Welcome to RU Orientation! Orientation takes place the weekend before you start your first semester, and it presents important and exciting steps to set you up for success. Specifically, through Orientation you’ll:

• Learn about all the resources Rockhurst has to offer
• Meet faculty, staff, and student leaders who will introduce you to the spirit and traditions of RU
• Explore academic and campus involvement opportunities
• Meet new friends

Truly your Orientation to your new home begins as early as May 18, 2021 with your first Pre Orientation Palooza (held virtually). Be sure to register and review your checklist here

Whether you are a transfer or a first year student you’ll feel welcome among your fellow classmates and excited for what lies ahead. What better way to kick off your time here at RU? Throughout the summer, please look out for your orientation packet and additional information emailed and mailed to you. Please check your Rockhurst email at least once a week! Haven't set that up yet? Contact Computer Services if you need help!

New Student Orientation Details

For those living on campus staggered move in begins Thursday, August 19, 2021. Each new residential student will be assigned either a morning or afternoon move in time on Thursday, August 19, 2021 or Friday, August 20, 2021.  Welcome and Orientation events begin as soon as you move in.  

If you are living on campus, you will be assigned a day and time range to move in. Simply drive up to the front of the residence hall where you will be greeted by staff and students who will guide you through the move in process. There you will receive your key and other important information and begin settling in. Orientation details and a packet of information including your class schedule and another checklist of things to complete on your first few days on campus will be given to you at check in. Activities and events will keep you busy on campus once you’ve moved in until classes begin. Plan to stay on campus the entire time.

If you are not living on campus Orientation begins for you on Friday, August 20 at 3:00 pm. We have a special commuter welcome and check in in Arrupe Hall, followed by campus tours and then orientation kick off. Plan on spending your weekend on campus, a schedule is listed below. 

Remember the Important Checklist to Complete Before Orientation, can be found here.

Fall 2021 New Student Orientation Schedule

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Time                                   Event                                                                                                  Location
9:00 am - 12:00 pm           Morning Move In (as assigned)                                                          Residence Halls

11:00 a.m. - 4:30 pm         Family & New Student Resource Fair                                                Massman Hall Rock Room
11:00 am  -  4:30 pm         Family and Guest Reception                                                              MAC 101

12:00 pm                           Families and Guests of students and new students who moved in this morning are invited
                                           to attend the resource fair then parents & families attend the Family Reception
                                           then make their way home

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm             Afternoon Move In (as assigned)                                                        Residence Halls

2:00 pm                             College Life Panels (for morning move in students)                           Arrupe Hall Auditorium

4:00 pm                             Families and Guests of students and new students who moved in this morning are invited
                                           to attend the resource fair then parents & families attend the Family Reception
                                           then make their way home

5:00 pm                              Dinner for new students

7:00 pm                              Welcome Gathering for new students who moved in today                Bell Tower 

7:15 pm                              Orientation Team Meeting for new students                                        Assigned Rooms

8:00 pm                              Timer Photo Challenge for new students                                            In Small Groups

Friday, August 20, 2021

Time                                   Event                                                                                                  Location
9:00 am - 12:00 pm           Morning Move In (as assigned)                                                          Residence Halls 

9:00 am                             Yoga for students who moved in Thursday                                        Kinerk Commons

10:00 am                            Where to go in KCMO (new students who moved in 8/19)                 Meet at the Belltower

11:00 a.m. - 4:30 pm          Family & New Student Resource Fair                                                Massman Hall Rock Room
11:00 am  -  4:30 pm          Family and Guest Reception                                                              MAC 101

12:00 pm                           Families and Guests of students and new students who moved in this morning are invited
                                           to attend the resource fair then parents & families attend the Family Reception
                                           then make their way home

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm             Afternoon Move In (as assigned)                                                           Residence Halls

3:00 pm                             Commuter Check In and Welcome                                                        Arrupe Hall

4:00 pm                             Families and Guests of students and new students who moved in this morning are invited
                                           to attend the resource fair then parents & families attend the Family Reception
                                           then make their way home

4:00 pm                              Campus Tours for new students                                                        Meet at Bell Tower

5:00 pm                              Residence Hall Meetings for students living on campus                    Residence Hall Lobbies

5:00 pm                              Commuter Students Gathering                                                           Arrupe Hall Auditorium

6:00 pm                              Dinner for new students                                                                      TMDR 

7:15 pm                              Welcome Gathering for all new students                                            Bell Tower 

7: 30 pm                             Orientation Team Meeting                                                                  Assigned Rooms

8:30 pm                              Orientation Welcome Party                                                                 Lower Bourke      

Service Day, Saturday, August 21, 2021

Time                                   Event                                                                                                 Location

9:00 am                              Team Up & Finucane Kick Off                                                          Arrupe Auditorium

9:30 am                              Finucane Service Project                                                                 Various City Locations 
                                           Travel, Serve, Reflect       

1:00 pm                              Lunch & Free Time

3:00 pm                              College Life Panels                                                                           Arrupe Auditorium                     

4:00 pm                              Team Up

4:30 pm                              Team Meeting with FACTUALITY

6:00 pm                              Dinner                                                                                                 Kinerk Commons              

7:00 pm                              Men's Soccer vs UMKC                                                                     Meet on Kinerk Commons

7:00 pm                              Orientation Block Party                                                                      Kinerk Commons

Leadership Day, Sunday, August 22, 2021

Time                                   Event                                                                                                 Location

9:30 am                              Team Up                                                                                           Arrupe Auditorium

10:00 am                            Team Meeting                                                                                  Various Locations

11:00 am                            Orientation Olympics                                                                        Lower Bourke

1:00 pm                              Lunch & Free Time          

3:00 pm                              Team Up , Hawk essentials                                                             Arrupe Auditorium

5:00 pm                              Meet Your Majors, Find Your Classes                                             Arrupe Auditorium 

6:00 pm                              University Mass                                                                              St. Francis Xavier

7:15 pm                              Dinner, Class T Shirt and Picture                                                   Kinerk Commons 

8:30 pm                              Final Presentation and Closing Candlelight                                   Arrupe Auditorium

Discounted Hotel Accommodations