Launch Day Sample Schedules

Summer 2025

Please note these sample schedules are subject to change and provided for planning purposes only. Each Launch attendee's individual session selections may vary.

 

Student Schedule
Student Schedule - Hawai'i
Family & Supporter Schedule
Family & Supporter Schedule - Hawai'i

Sample Student Launch Schedule

Residence Hall Check in (optional). For those staying overnight in a residence hall, check in at the tent between Finley Hall and Arnold Dining Center from 7:15-8:30 a.m. or from 5:45-6:30 p.m.

  • 7:45-9 a.m. - Check-in & Resource Fair. Students and guests check in and receive materials for the day. If you have uploaded a photo in advance, you can collect your OSU student ID. Staff from campus offices and organizations will have info and handouts to share at the Resource Fair.

  • 9-9:10 a.m. - Meet your Orientation Leader & Small Group! Gather on Parker Plaza to meet your orientation leader and find your small group. Get to know other students and then head over together to the welcome session.
  • 9:20-9:45 a.m. - Welcome Session. Learn about your day and hear from campus leaders!
  • 9:45-10 a.m. - Head to the Memorial Union with your small group Orientation Leader.
  • 10 a.m.-11:1:5 a.m. - University Life Sessions. Rotate through interactive sessions about living on and off campus; paying for college; and managing all your priorities at Oregon State.
  • 11:30-1:00 p.m. - Small Groups and Lunch Rotations. You'll rotate between a group session and lunch; your orientation leader will guide you. Honors College students will have an additional presentation during lunch.
  • 1:15-2:45 p.m. - College Specific Information Sessions. Meet on the Memorial Union Quad and find the sign for your academic college; an orientation leader sill walk you to your college specific session. Connect with staff from your academic college and learn what your academic journey at Oregon State will look like.
  • 2:45-3 p.m. - After your college session, meet back the Memorial Union Quad by 3 p.m. to find your first Interest Rotation group.
  • 3-5 p.m. Interest Rotations | Meet at Memorial Union Quad. Choose two Interest Rotation sessions in your digital Launch schedule. You'll also be assigned a Drop-In Session time block to visit key campus offices like Financial Aid, Center for Advancing Financial Education (CAFE), Disability Access Services, and more. No tasks? Enjoy a refreshment and relax. Be sure to meet back at the MU Quad after each rotation (excluding the last rotation) so we can guide you to the next one!
    • 3-3:40 p.m. - Interest Rotation session 
    • 3:40-4:20 p.m. - Interest Rotation session
    • 4:20-5 p.m. - Interest Rotation session
  • 5:15-5:45 p.m. - Ending Session. Reconvene as a group to learn what's next in your onboarding journey, and wrap up with some key tasks and a celebration.
  • 5:45 p.m. - Dinner (optional, but recommended). Enjoy a meal while re-connecting with your family, talking with a new friend, or taking time for yourself!
  • 6:30-9:00 p.m. - Evening Fun & Activities (optional, but recommended). Take part in additional fun activities with everyone you met during your Launch day, then stay overnight a residence hall (advance registration required).

Sample Family & Supporter Launch Schedule

  • 7:45-8:45 a.m. - Check-in. Students and guests check in and receive materials for the day. 

  • 8-8:45 a.m. - Resource Fair. Learn about what Oregon State has to offer. Staff from campus offices and organizations will have info and handouts to share.
  • 9:15-9:45 a.m. - Welcome Session. Learn about your day and hear from campus leaders!
  • 10 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Family & Supporter Information Sessions. Presentations on three content areas (see session descriptions): 
    • Living at OSU
    • Health & Safety at OSU
    • Understanding and Supporting Your Student’s Financial Investment
  • 12 - 1:00 p.m. - Lunch. Enjoy a catered lunch and get to know other new Oregon Sate parents and families. Honors College guests will have an additional presentation during lunch.
  • 1:30-2:45 p.m. - College Connections. Learn about your student's academic experience directly from staff in their academic college.
  • 3-5:00 p.m. - Family & Supporter Workshops (see workshop descriptions):
    • The Student Onboarding Experience & Supporting Students
    • Academic and Career Skills for Now and What’s Next
    • Building the Dam: Identifying Support Networks for Families 
  • 5:15 p.m. - Ending Session. Reconvene as a group to learn what's next in the onboarding journey, and wrap up with some key tasks and a celebration.
  • 5:45 p.m. - Dinner (optional, but recommended). Enjoy a meal with your student.
  • Social/drop-in activities (optional, but recommended). Get to know other parents, supporters and family members. Overnight housing in a residence hall room, separate from your student, is available. (advance registration required).

