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News and Events

Keep up with campus news through our student affairs blog! Each week, we’ll be posting an overview of some of the biggest events happening around campus, so you don’t miss out on fun and free opportunities!

Update on the Project Wildcat Pre-Orientation Program

In October 2018, New Student and Family Programs (NSFP) announced it was instituting a yearlong planning period for Project Wildcat, an outdoor (hiking and backpacking) pre-orientation program for incoming undergraduate students. A working group, primarily consisting of undergraduate students who had previously participated in the program, was convened and met throughout 2019 to conduct research and create recommendations for a future program. The group submitted final recommendations during the Fall 2019 Quarter.

After receiving the working group’s recommendations, NSFP and the Dean of Students Office determined that Project Wildcat will not be offered as a pre-orientation program in fall 2020 for two primary reasons:

Resources: The program requires significant human and financial resources, including extensive staffing needs and the high cost to participants, in order to operate for a small number of students (fewer than 50).
Transition Program Review: NSFP will be undergoing a larger review of its entire portfolio of transition programs during the 2020 calendar year. All new student programs hosted by NSFP, including pre-orientation programs and Wildcat Welcome, will be part of the review. As such, no new or reinstated programs will be implemented until this review is completed and recommendations are made.

For undergraduate students entering for the Fall 2020 quarter, NSFP is supporting the CATalyst pre-orientation program and continuing Wildcat Welcome, the University’s week-long orientation program.