Orientations and Welcome Events

As a new graduate student at Mason, you will have the opportunity to learn about your graduate academic program and the University through orientations. 

You should begin with the Graduate Online Orientation for all Mason graduate students. 

You should then plan to participate in any orientations offered by your graduate academic program and/or college/school. Additional orientations and trainings are offered for specific populations and interests, including international graduate students and graduate teaching assistants. Below is a list of orientation and welcome activities offered by academic units and university offices for new graduate students; contact your graduate program if it is not listed or if you have questions.

All Mason graduate students should begin with the Graduate Online Orientation. This interactive platform will provide an overview of how to succeed as a graduate student and acquaint you with all that Mason has to offer to support you along the way.

Gradstravaganza, Mason’s annual graduate student welcome event, is a multi-day event held at the beginning of the each academic year and includes a fully virtual line-up of orientation and educational sessions and an in-person picnic. Brought to you by Graduate Student Life, the Graduate Division, the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA), Office of International Programs and Services, University Life Mason Square, Mason Recreation, and University Life.

Gradstravaganza is held once year at the beginning of the fall semester. Recordings and materials from 2024 Success Sessions will be available at the end of August on the Gradstravaganza webpage. In the meantime, you can access video recordings and materials from the online Success Sessions held in August 2023.

Below you will find the information for academic program, college and school level orientations and welcome events for graduate and professional students. 

Programs and colleges are finalizing their orientations and welcome events and submitting them to be posted. Graduate Student Life will be posting the program and college events as they are shared. All orientation information updated and live on July 15, 2024.

Below you will find orientations and welcome events that are for new graduate and professional students.

International Programs and Services & Graduate Student Life 
International Graduate Student Orientation
In-person; 8/21/2024; 9am-2pm; Johnson Center Dewberry Hall, Fairfax Campus. Check out our webpage for all you need to know: https://oips.gmu.edu/attend-orientation/. Registration: http://go.gmu.edu/IGSORegistration. For questions, email oipsprog@gmu.edu or gradlife@gmu.edu. 

University Life Mason Square
Mason Square Arlington Welcome Fair
In-person; 8/29/2024; 4:00pm - 7:00pm; The Plaza at Mason Square, Mason Square Arlington. For more information, visit ulmasonsquare.gmu.edu. For questions, email ularl@gmu.edu

Cinema on the Plaza - "My Cousin Vinny"
In-person; Friday, August 16, 2024. Event starts at 7:00pm, movie starts at 8:00pm. Plaza at Mason Square, Mason Square Arlington. For more information, visit ulmasonsquare.gmu.edu. For questions, email ularl@gmu.edu

University Life at SciTech
SciTech Fall Welcome Fair
In-person; 8/27/2024; 11:00am - 2:30pm; Katherine Johnson Hall, Katherine Johnson Atrium, SciTech Campus. For questions, email ulscitec@gmu.edu

Also don't forget to checkout the full list of events and activities for Welcome2Mason. Welcome2Mason events span the first few weeks of the fall semester and provide countless opportunities for students to get involved, meet new people, and learn more about our campus. For a complete list of scheduled events, visit welcome2mason.gmu.edu. Signature events include academic department receptions, Involvement Fair and on-campus job fairs, “Ask Me” tents across campus, and other welcome activities. These events are open to all Mason students: graduate, professional, and undergraduate.