Taubman College coordinates a variety of Orientation programs for students each year. Each program has a specific audience and offers different opportunities for faculty, staff, and current students to engage with our incoming students. See below for an overview of each orientation program as well as options for how you can get involved!
Questions? Contact Taubman College Student Affairs at TaubmanCollegeAdvising@umich.edu.
First-Year Orientation (BS Architecture)
Taubman College Student Affairs partners with the Office of New Student Programs to introduce first-year undergraduate architecture students to the university and the college.
Audience: BS Architecture First-Year Admits (approximately 24 students total)
Format: Hybrid (for 2022)
Components & Timing: Summer
- U-M Virtual Orientation Course (May)
- Virtual Advising Day (June)
- Taubman College Canvas Site
- Register for Fall term
- Join the Taubman College Career Network
- Welcome to Michigan In-Person Experience (August)
- Aligned with each student’s individual Move-In schedule
First-Year architecture admits will attend Taubman College’s New Student Orientation during the summer between their sophomore and junior years.
First-Year Orientation (BS Urban Tech)
Taubman College Student Affairs partners with the Office of New Student Programs to introduce first-year undergraduate architecture students to the university and the college.
Audience: BS Urban Tech First-Year Admits (approximately 35-50 students total)
Format: Virtual (for 2022)
Components & Timing: Fall
- U-M Virtual Orientation Course (November)
- Virtual Advising Day (December)
- Taubman College Canvas Site
- Register for Fall term
- Join the Taubman College Career Network
- Welcome to Michigan In-Person Experience (January)
First-Year urban technology admits begin courses in the Winter. They will attend monthly calls with their cohort during the Fall term prior.
New Student Orientation
Audience: All incoming juniors and graduate students (approximately 250-275 students total)
Format: Hybrid (for 2022)
Components & Timing: Summer
- Canvas Site (launches in June)
- Orientation Groups (introduced in July)
- New Student Summer Prep Resource (shared in July)
- Virtual Sessions (hosted during July and August)
- In-Person Programming (late August)
Architecture students must complete required training sessions with the FABLab and Woodshop in August.
How can I get involved with Orientation?
Apply to be an Orientation Leader
Taubman College Student Affairs hires 25-30 students to serve as Orientation Leaders each summer. The job posting typically opens in February with applications due in mid-March. Here are the details from last year for reference.
Host a virtual session
Are you a member of a student organization? Do you have a topic you’d like to present to incoming students? Talk with Student Affairs about hosting a virtual session during Orientation. Virtual Sessions are typically held in July and August on Zoom. Past topics have included: Chats with the Chairs, CAPS Workshops, ARC/UPSA/NOMAS/Design Justice Actions/Expanded Horizons Info Sessions, Meet & Greets with APX, Insider’s Guide to A2, Media Center Q&A, International Student Welcome, TCCN and CliftonStrengths Intros. We’re always open to new ideas and incoming students would love to hear directly from current students at Taubman College.
Volunteer for an undergraduate Advising Day
Our incoming first-year architecture students have group advising sessions, typically on afternoons in early June, during which they get introduced to the BS Architecture curriculum and learn about the registration process and resources before backpacking and registering for their first Fall term. Student Affairs is always looking for current students who would like to join the virtual call and offer advice and firsthand insights on the process. Common questions include:
- How do you use the LSA Course Guide and U-M’s Schedule Builder?
- How long will it take to travel between certain buildings on campus?
- How do you choose electives?
Suggest a resource
We’re always looking for ways to incorporate more student-driven content and suggestions into our Orientation plans. Our incoming students will have virtual resources and programming launched for them throughout the summer. Do you have a topic you wish you learned more about when you were beginning your studies? Are you a member of a group that might be of interest to new students? Are you aware of any upcoming virtual meetings, lectures, or events that we could help promote to our newest cohorts between now and August? If so, email the Orientation team at TaubmanCollegeAdvising@umich.edu. We welcome all suggestions!