Summer Orientation and Welcome Weekend

You’re going to love being a Polar Bear!

But first, you need to get acclimated to college life in general, and life at ONU in particular. That’s exactly what our fun-packed Summer Orientation Program and Welcome Weekend are designed to do!

Dates for Summer Orientation 2025

Four summer orientation dates are offered in June. Each of these dates will take place in-person on our campus.

Summer Orientation Dates: June 3, June 4, June 12, and June 13

Registration for Summer Orientation will open January 1, 2025

Summer Orientation Q&A

Got questions about Summer Orientation? We’ve got answers! If you don’t see your question below, please reach out to orientation@onu.edu.

Email Us

Yes! You can bring up to two family members with you to Summer Orientation.
Reservations can be made at The Inn on campus for an overnight stay prior to Summer Orientation sessions.

The Inn at Ohio Northern University
401 West College Avenue
Ada, Ohio 45810
419-772-2500
866-713-4513 (toll-free)

Located in the heart of the ONU campus, The Inn is steps away from the University’s vibrant campus life and the first session during Summer Orientation. Stay in our deluxe hotel rooms and experience the height of luxury for exceptionally low rates. Reservations can be made online at www.innatonu.com. Please use promo code ONUBEST to ensure the deepest discount. In addition, reservations can be made by calling 866-713-4513. Please mention "ONU Summer Orientation Program" to receive the best value. All room rates include the Fresh Start Breakfast, high-speed Wi-Fi, business center access, onsite parking, local and long-distance telephone calls (in-room), and the 24-hour fitness room.
The Summer Orientation Program includes a course registration program where you will meet with an advisor to schedule your classes for the fall semester.
Our financial aid staff is here to guide you through the financial aid process, so please contact us with any questions you may have. You can reach us from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 419-772-2272 or financial-aid@onu.edu. Our fax number is 419-772-2313.

Additionally, students and families can stop into the 2nd Floor of Weber Hall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on orientation days for any financial questions.
1. Register for Summer Orientation!
2. Activate your ONU email.
  Be sure to regularly check your email account. ONU faculty and staff will use this email address to communicate important information to you.
3. Review your information to ensure that it is correct.
  Log in to Self-Service Banner. Please review the information available in each category and your Personal Information. This information will help you in day-to-day activities while at ONU. If you have already logged in to your ONU email, you will not be prompted to log in again.
4. Check your ONU email regularly for information about placements assessments: Directed Self-Placement for Writing (all students), ALEKS mathematics placement (select Arts & Sciences, Engineering and Pharmacy students).
5. Access the housing registration form on my.onu.edu using your ONU network account. Deadline for submission is June 21.
6. Planning to commute? All incoming freshmen and new transfer students who wish to commute must turn in a form by June 24. All forms received after this deadline will incur a $50 late-processing fee and could result in the student not being approved for off-campus commuting. Visit Self-Service Banner to complete the Off-Campus Housing Form by clicking the "Student" tab, "My Housing", and then select the off-campus housing application within the housing self-service site.
7. Bring a copy of any classes you have taken/completed through the College Credit Plus (CCP) Program.
8. Sign up for your TREX online course (Arts & Sciences students only, beginning April 1).
9. All incoming pharmacy students need to read the Technical Standards (Appendix G)
10. You're a Polar Bear now, so why not discover who else has joined the family? Join the New Polar Bears Facebook Group to connect and get to know each other before August!
Starting to think ahead to August? Additional details and the full list of items to complete can be found here.

What happens during Summer Orientation?

You’ll meet new friends. Tour a residence hall. Register for classes. Learn everything you need to learn about being a Polar Bear and navigating campus. Check out the schedules from last summer below.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES SCHEDULE

Time	STUDENT SCHEDULE	FAMILY/GUEST SCHEDULE
8 a.m.	Registration Freed Center for the Performing Arts, Lobby
8:30 a.m.	Opening Session Freed Center for the Performing Arts, Biggs Theatre
9:15 a.m.	Adult-ish for New Polar Bears McIntosh Center, Ballroom	Campus Expo Hakes-Pierstorf Pharmacy Education Center (HPPEC)
11 a.m.	Student Life English Chapel, Sanctuary
11:30 a.m.	Residence Hall Tours (Optional) Departing from English Chapel, Sanctuary
11:30 a.m.	Lunch McIntosh Center, Dining Hall
12:50 p.m.	Financial Information HPPEC 151
1:30 p.m.	Academic Meeting English Chapel, Sanctuary
2 p.m.	Course Registration McIntosh Center, Wishing Well	(2:15 p.m.) Navigating the Next Chapter: A Session for Family Members McIntosh Center, Ballroom
3 p.m.	New Polar Bear Social Heterick Memorial Library
3:45 p.m.	Evaluation and Wrap-Up Heterick Memorial Library	Evaluation and Wrap-Up McIntosh Center, Ballroom
4 p.m.	Dimension Scholars Meeting (by invitation only) Affinity Commons Building

