The First-Year Experience Program

Smith 2 Do 

Office of Student Engagement 
Calling all makers, crafters, and anyone looking to make a new connection! The OSE Smith 2 Do program is a weekly opportunity to make new friends and learn something new.  Smith 2 Do events are registered in the Smith Social Network and you can find them on the CORQ app! 

First Week at Smith! 

September 2 – 14 
Office of Student Engagement 
The Office of Student Engagement offers a series of programs and events intended to connect new and returning students to Smith and the local Northampton community as they start another year. Need a new plant for your room - we’ve got you covered! Love a little Friday night Trivia - come on down! The week culminates with the Involvement Fair where students can explore our over 150 student organizations. You can view the 2024 First Week at Smith Calendar on the Smith Social Network, on the CORQ App, or find the First Week Calendar in your house! 

Joy Mobile

September 2 – 27 
Residence Life 
All Around Campus
Look for the Residence Life Joy Mobile driving around campus, giving away fun treats during the month of September!

Scavenger Hunt

August 30 – October 15
Schacht Center for Health & Wellness
Online 
Complete our online scavenger hunt to learn about the Schacht Center offerings. Everyone who completes the scavenger hunt will be entered to win a wellbeing prize basket valued at $50. Completed scavenger hunts are due October 15, with winners notified on October 18. 

The link to the scavenger hunt is here: Online Scavenger Hunt

Craft & Learn at Jandon: 

Find Out How to Get Involved in the Refugee & Immigrant Support Initiative

September 6, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Jandon Center for Community Engagement - Wright Hall 013
Come to the Jandon Center for Community Engagement for a craft-er-noon and learn about the Refugee & Immigrant Support Initiative (RISI). We will have easy-to-learn crafting options and art supplies or you can bring something you are already working on. Cap: first 15 students. 

First Week at Smith! 

September 2 – 6 
Office of Student Engagement
The Office of Student Engagement offers a series of programs and events intended to connect new and returning students to Smith and the local Northampton community as they start another year. Need a new plant for your room - we’ve got you covered! Love a little Friday night Trivia - come on down! The week culminates with the Involvement Fair where students can explore our over 150 student organizations. You can view the 2024 First Week at Smith Calendar on the Smith Social Network, on the CORQ App, or find the First Week Calendar in your house!

First Week at Smith! 

September 7 – 14 
Office of Student Engagement 
The Office of Student Engagement offers a series of programs and events intended to connect new and returning students to Smith and the local Northampton community as they start another year. Need a new plant for your room - we’ve got you covered! Love a little Friday night Trivia - come on down! The week culminates with the Involvement Fair where students can explore our over 150 student organizations. You can view the 2024 First Week at Smith Calendar on the Smith Social Network, on the CORQ App, or find the First Week Calendar in your house!

IT User Support Info Table 

September 9, noon – 1 p.m. 
Campus Center 
The IT User Support team will be providing Tech Support and Resource information for new students including printed information and giveaways. We will be providing general information ranging from printing, DUO accounts, OneCard, and additional Tech Support/resources. 

Mindful Mondays

September 9, 12:15 – 1 p.m. 
Campus Center 205
If you are looking for a place to make connections and practice self-awareness, come check out our drop-in Mindful Mondays program, every Monday in person in Campus Center Room 205, 12:15-1 pm, beginning September 9.  We serve a hot, simple vegetarian meal, and practice mindfulness with light meditation, embodiment practice, and discussion.

Gettin' Dirty with the Botanic Garden!

September 9, 3:30 – 5 p.m. 
Lyman Plant House
A Botanic Garden is a living museum of plants. And you literally live inside one! Over 8,000 species of plants are represented in our collections. Take a tour of the Lyman Plant House (where it will be 85 degrees and sunny even in the depths of winter), then learn to take cuttings from our amazing collection of tropical plants to green up your new living space. 

How can a little shoot tip live and thrive when it’s cut off from the rest of the plant? That's a superpower that animals don't have. This hands-on activity will be a little bit of botany and a lot of fun. Sign up here!

