New Graduate Student Orientation

Welcome to Baylor! We are so pleased you will be joining us!  New Graduate Student Orientation will take place both in-person and online for the 2024-25 academic year. All incoming students will receive an invitation in early June for either the in-person or the online introduction to Baylor and graduate education. On this page you will find further information about New Graduate Student Orientation as well as some beginning tasks to help you get started on your graduate journey. 

First, complete one of our incoming student surveys (opening in May 2024). It will provide us with some important information about our incoming class and help us better prepare to welcome you. 

• On-Campus Graduate Students (coming May 2024)

• Online/Hybrid Graduate Students (coming May 2024)

Second, Activate Your BearID (First Name_Last Name#) to confirm attendance for this upcoming fall. You will need to have activated your Bear ID in order to register for orientation. Remember that your Bear ID is different from your Student ID Number.

The New Graduate Student Orientation is a joint effort by the Baylor University Graduate School and the Graduate Student Association (GSA) designed to get you off to a good start in your graduate school experience. We will update this page regularly as we expand the orientation experience. 

Online Orientation

The online orientation platform is sent out to all registered online students and will become available to on-campus students on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. This orientation platform includes messages from university leaders and a plethora of different resources and materials to help you get off to the right start here at Baylor. An address from the president, a virtual tour of Baylor's vast library resources, information about professional development opportunities, and other important resources are all included in the online experience.

Registration opens in early June 2024.

On-Campus Orientation

Baylor's New Graduate Student Orientation taking place on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Orientation will take place from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm in the new Hurd Welcome Center. Free parking is available on site. Here is a helpful campus map to help with navigation. 

Registration opens in early June 2024.

Tentative Schedule

You will arrive on campus and make your way to the Hurd Welcome Center for our main orientation session at 10:00am. Make sure to allow yourself time for parking and navigating campus. Some undergraduates will be moving in during this same time, so navigating campus might be difficult. If you get here early, enjoy some coffee at Varsity Coffee & Soda, or check out some merch at the campus store—both at the Hurd!

After the main orientation session, you will be treated to our favorite local treat, Pop’s Lemonade, and lunch in the Hurd. You will find a student representative from your department, your GPD, and other colleagues with whom you can enjoy a meal. 

After lunch, GSA, the Graduate School, and Career Services are offering three breakout sessions as well as a resource fair—all in the Hurd! The sessions will begin at 12:30pm and 1:30pm, and the resource will run from 12:30pm-3:00pm.