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Time	STUDENT SCHEDULE	FAMILY/GUEST SCHEDULE
8 a.m.	Registration Freed Center for the Performing Arts, Lobby
8:30 a.m.	Opening Session Freed Center for the Performing Arts, Biggs Theatre
9:15 a.m.	Adult-ish for New Polar Bears McIntosh Center, Ballroom	Campus Expo Hakes-Pierstorf Phamacy Education Center (HPPEC)
11 a.m.	Residence Hall Tours (Optional) Departing from Ballroom / Families: Departing from HPPEC
11 a.m.	Lunch McIntosh Center, Dining Hall
12:10 p.m.	Financial Information HPPEC 151
12:50 p.m.	Student Life English Chapel, Sanctuary
1:30 p.m.	Academic Meeting Dicke Hall, Forum
2 p.m.	Course Registration Dicke Hall, Room 140	(2:15 p.m.) Navigating the Next Chapter: A Session for Family Members McIntosh Center, Ballroom
3 p.m.	New Polar Bear Social Heterick Memorial Library
3:45 p.m.	Evaluation and Wrap-Up Heterick Memorial Library	Evaluation and Wrap-Up McIntosh Center, Ballroom
4 p.m.	Dimension Scholars Meeting (by invitation only) Affinity Commons Building

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

Time	STUDENT SCHEDULE	FAMILY/GUEST SCHEDULE
8 a.m.	Registration Freed Center for the Performing Arts Center, Lobby
8:30 a.m.	Opening Session Freed Center for the Performing Arts Center, Biggs Theatre
9:15 a.m.	Adult-ish for New Polar Bears McIntosh Center, Ballroom	Campus Expo Hakes-Pierstorf Pharmacy Education Center (HPPEC)
11 a.m.	Financial Information HPPEC 151
11:40 a.m.	Student Life English Chapel, Sanctuary
12:10 p.m.	Residence Hall Tours (Optional) Departing from English Chapel, Sanctuary
12:10 p.m.	Lunch McIntosh Center, Dining Hall
1:30 p.m.	Academic Meeting James Lehr Kennedy, Room 103
2 p.m.	Course Registration James Lehr Kennedy, Room 103	(2:15 p.m.) Navigating the Next Chapter: A Session for Family Members McIntosh Center, Ballroom
3 p.m.	New Polar Bear Social Heterick Memorial Library
3:45 p.m.	Evaluation and Wrap-Up Heterick Memorial Library	Evaluation and Wrap-Up McIntosh Center, Ballroom
4 p.m.	Dimension Scholars Meeting (by invitation only) Affinity Commons Building

COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

Time	STUDENT SCHEDULE	FAMILY/GUEST SCHEDULE
8 a.m.	Registration Freed Center for the Performing Arts, Lobby
8:30 a.m.	Opening Session Freed Center for the Performing Arts, Biggs Theatre
9:15 a.m.	Adult-ish for New Polar Bears McIntosh Center, Ballroom	Campus Expo Hakes-Pierstorf Pharmacy Education Center (HPPEC)
11 a.m.	Residence Hall Tours (Optional) Departing from Ballroom / Families: Departing from HPPEC
11 a.m.	Lunch McIntosh Center, Dining Hall
12:10 p.m.	Financial Information HPPEC 151
12:50 p.m.	Student Life English Chapel, Sanctuary
1:30 p.m.	Academic Meeting HPPEC 151
2 p.m.	Course Registration HPPEC 151	(2:15 p.m.) Navigating the Next Chapter: A Session for Family Members McIntosh Center, Ballroom
3 p.m.	New Polar Bear Social Heterick Memorial Library
3:15 p.m.	Evaluation and Wrap-Up Heterick Memorial Library	Evaluation and Wrap-Up McIntosh Center, Ballroom
4 p.m.	Dimension Scholars Meeting (by invitation only) Affinity Commons Building

Welcome Weekend

After Summer Orientation, gear up and get ready for the start of classes in August. Our Welcome Weekend includes action-packed days of activities to immerse you in Polar Bear culture.

Dates for Welcome Weekend
August 20-August 24

First day of classes: Monday, August 25

Welcome Weekend Q&A

Welcome Weekend is a required event for new ONU students and serves as a comprehensive introduction to nearly everything ONU has to offer. Throughout Welcome Weekend, you’ll meet other new students, faculty and staff while engaging in more than 20 events on campus. You’ll be led in small groups with upperclassman ONU students known as orientation leaders. They will share the ins and outs of being an ONU student and answer your questions as you prepare to start classes on Monday.