Learning to Meditate

September 11, 7 – 8 p.m. 
Bodman Lounge, Helen Hills Hills Chapel
Hosted by Geshe Ngawang Singey. These twice-monthly interactive sessions will include instruction on and practice of breathing meditation, concentration meditation, blessing meditation, and tong-len (exchange of self and other), concluding with Q&A with light refreshments. All are welcome!

Schacht Center Open House

September 12, 4 – 5:30 p.m. 
Schacht Center for Health & Wellness
The Schacht Center for Health and Wellness is a resource for mental health support, physical health support, and wellbeing education. The open house invites you to come and learn about our services! Everyone will have the opportunity to make an ice cream sundae (vegan options available). We will also have supplies for you to make a personal wellbeing kit. 

Soup, Salad, and Soul

September 13, 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Bodman Lounge, Helen Hills Hills Chapel
Come get cozy and enjoy a hot, delicious vegetarian soup made by awesome student cooks while taking part in reflective, student-led discussions on spirituality and life! Students of all religious, spiritual, and non-religious/non-spiritual backgrounds are welcome. The Bodman Lounge is in the basement of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel and accessible via elevator from the rear of the building. For details on food and other questions, email aostow@smith.edu.

Hillyer Art Library and Josten Performing Arts Library: 

Open House

September 13, 2 – 5 p.m. 
Hillyer Art Library and Josten Performing Arts Library
Discover your Smith Library by dropping into the open houses for Hillyer Art Library and Josten Performing Arts Library. We’ll have delicious food, music, button-making stations, library swag, and more. Browse our new titles, meet the library staff, and explore the unique stacks and study spaces in Smith’s distinctive branch libraries.

IT User Support Info Table 

September 13, noon – 1 p.m. 
Campus Center 
The IT User Support team will be providing Tech Support and Resource information for new students including printed information and giveaways. We will be providing general information ranging from printing, DUO accounts, OneCard, and additional Tech Support/resources. 

Demystifying Money

September 13, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. 
Conway Center
Know Your Money Through Budgeting:  Every journey, even a financial journey, needs a starting point. In this workshop we'll talk about some common places to begin, addressing how to formulate a realistic budget and how to take stock of your current financial situation.  All are welcome, regardless of how much thought you've given to your financial future.

Canoeing and Kayaking on Paradise Pond

September 14, 1 - 4 p.m. 
Paradise Pond Boathouse
Come canoe or kayak with the Outdoor Adventure Program.  Hosting open paddling hours weekends 1-4 pm in September! 

Meet the Faculty Concert

September 15, 3 – 4 p.m.
Sweeney Concert Hall
Music Department faculty members will give a short concert followed by a Q & A about studying music at Smith. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear and meet some of our new faculty members and learn about the wide array of courses and ensembles offered through the Music Department. 

Catholic Mass and First Year Welcome

September 15, 3 – 4:30 p.m.
Helen Hills Hills Chapel
Join the Newman Catholic Club and Fr. Val Nworah to celebrate Mass and welcome First Year students to Smith. Stay for fellowship, light refreshments, and meet members of Smith's growing Catholic Community. All are welcome!

IT User Support Info Table 

September 16, noon – 1 p.m. 
Campus Center 
The IT User Support team will be providing Tech Support and Resource information for new students including printed information and giveaways. We will be providing general information ranging from printing, DUO accounts, OneCard, and additional Tech Support/resources. 

Mindful Mondays

September 16, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Campus Center 205
If you are looking for a place to make connections and practice self-awareness, come check out our drop-in Mindful Mondays program.  We serve a hot, simple vegetarian meal, and practice mindfulness with light meditation, embodiment practice, and discussion.

Jandon Center Opportunity Fair

September 16, 3 – 5 p.m.
Chapin Lawn (Rain Location - Carroll Room)
Join the Jandon Center and our Community Partners at our annual Community Involvement Fair! The fair will take place from 3 – 5 p.m. on September 16th on Chapin Lawn, or in the Carroll Room of Smith College’s Campus Center if weather requires. This is our biggest recruitment event of the semester and a great opportunity to connect with local nonprofits and organizations. Come chat with our Community Partners about advocacy, volunteering, internships, fellowships, and more within and beyond Smith!

Education Abroad Fair 

September 17, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Davis Ballroom 
The College's annual Education abroad fair will give students the opportunity to get information about study abroad opportunities from representatives from dozens of study abroad programs and host institutions on the College's list of approved programs.

