As you prepare to come to campus, there are a number of orientations and other activities to be aware of. Some trainings and orientations may be required for you, so it is a good idea to check with your department in advance to better understand your responsibilities. There are also opportunities to get to know campus, learn more about units here to support you, and meet other graduate students.
We’ve compiled a list of orientations below to help you begin to make plans, and will update them as dates become available.
Campus Events
Departmental Orientation
Departments often host their own orientations to give you specific information that relates to your program. They often include opportunities to connect with faculty, staff, and other students in your department and information about courses and degree expectations. Departmental orientations typically occur the week before classes begin. Make sure to check with your department to see when your orientation is so that you can make plans to attend.
International Student Check-In
International Student Check-In is a federally-mandated process that requires every international student to report to International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) and have their immigration documents reviewed. Check-In should be completed as soon as possible after arrival to the United States.
Please check the ISSS website for additional details. If you have any questions about ISSS Check-In or Orientation, please contact ISSS at isss@illinois.edu.
International Student Orientation
The ISSS Fall 2025 Graduate Orientation will be held virtually this year on Monday, August 18, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be in-person social events on August 19-21, 2025.
If you have any questions about ISSS Check-In or Orientation, please contact ISSS at isss@illinois.edu.
CITL Training for New Teaching Assistants
New Teaching Assistants must attend CITL’s pre-semester TA training unless the department offers its own training on substantively similar topics. The best time for a new TA to attend is just before their teaching responsibilities begin so they can immediately start to apply what they learn. TAs without classroom duties, such as graders, may instead attend the shorter Grading Symposium.
Grad Academy
August 18-19. Each student will participate in a Microteaching session on August 20 or 21.
Grading Symposium
Wednesday, August 19.
If you have questions, please contact CITL at citl-info@illinois.edu.
Employee Orientation for Graduate Assistants (TAs, RAs, GAs, and PGAs)
Graduate Assistant Employee Orientation (for TAs, RAs, GAs, and PGAs)
Co-sponsored by Human Resources and the Graduate College, this employee orientation provides information for teaching, research, pre-professional, and graduate assistants regarding appointments and benefits. Please check the Human Resources webpage for up-to-date information.
Quad Day
Quad Day, always hosted the Sunday before classes start during the fall semester, has been a rich tradition for more than fifty years. The largest student organization festival in the nation, more than 700 student organizations host booths to promote their mission and recruit prospective students.
Graduate Student Welcome/Welcome Back
Welcome/Welcome Back is a week hosted by the Graduate College with campus partners. These events are opportunities for new and returning students to connect with the university resources, communities, programs, and opportunities available to them as graduate students at Illinois.
New Student & Family Experiences
The New Student & Family Experiences office hosts a number of activities to welcome students and their families to Illinois. Their office will host an orientation and Welcome Week from August 18-24, 2025. While many of the events during this week are geared toward undergraduate students and their families, graduate students are welcome to join some of the activities. You can learn more about what activities are open to larger audiences on their website.