Hawai'i Sample Student Launch Schedule

  • 8:45–9:30 a.m. – Check-in and Refreshments. Students and guests check in, receive materials for the day, and enjoy light refreshments.
  • 9:30–10:00 a.m. – Welcome Session. Kick off the day with a warm welcome from your OSU team. Learn what to expect and get excited for your journey ahead!
  • 10:00–10:45 a.m. – Campus & Community Living. A Housing and Dining representative will guide you through what it’s like to live on and off campus, including housing, roommates, and community expectations.
  • 10:45–11:00 a.m. – Break. Take a short break to recharge.
  • 11:00–11:45 a.m. – Financial Planning. A representative from Financial Aid will walk you through budgeting, financial aid, and paying for college. (Delivered twice in rotation.)
  • 12:00–1:00 p.m. – Lunch. Enjoy a catered lunch with other students and families.
  • 2:00–2:45 p.m. – Engaging in Your Community: Learn how to get involved and make the most of your time at OSU.
  • 3:00–3:30 p.m. – What You Need to Know / Wrap-Up. A final group session to review key takeaways, next steps, and celebrate the day.
  • 3:30–5:00 p.m. – Individual Questions & Resource Meetings. Meet one-on-one with staff and explore campus resources tailored to your needs.

Hawai'i Sample Family & Supporter Launch Schedule

  • 8:45–9:30 a.m. – Check-in and Refreshments. Students and guests check in, receive materials for the day, and enjoy light refreshments.
  • 9:30–10:00 a.m. – Welcome Session. Kick off the day with a warm welcome from your OSU team. Learn what to expect and get excited for your journey ahead!
  • 10:00–10:45 a.m. – Campus and Community Living. A Housing and Dining representative will guide you through what it’s like to live on and off campus, including housing, roommates, and community expectations.
  • 10:45–11:00 a.m. – Break. Take a short break to recharge.
  • 11:00–11:45 a.m. – Financial Planning. A representative from Financial Aid will walk you through budgeting, financial aid, and paying for college. (Delivered twice in rotation.)
  • 12:00–1:00 p.m. – Lunch. Enjoy a catered lunch with other students and families.
  • 1:00–1:45 p.m. – Family & Supporter Connections. Discover how you can support your student throughout their journey at Oregon State. Hear firsthand from parents of OSU alumni as they share their experiences, insights, and tips for staying connected and involved.
  • 2:00–2:45 p.m. – Safety and Support. Hear from campus experts about the many ways Oregon State supports student success. Learn about safety initiatives, academic support services, and culturally relevant programs designed to help students thrive both in and out of the classroom.
  • 3:00–3:30 p.m. – What You Need to Know / Wrap-Up. A final group session to review key takeaways, next steps, and celebrate the day.
  • 3:30–5:00 p.m. – Individual Questions & Resource Meetings. Meet one-on-one with staff and explore campus resources tailored to your needs.

Launch Session and Workshop Descriptions for Families and Supporters

Morning sessions:

Living at OSU: Simultaneous sessions provide parallel content for family and supporters of students living on campus and students living off campus. For family of students living on campus, learn more about University Housing & Dinings Services (UHDS) and ask questions about the student experience. For family of students living off-campus, hear about the resources and information available and the recommendations for getting involved when living off campus during your first year.  

Health & Safety at OSU: A panel of campus experts provide a brief overview of how their departments support students’ health, well-being, and safety at OSU. You’ll hear about the resources that exist, the information students receive and get a chance to ask questions of our panelists.  

Understanding and Supporting Your Student’s Financial Investment: Connect with Student Account Services, the Office of Financial Aid, the Scholarship Office, and the Center for Advancing Financial Education (CAFE) to learn more about your student’s expenses as an OSU student, resources to receive financial assistance, and how you can support their education.

Afternoon Workshops

The Student Onboarding Experience & Supporting Students: Curious about what your student will experience across the student onboarding cycle?   This session provides an overview of how we’ve designed support as students transition to OSU.  We’ll share some trends and common experiences during the transition period and engage participants in thinking about a few ways to support your student along the way.   

Academic and Career Skills for Now and What’s Next: Join OSU academic and career professionals to discuss support services that will help your student succeed both at OSU and beyond. We’ll share facts and figures about the measurable gains students receive from utilizing academic and career resources, including how we can help your student develop skills for lifelong success. We’ll finish by sharing ways for you to stay connected to OSU’s academic and career success network so you can stay informed about the many opportunities available to your student.

Building the Dam: Identifying Support Networks for Families: This session will help family members and supporters of new OSU students get the chance to begin building community with other family members and learn about the many opportunities and resources that exist for the families of OSU students.