Whether you are living on campus or commuting from home, Welcome Weekend is essential to your transition to life at ONU. Commuters should participate in ALL of the activities and events throughout Welcome Weekend, only returning home to sleep at night. On the Wednesday of Welcome Weekend, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., commuters need to stop by the Activities Room in McIntosh Center to pick up your schedule for the weekend. Throughout the weekend, there will be specific opportunities for commuter students to come together and get to know one another in addition to coming together as an entire class for an amazing weekend! If you have any questions regarding Welcome Weekend, please contact 419-772-3557 or orientation@onu.edu.
You will be busy throughout the weekend with many different activities, so dress casual and comfortable.
The bookstore will be open all weekend so you can purchase your books and, of course, ONU swag. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the bookstore will be open from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The bookstore will be open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m on Saturday. and 10 a.m.-3p.m. on Sunday.
Move-in Day for new students is Wednesday, Aug. 21. Residence Halls open at 7:30 a.m. (Note: If you are a member of a fall sport or the marching band, please contact your coach/advisor for your specific arrival information.) Students are able to select their arrival time in July. All students will receive an email with the information on how to select a time. If you have any questions, please contact orientation@onu.edu. Please print the Move-In packet for your hall. As you arrive on campus, there are many things you will need to do throughout the day on Aug. 21. Here is a quick list of reminders and things you should know prior to your arrival:
- Please plan accordingly to follow your selected arrival time.
- All traffic should enter campus from College Avenue. Please refer to the map in your packet for the route.
- You'll need to have a photo ID (such as a driver’s license, state ID, etc.) in order to get your key at the residence hall.
- Upon arrival, Klondike’s Crew (upperclassmen students from Greek and Religious Life) will greet you and help unload your vehicle. We request that your driver does not leave the car during this time. Unloading will occur very quickly with the help of Klondike's Crew. Your driver will then be able to move the car and park in various lots noted on the map.
- Please mark all items with your hall and room number to help Klondike’s Crew get them to your room without delay.
- If you have any questions regarding Move-in Day, please contact 419-772-3557 or orientation@onu.edu.
If you submitted your picture over the summer, you can pick up your ID card on Wednesday. If you did not submit a photo over the summer, please go to Public Safety during this time to have your picture taken. Additionally, parking passes are available for pick up on the Wednesday of Welcome Weekend.
Absolutely! Welcome Weekend will introduce you to a myriad of opportunities at ONU, from Greek Life, to Student Organizations, to Campus Employment. Additionally, you’ll also get familiar with the village of Ada and its people during our ACE (Ada Community Engagement) Day!

What to Expect for Welcome Weekend

Check out this past year's schedule below.

7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.	New Student Move-In By assigned time emailed to each student	First-Year Halls
7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.	Grab a Bite to Eat See the handout that will be provided for additional information	On Your Own
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.	Student ID & Parking Permit Pick-Up	McIntosh Activities Room
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.	Commuter & Transfer Student Check-In	McIntosh Activities Room
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.	Spirit Rock Signing Sign the Spirit Rock as new Polar Bears!	Spirit Rock
3:30 p.m.	New Student & Family Convocation	King Horn Field House
4:45 p.m.	Floor Meetings: Founders Hall Residents Dinner: Affinity, Maglott & Park Residents	Location Emailed to You McIntosh Dining Room
4:45 - 6:30 p.m.	Commuter Student Dinner & Meeting	McIntosh Activities Room
5:45 p.m.	Dinner: Founders & Apartment Residents Floor Meetings: Affinity, Maglott & Park Residents	McIntosh Dining Room Location Emailed to You
7:00 p.m.	Meet and Greet with Your Orientation Group	Location Emailed to You
8 p.m.	Playfair	Field House
9:30 p.m.	Welcome Weekend Kick Off + Pizza Pizza Pizza	Field House

