2:30 p.m. | New Student Move-in: Time on your own to eat, unpack, and move in. | Campus/Residence Halls |
| 1–4 p.m. | On Campus Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors Check-in & Key Pick-up: Complete all the business and administrative steps to register for the fall semester and sign out your dorm room key. | Mellon Lobby |
| 2:30–3 p.m. | First Year Students to attend An Introduction to Johnnie Way: Welcome from the Alumni Association | FSK Auditorium |
| 3:15–3:30 p.m. | Class of 2029 Class Photo | Stairs leading from Quad to Lower Campus |
| 3:30–4:15 p.m. | Students: Tour of Campus led by Resident Advisors | Gather on Quad by your tour group letter* |
| 3:30–4:15 p.m. | Parents: Office/Services Fair and Reception | Mellon Plaza/Lawn |
| 4:15–4:30 p.m. | Say Goodbye: Students join Reception to say goodbye to parents. | Mellon Plaza/Lawn |
| 5:30–7 p.m. | Dinner: Remember your student ID Card. | Dining Hall |
| 7–8 p.m. | Residential Community Meeting: Learn about living in the Residence Halls and help to create community guidelines for your floor. | Residence Halls |
| 8–10 p.m. | Activities with Hallmates: Get to know the residents on your floor and in your Residence Hall. | Residence Halls |
*Please find your tour group letter in your welcome folder.
Tuesday, August 19
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30–9 a.m. | Breakfast: Remember your student ID Card. | Dining Hall |
| 9–9:30 a.m. | Entire Class of 2029, Welcome and Overview of Orientation: Susan Paalman, President, Joseph Mcfarland, Dean, and Taylor Waters, Director of Student Services | FSK Auditorium |
| 9:45–10:30 a.m. | *Group A, The Dean's Welcome: Hear from Joseph Mcfarland, Dean, and Ron Haflidson, Assistant Dean, as they talk about the Program of Instruction. | Conversation Room |
| 9:45–10:30 a.m. | *Group B, Living in Community: Taylor Waters, Director of Student Services and Jen Cline, Coordinator of Student Services will explain the principles and policies that guide life in the residence halls and on campus. | Studio Theater |
| 10:45–11:30 a.m. | *Group A, Living in Community: Taylor Waters, Director of Student Services and Jen Cline, Coordinator of Student Services will explain the principles and policies that guide life in the residence halls and on campus. | Studio Theater |
| 10:45–11:30 a.m. | *Group B, The Dean's Welcome: Hear from Joseph Mcfarland, Dean, and Ron Haflidson, Assistant Dean, as they talk about the Program of Instruction. | Conversation Room |
| 11:30–1 p.m. | Lunch: Remember your student ID Card | Dining Hall |
| 1–2 p.m. | *Group A, What you need to know about harassment, discrimination, and Hazing: Meet with Danielle Lico, Vice President for Student Affairs and Taylor Waters, Director of Student Services, to hear about college policies around harassment, discrimination, and hazing. | Great Hall |
| 1–2 p.m. | *Group B, Campus Recreation and Intramurals: Rachel Fleming, Athletic Coordinator and the Team Captains will discuss the gym, the boathouse, and the intramural program. Find out which team you’re on! | The Gym |
| 2:15–3:15 p.m. | *Group A, Campus Recreation and Intramurals: Rachel Fleming, Athletic Coordinator and the Team Captains will discuss the gym, the boathouse, and the intramural program. Find out which team you're on! | The Gym |
| 2:15–3:15 p.m. | *Group B, What you need to know about harassment, discrimination, and Hazing: Meet with Danielle Lico, Vice President for Student Affairs and Taylor Waters, Director of Student Services, to hear about college policies around harassment, discrimination, and hazing. | Great Hall |
| 3:30–4 p.m. | *Group A, Safety and Security: Michael Boston, Director of Public Safety, will outline ways to keep yourself and your new community safe. | Studio Theater |
| 3:30–4 p.m. | *Group B, IT: Hunter Dembeck, User Support Specialist, will go over accessing Wi-Fi, cybersecurity, email accounts, etc. | Great Hall |
| 4:15–4:45 p.m. | *Group A, IT: Hunter Dembeck, User Support Specialist, will go over accessing Wi-Fi, cybersecurity, email accounts, etc. | Great Hall |
| 4:15–4:45 p.m. | *Group B, Safety and Security: Michael Boston, Director of Public Safety, will outline ways to keep yourself and your new community safe. | Studio Theater |
| 5:30–7 p.m. | Dinner: Remember your student ID Card. | Dining Hall |
| 8–10:30 p.m. | Evening Entertainment: Movie and Snacks | FSK Auditorium |
*Please find your tour group letter in your welcome folder.
Wednesday, August 20
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30–8:30 a.m. | Breakfast: Remember your student ID Card. | Dining Hall |
| 9–9:30 a.m. | Entire Class of 2029, Career Development: Explore internships, scholarships, graduate programs, and more with Jaime Dunn, Director of Career Development and Kathleen Cody, Program Manager | FSK Auditorium |
| 9:30–10:30 a.m. | Entire Class of 2029, Meet Your Resident Advisors: Resident Advisors will welcome you and go over strategies for living well among a variety of people in the residence halls. | FSK Auditorium |
| 10:30–11:30 a.m. | Entire Class of 2029, Learning at St. John's: Gather in small groups led by Resident Advisors to talk about classes and schoolwork at the college. Learn from upper class students about ways to engage fully in the classroom, how to keep up with your readings, what it means to write a math paper, why your Core Group can be important, etc. | Various Classrooms in Mellon Hall** |
| 12–1 p.m. | Lunch: Remember your student ID Card. |
Dining Hall |
| 1–2:30 p.m. | *Group A, Campus Wellness and Student Support | Studio Theater |
| 1–2:30 p.m. | *Group B, Writing Resources and Library Tour | Conversation Room followed by Library |
| 2:45–4:15 p.m. | *Group A, Writing Resources and Library Tour | Conversation Room followed by Library |
| 2:45–4:15 p.m. | *Group B, Campus Wellness and Student Support | Studio Theater |
| 5:30–7 p.m. | Dinner: Remember your student ID Card. | Dining Hall |
| 8:30–9 p.m. | Emergency Waltz Lessons: The Waltz Committee will teach you everything you need to know about how to rip up the carpet at the Pre-Convocation Waltz. | Quad and Great Hall |
| 9–midnight | Pre-Convocation Waltz: Students gather for the first Waltz party of the year. | Quad and Great Hall |
*Please find your tour group letter in your welcome folder.
**Please find your classroom assignment in your welcome folder.
Thursday, August 21
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30–9 a.m. | Breakfast: Remember your student ID Card. | Dining Hall |
| 9:30– 10 a.m. | Entire Class of 2029, Pick up your Academic Robe | FSK Lobby |
| 10–10:15 a.m. | Entire Class of 2029, Queuing Up: First Year Undergraduate and First Term Graduate students and faculty line up for convocation. | Quad |
| 10:30 a.m. | Entire Class of 2029, Convocation: Ms. Paalman, College President, welcomes new students into the St. John's College community. | FSK Auditorium |
| 12–1:30 p.m. | All-College BBQ | Back Lawn and Mellon Plaza |
| 7:30 p.m. | Seminar for All Students: First seminar of the 2025–26 academic year | Classrooms in Mellon and McDowell |