Start with Your Strengths for First Years

September 17, 5 – 6 p.m.
Campus Center, Carroll Room 
Did you take the Clifton Strengths Assessment this summer and want to learn more about how to maximize your first semester? Knowing and using your strengths can positively impact every aspect of your Smith experience! Register in Handshake for one workshop. Click on the “Events” tab and choose one of the upcoming “Start with Your Strengths for First Years” workshops. Note: Complete the assessment prior to attending the workshop and read your results. Directions to the assessment may be found in the Resources section of Smith Career Connect under "Pathways". Questions? Email: Patricia Woods, Assistant Director, Career Exploration, pwoods@smith.edu

REGISTER HERE for Tuesday, Sept. 17th

You Belong: 

Navigating your Time and Place at Smith

September 19, 4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
Campus Center 103/104
Want to get involved outside the classroom? Looking to connect with new people and find your community? The Office of Student Engagement is here to help! Drop by our casual, friendly gathering to meet student leaders from across campus and learn about how they’re involved outside the classroom. Staff from the Office of Student Engagement will also be there to help you learn about the many ways you can get involved at Smith, from clubs and organizations to internships and jobs!

IT User Support Info Table 

September 20, noon – 1 p.m. 
Campus Center 
The IT User Support team will be providing Tech Support and Resource information for new students including printed information and giveaways. We will be providing general information ranging from printing, DUO accounts, OneCard, and additional Tech Support/resources. 

Soup, Salad, and Soul

September 20, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Bodman Lounge, Helen Hills Hills Chapel
Come get cozy and enjoy a hot, delicious vegetarian soup made by awesome student cooks while taking part in reflective, student-led discussions on spirituality and life! Students of all religious, spiritual, and non-religious/non-spiritual backgrounds are welcome. The Bodman Lounge is in the basement of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel and accessible via elevator from the rear of the building. For details on food and other general accessibility questions, email aostow@smith.edu.

Demystifying Money 

September 20, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m
Conway Center 
Personal Finance and Psychology:  This workshop will focus on the ways our individual backgrounds can impact our relationship with money. We’ll explore how knowing what motivates you can be reflected in the ways you handle debt and credit. This session cannot cover everything, but hopefully, you’ll begin to realize that personal finance is just that “personal,” we are not just automatons trying to automate/maximize our finances.

Day of Mindfulness

led by Zen monastics

September 21, 9 – 10 a.m.
Smith Conference Center
Monks and nuns of Blue Cliff Monastery, NY, will offer the Smith community a day of applied mindfulness - the practice of joy and happiness in the midst of busy lives.

Open Climbing Wall 

September 22, 1 – 4 p.m.
Ainsworth Gym, Room 304
Open climbing wall hours!   Learn to rock climb with the outdoor adventure program.  Open 1-4 on Sundays we invite first years to climb at our indoor climbing gym,  instruction provided.

Mindful Mondays

September 23, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Campus Center 205
If you are looking for a place to make connections and practice self-awareness, come check out our drop-in Mindful Mondays program, every Monday in person. We serve a hot, simple vegetarian meal, and practice mindfulness with light meditation, embodiment practice, and discussion.

Gettin’ Dirty with the Botanic Garden!

September 23, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Lyman Plant House
A Botanic Garden is a living museum of plants. And you literally live inside one! Over 8,000 species of plants are represented in our collections. Take a tour of the Lyman Plant House (where it will be 85 degrees and sunny even in the depths of winter), then learn to take cuttings from our amazing collection of tropical plants to green up your new living space. How can a little shoot tip live and thrive when it’s cut off from the rest of the plant? That's a superpower that animals don't have. This hands-on activity will be a little bit of botany and a lot of fun. Sign up here!

Start with Your Strengths for First Years

September 23, 5 – 6 p.m.
Campus Center, Carroll Room
Did you take the CliftonStrengths Assessment this summer and want to learn more about how to maximize your first semester? Knowing and using your strengths can positively impact every aspect of your Smith experience! Register in Handshake for one workshop. Click on the “Events” tab and choose one of the upcoming “Start with Your Strengths for First Years” workshops. Note: Complete the assessment prior to attending the workshop and read your results. Directions to the assessment may be found in the Resources section of Smith Career Connect under "Pathways". Questions? Email: Patricia Woods, Assistant  Director, Career Exploration, pwoods@smith.edu

REGISTER HERE for Monday, Sept. 23rd 

Robotics Outreach Initiative Interest Meeting  

September 24, 4:15 – 5:15 p.m.
Jandon Center, Wright 013
Are you interested in robotics? Join us to learn about robotics, circuit building, and coding. No experience required! 

Navigating the Biology Major & Exploring Possible Career Paths After Smith

September 25, 5 – 6 p.m. 
Sabin-Reed 220
Come and join a group of Bio students and faculty to discuss the many paths you can choose through the Bio major, such as focusing on biodiversity/ecology, cells/development, genetics/evolution, or Bio & education! Learn about study abroad and research opportunities during the academic year and summer. Finally, hear a bit about the many career paths pursued by Bio majors after Smith. Bring your questions!

Planning Your Pre-Health Path at Smith

September 25, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. 
Campus Center 205 
A panel of Smith students will share their stories and advice for taking prerequisite classes, leveraging time and resources at Smith and off campus, and key activities needed to prepare for applications to health professions graduate programs in the future. Food will be provided.

Learning to Meditate

September 25, 7 – 8 p.m. 
Bodman Lounge, Helen Hills Hills Chapel
Hosted by Geshe Ngawang Singey. These twice-monthly interactive sessions will include instruction on and practice of breathing meditation, concentration meditation, blessing meditation, and tong-len (exchange of self and other), concluding with Q&A with light refreshments. All are welcome!

Soup, Salad, and Soul

September 27, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. 
Bodman Lounge, Helen Hills Hills Chapel
Come get cozy and enjoy a hot, delicious vegetarian soup made by awesome student cooks while taking part in reflective, student-led discussions on spirituality and life! Students of all religious, spiritual, and non-religious/non-spiritual backgrounds are welcome. The Bodman Lounge is in the basement of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel and accessible via elevator from the rear of the building. For details on food and other general accessibility questions, email aostow@smith.edu.

Demystifying Money 

September 27, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Conway Center 
Banking, Interest, and Loans: Interest and how to navigate it inform a lot of our adult socioeconomic experiences. In this session, we will explore all things banks, interest (the kind you get and the kind you pay), and loans.

Open Climbing Wall 

September 29, 1 – 4 p.m.
Ainsworth Gym, Room 304
Open climbing wall hours!   Learn to rock climb with the outdoor adventure program.  Open 1-4 on Sundays we invite first years to climb at our indoor climbing gym,  instruction provided.

Mindful Mondays

September 30, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. 
Campus Center 205
If you are looking for a place to make connections and practice self-awareness, come check out our drop-in Mindful Mondays program, every Monday in person. We serve a hot, simple vegetarian meal, and practice mindfulness with light meditation, embodiment practice, and discussion.

Planning Your Pre-Law Path 

October 1, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. 
Campus Center 205
This Lazarus Center workshop will identify opportunities, both inside and outside of the classroom, to help you prepare for law school. You’ll leave with an overview of what you can be doing each year of college to build the skills to be successful in law school and make yourself a competitive applicant when it comes time to apply. As part of the First Year Experience Programming, this session is geared towards first-year students, but students of all class years are welcome to attend. Pizza provided (including vegan and gluten-free options).

STEAM Interest Meeting 

October 1, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. 
Jandon Center, Wright 013
Interested in the intersection of STEM, art, and community engagement? Join us for an interest meeting to hear from the STEAM Team. They'll update you on their passions, plans, and efforts to increase access to STEAM at Smith and the surrounding communities. Be sure to bring your own lunch. We'll provide snacks and tea :)  Check out our events https://www.science.smith.edu/steam-outreach/!

An additional meeting will be held on October 29th. 

Soup, Salad, and Soul

October 4, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. 
Bodman Lounge, Helen Hills Hills Chapel
Come get cozy and enjoy a hot, delicious vegetarian soup made by awesome student cooks while taking part in reflective, student-led discussions on spirituality and life! Students of all religious, spiritual, and non-religious/non-spiritual backgrounds are welcome. The Bodman Lounge is in the basement of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel and accessible via elevator from the rear of the building. For details on food and other general accessibility questions, email aostow@smith.edu.