7:30-9:00 a.m.	Breakfast	McIntosh Dining Room
8:45 a.m.	Black Team: Making Sound Choices White & Orange Teams: Living & Learning Harmoniously at ONU Blue & Gray Teams: Ada Adventure	HPPEC 151 English Chapel Village of Ada
10 a.m.	Class Photo	Tundra
10:45 a.m.	Black Team: Living & Learning Harmoniously at ONU Orange & White Teams: Ada Adventure Blue & Gray Teams: Making Sound Choices	English Chapel Village of Ada HPPEC 151
11:45 a.m. - 1:00p.m.	White & Orange Teams: Lunch	McIntosh Dining Room
Noon - 1:15p.m.	Black, Blue & Gray Teams: Lunch	McIntosh Dining Room
1:30 p.m.	Black Team: Ada Adventure White & Orange Teams: Making Sound Choices Blue & Gray Team: Living & Learning Harmoniously at ONU	Village of Ada HPPEC 151 English Chapel
2:45 p.m.	Free Time
4:30 - 7 p.m.	Dinner	McIntosh Dining Room
7 p.m.	Munch from Main Street	Tundra
7:45 - 10 p.m.	Campus Block Party (sponsored by Residence Life)	Tundra

7:30-9 a.m.	Breakfast	McIntosh Dining Room
8:30 a.m.	College Time + Summer Common Experience (Business)	Dicke Forum
9 a.m.	College Time + Summer Common Experience (Engineering)	JLK 103
9 a.m.	Transfer Student Meeting (Pharmacy)	HP 157
9 a.m.	Transfer Student Meeting (Arts & Sciences)	Mathile 311
9:30 a.m.	Explore ONU (Pharmacy)	Location Emailed to You
10:30 a.m.	Explore ONU (Arts & Sciences)	Location Emailed to You
11:00 a.m.	Lunch (Pharmacy)	McIntosh Dining Room
11:30 a.m.	Lunch (Arts & Sciences)	McIntosh Dining Room
Noon	Lunch (Business) & (Engineering)	McIntosh Dining Room
1 p.m.	Transfer Student Meeting (Engineering)	JLK Dean's Suite
1 p.m.	Explore ONU (Business)	Location Emailed to You
1:15	College Time + Summer Common Experience (Pharmacy)	Location Emailed to You
1:30 p.m.	College Time + Summer Common Experience (Arts & Sciences)	Location Emailed to You
2 p.m.	Explore ONU (Engineering)	Location Emailed to You
3 p.m.	Transfer Student Meeting (Business)	Dicke 119
4:30-6 p.m.	Dinner	McIntosh Dining Room
7 p.m.	A Night with SPC: Bingo (sponsored by Student Planning Committee)	King Horn Field House
8:45 p.m.	A Night with SPC: Movie or Bowling - You Pick! (sponsored by Student Planning Committee)	Ada Movie Theater or Norada Lanes

8 a.m. - Noon	ACE Day (Ada Community Engagement Day) Get involved with volunteer service in the Ada community!	English Chapel
11:00 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Brunch	McIntosh Dining Room
Noon	Commuter Central	McIntosh Ballroom
Noon	Transfer Track	English Chapel
1:30 - 4:30 p.m.	The Tundra Games	Tundra
4:30 - 6 p.m.	Dinner	McIntosh Dining Room
7 p.m.	Laugh Out Loud Challenge	McIntosh Center, Ballroom
8 p.m.	Made in Ada Football Festival	Train Depot / Downtown Ada

11 a.m. Preview Chapel English Chapel
11 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Bunch McIntosh Dining Room
2 - 4 p.m. Welcome Fest Tundra
4:30 - 6 p.m. Dinner McIntosh Dining Room
6 - 8 p.m. Greekapalooza Tundra

11 a.m.	Preview Chapel	English Chapel
11 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.	Bunch	McIntosh Dining Room
2 - 4 p.m.	Welcome Fest	Tundra
4:30 - 6 p.m.	Dinner	McIntosh Dining Room
6 - 8 p.m.	Greekapalooza	Tundra

Summer Orientation and Welcome Weekend

You’re going to love being a Polar Bear!

Dates for Summer Orientation 2025

Summer Orientation Q&A

Can family members attend orientation with me?

Can I stay overnight before orientation?

Will I be able to register for my fall semester classes during Summer Orientation?

Where do I go for help with my FAFSA and Financial Aid?

What do I need to do before Summer Orientation?

What happens during Summer Orientation?

Orientation Schedule for College of Arts & Sciences

Orientation Schedule for College of Business Administration

Orientation Schedule for College of Engineering

Orientation Schedule for College of Pharmacy

Welcome Weekend

Welcome Weekend Q&A

Do commuter students attend Welcome Weekend?

What is the appropriate dress for Welcome Weekend?

Will the bookstore be open during Welcome Weekend?

When can I move into my residence hall during Welcome Weekend?

Can I get my ID and parking pass during Welcome Weekend?

Can I learn about campus opportunities during Welcome Weekend?

What to Expect for Welcome Weekend

Wednesday, Aug. 21

Thursday, Aug. 22

Friday, Aug. 23

Saturday, Aug. 24

Sunday, Aug. 25

Information for: