Orientation

Welcome to Barnard College!

The New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) is an intentional and exciting program to welcome all of our incoming first-year, transfer, and international students to the Barnard community. New students are introduced to all of the resources that are available to them during their time at Barnard. NSOP is a great way to connect with your peers and your community prior to the start of classes and the academic year.

New Student Orientation Program (NSOP)

Barnard’s traditional New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) is required for all new first-year and transfer students to help them learn about campus resources and build community at Barnard. Throughout NSOP, you will be in a small orientation group led by a current Barnard student Orientation Leader (OL).

Barnard Orientation Spring 2027

Wednesday, January 13 - Sunday, January 17
Information related to your Spring 2027 experience will be shared directly with you via your Barnard email address. The official Spring 2027 NSOP schedule will be available in early January.

NSOP is required for all new students (including those who participate in a pre-orientation program), and students should plan to fully participate in NSOP during program dates. As such, please refrain from scheduling appointments/time commitments during the program dates. Some of our programs throughout NSOP are designed to meet requirements set out by federal and/or state law as well as Barnard College policy.

Students living on campus will move in the morning of Wednesday, January 13th, and should plan to be in the city by that point. Students living off-campus should find a housing accommodation with a start date that allows them to come to campus by the afternoon of Wednesday, January 13th for NSOP programming.

Following move-in, NSOP programming is designed as a community-building experience for our new students to meet and bond with their peers. With that in mind, families are not able to participate in NSOP programming. Those who wish to explore the city with their Barnard student are kindly encouraged to do so prior to Wednesday, January 13th, so that students can fully participate in NSOP programming.

NSOP features a mix of informational programming, social programming, and exploratory programming throughout the experience, including programs on evenings, Saturday, and Sunday that students should plan to attend. NSOP programming will conclude after Sunday, January 17th, before classes begin on Tuesday, January 19th.

Questions about orientation? Email orientation@barnard.edu

Questions about move-in? Check out: Campus Housing or email housing@barnard.edu

Questions about parent orientation? Contact the Office of Family Engagement at parents@barnard.edu

Resources for New Students

Check out some additional resources for new and visiting students!