Demystifying Money 

October 4, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Conway Center 
Credit Cards and Credit Scores: Nothing says adulting more than getting your first credit card and wisely handling spending and payments. Learn the economic factors that impact your credit and credit score and tips for staying on top of this potentially costly type of debt.

Mushroom Foray at MacLeish Field Station

October 5, 10 a.m. – noon
MacLeish Field Station
Curious about mushrooms and what grows here in the Northeast? Join CEEDS staff, local experts, and members of the Pioneer Valley Mycological Association for a mushroom foray at Smith's field station! We'll head into the woods to collect mushrooms and then spend some time identifying our finds. Space for this event is limited. Sign up for a spot in the vans to MacLeish here. Snacks provided.

Open Climbing Wall 

October 6, 1 – 4 p.m.
Ainsworth Gym, Room 304
Open climbing wall hours!   Learn to rock climb with the outdoor adventure program.  Open 1-4 on Sundays we invite first years to climb at our indoor climbing gym,  instruction provided.

Mindful Mondays

October 7, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. 
Campus Center 205
If you are looking for a place to make connections and practice self-awareness, come check out our drop-in Mindful Mondays program, every Monday in person. We serve a hot, simple vegetarian meal, and practice mindfulness with light meditation, embodiment practice, and discussion.

ZineFest

October 7, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. 
Campus Center
Join the Wurtele Center for Leadership and Design Thinking Initiative for this year's ZineFest on Monday, October 7! Zines are small, hand-produced, reproducible booklets that incorporate images and text to inform or influence readers on an important topic or issue. ZineFest opportunities include a panel conversation among three visiting zine creators on "The Past, Present, and Future of Zines," chances to swap and check out a variety of zines, as well as three hands-on, hour-long workshops with our visiting artists where you can learn and practice different zine-making techniques. Keep your eye on the Smith Social Network or e-digest for times and locations. Offered as part of the Wurtele Center's Amplify Program. Questions? Email Erin Cohn at ecohn@smith.edu.

Creating Social Change with Special Collections

October 8, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Neilson Library, Room 303
If you’re interested in creating social change then you’re interested in Special Collections at Smith! Housed in Neilson Library, Special Collections includes unique photographs, letters, diaries, posters, scrapbooks, oral histories, and printed texts documenting movements for social change, including reproductive justice and queer rights.

Learn how historic activism can impact your own activism today in this hands-on workshop! Link to signup sheet: here!

Learning to Meditate

October 9, 7 – 8 p.m. 
Bodman Lounge, Helen Hills Hills Chapel
Hosted by Geshe Ngawang Singey. These twice-monthly interactive sessions will include instruction on and practice of breathing meditation, concentration meditation, blessing meditation, and tong-len (exchange of self and other), concluding with Q&A with light refreshments. All are welcome!

Multicultural Experience Program 

Study Abroad Panel

October 10, 4:30– 5:30 p.m.
Mwangi Cultural Center
The Offices of Multicultural Affairs and International Study combine their collective wit to present a study abroad panel. Ask fellow students about their study abroad preparation and experiences around the world. Panelists are to be determined.

This event is intended for students of color.

Soup, Salad, and Soul

October 11, 12:15 – 1:10 p.m.
Bodman Lounge, Helen Hills Hills Chapel
Come get cozy and enjoy a hot, delicious vegetarian soup made by awesome student cooks while taking part in reflective, student-led discussions on spirituality and life! Students of all religious, spiritual, and non-religious/non-spiritual backgrounds are welcome. The Bodman Lounge is in the basement of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel and accessible via elevator from the rear of the building. For details on food and other general accessibility questions, email aostow@smith.edu.

Brunch at Smith’s MacLeish Field Station

October 20 , 9 – 11 a.m. 
MacLeish Field Station
Catch a ride to Smith's MacLeish Field Station where you'll enjoy a delicious brunch with good company and beautiful views. Dress for the weather and wear shoes that are ok in damp grass. Meet the van and CEEDS staff at Sage Hall Circle at 9:00 am. Space for this event is limited. Sign up for a spot here.