First-Year Experience
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Welcome to Saint Vincent College
The second you step on campus, you’ll feel like family. Your first weekend will begin with a special Welcome Mass, personal greetings from the Chancellor and Archabbot, President and other campus leaders, socials, and more, followed by weeks of fun and academic guidance as you make this next leap in your journey. Our first-year student orientation is a five-week long introduction into the community, values and scholarship that make your new home at Saint Vincent.
Student Life
First-Year Students Fall 2024
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Welcome Weekend
Thursday, August 22nd
8:00 am - 11:30 pm | Residence Hall Move-In, Saint Benedict Hall
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm | Commuter Check-In, Citrone Family Commuter Lounge
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Wimmer’s Welcome, In front of Basilica
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Welcome Mass, Basilica
We invite you, the newest members of the Saint Vincent community, to join us in the celebration of the liturgy.
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Welcome Picnic
It is also a great time to meet other classmates and their families as well as members of the Saint Vincent College Administration.
6:00 pm – 6:30 pm | Family Farewells
6:30 pm | Meet your Prefect, Your Saint Benedict Hall Pod, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
8:00 pm | New Student Meeting, Carey Performing Arts Center, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
This mandatory meeting is for all freshmen resident and commuter students. Students will receive the Rule of Saint Benedict from Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel and Father Paul Taylor.
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm | Welcome Social & Bonfire, Saint Benedict Hall
Friday, August 23rd
8:00 am - 9:00 am | Breakfast with your Big, Community Center
9:00 am - 11:30 am | Information Sessions, Carey Performing Arts Center, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
- 9:00 am | Community Standards, Mr. Ishmael Solomon, Director of Residence Life
- 9:30 am | Title IX and Campus Safety, Ms. Eileen Flinn, General Counsel and Title IX Coordinator
- 11:00 am | Service Project Overview, Ms. Jody Marsh, Director of Office of Community and Global Engagement
11:30 am - 1:00 pm | Faculty Advisor Lunch, Community Center, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
This will be an opportunity for students to meet with their faculty advisor in their program, get to know them, and to socialize with them.
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Service Project, Meet in Carey Gymnasium, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Dinner with your Big, Community Center
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm | Healthy Relationships, Performing Arts Center, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
Damon Owens
9:00 pm – 10:30 pm | Play Fair, Robert S. Carey Gymnasium
Saturday, August 24th
8:30 am – 9:45 am | Breakfast, Community Center
8:30 am – 9:45 am | Commuter Student Breakfast and Social, Citrone Family Commuter Lounge
10:00 am – 11:30 pm | Information Sessions, Carey Performing Arts Center, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
- 10:00 am | Academic Affairs Policies & Procedures, Dr. Dana Winters, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
- 10:30 am | Career Center, Ms. Kim Woodley, Director of Career Center
- 10:45 am | Information Technology, Mr. Justin Fabin, Chief Informational Officer
- 11:00 am | What is a Catholic, Benedictine College?, Fr. Maximillian Maxwell, O.S.B, Director of Campus Ministry
11:30 pm – 1:00 pm | Lunch with your Prefect, Community Center
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Scavenger Hunt with Pod, Performing Arts Center, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
4:30 pm | Mass, Mary Mother of Wisdom Chapel
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm | Campus Ministry Tailgate Event
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Class of 2028 Photograph, Carey Gymnasium, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
Wear your Graffiti Dance Party Shirt for the photograph.
8:30 pm – 11:00 pm | Graffiti Dance Party, Intramural Fields
Get your marker when you wear the shirt that you received in your Welcome Bag to the dance!
Sunday, August 25th
9:00 am – 10:00 am | Informational Sessions, Performing Arts Center, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
- 9:00 am | Personal Safety & Wellness, Ms. Gretchen Flock, Director of Wellness Center & Ms. Stephanie Fago, Director of Public Safety
- 9:30 am | Be Involved, Be Saint Vincent, Ms. Deanna Wicks, Director of Campus Life & Ms. Gabby Bricker, Graduate Coordinator for Student Activities
10:00 am – 11:00 am |Tour of Campus with your Big
11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Brunch with your Big, Community Center
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm | Alcohol, Drugs and the College Experience, Performing Arts Center
Chris and Kathy Sullivan
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm | The Importance of Understanding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Biases, Performing Arts Center, ATTENDANCE REQUIRED
Cpl. Aaron J. Allen, Pennsylvania State Police, Heritage Affairs Office
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm | Speed Friending, Community Center
7:00 pm | Mass, Mary Mother of Wisdom Chapel
9:30 pm | Mass, Mary Mother of Wisdom Chapel
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Freshman Residence Hall Move-In
Arriving and Unloading
Residential students will be directed to the Welcome Area in Parking Lot A near the Fred Rogers Center after arriving on campus, where student ID cards and Residence Hall room keys will be distributed. Residence Life and Orientation Staff will then direct cars to Saint Benedict Hall for unloading.
Please keep your party’s cars together when entering the parking lot. If a car in your party is running behind, please pull over in a separate lot or area and wait for their arrival prior to entering Parking Lot A.
Residence Life and Orientation Staff will direct cars to Saint Benedict Hall for unloading from Parking Lot A. Please have patience with this process, as we will be working hard to make the day run smoothly for you!
Due to the amount of luggage that will be unloaded in one area, it is crucial that ALL belongings are marked with the student’s name and residence hall room number (this includes the Pod letter and room number (e.g. C209). Please label all belongings prior to arrival in a prominent location. We will assist with the moving process, but all belongings must be labeled. If you arrive with unlabeled belongings, you will be asked to step out of the line and label belongings prior to continuing to move in.
After being directed to the unloading areas, Orientation committee members will unload vehicles and assist in transporting all belongings to residence hall rooms.
The driver of the vehicle should remain with the vehicle at all times. As soon as the items have been removed from your vehicle, please follow the directions of the Orientation committee members and park in the designated spaces so that we will be able to accommodate the next student’s arrival.
Please move vehicles immediately after unloading in order to allow other vehicles to unload easily. The Orientation Committee will direct vehicles to the parking locations in Parking Lot R. Handicapped parking will be available after move-in has concluded, but passenger drop off in the handicapped parking zone will be permitted during move- in as needed.
No bed bunking will be permitted in Saint Benedict Hall.
If you are uncomfortable with physical move-in assistance from the Orientation Committee, you will be directed to a separate location to unload your vehicle. All items should be removed from the car and the driver must remain with the car. The car must be moved to designated parking spaces as soon as all belongings have been removed to allow for space for the next student’s arrival.
Saint Benedict Hall Move-In
Thursday, August 22
First-year residential students may arrive on campus at the following designated arrival times. Your pod is shown in your room number. As an example, B405 is in Pod 4B and D302 is in Pod 3D.
5th Floor, 7:45 AM - 8:15 AM
4th Floor, 8:15 AM - 9:00 AM
3rd Floor, 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
2nd Floor, 9:45 AM - 10:15 AM
1st Floor, 10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Late Movie-In, 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
Extra Late Arrivals
Resident students who arrive after the scheduled Late Move-In time, which concludes at 11:30 AM, should proceed directly to Saint Benedict Hall and seek out their Prefect with Residence Life who will check them in individually. After 11:30 AM, the Orientation Welcome Tent and assistance with move-in will not be available.
Early Arrivals
Freshman resident students are invited to move items into the residence halls on Wednesday, August 21, from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM only. When you arrive on campus, vehicles may be parked in Parking Lot Q, located behind Saint Benedict Hall. This period is for item drop off only. Keys, IDs, and other materials will not be distributed, and Orientation and Residence Life staff are unable to allow students to unpack any items. Students may not remain in the building overnight. Students do not need to register for item drop off. When you return to campus the next day, please process through the Welcome Tent to receive keys and IDs.
Orientation Assistance Station
An Orientation Assistance Station and other resources will be available in the lobby of Saint Benedict Hall for your convenience.
Commuter Check-In
Commuter check-in will be in the Citrone Family Commuter Center from 1:00-2:30 p.m. Please see the information specifically sent about Commuter Check-In Information. Upon completing check-in, students will receive a Welcome Bag and other important information and resources for commuting.
Parking Permits
To request a parking permit, please sign up on the Public Safety page on the MySV Portal. Students are required to display their permit. Cars without permits will be ticketed during the first week of classes.
Important Information About Financial Clearance
Financial Clearance must be obtained prior to moving into Residence Halls. Those students who have been financially cleared will be given their room key, and students who are not cleared will be directed to the Business Office to obtain their clearances.
If a student arrives after 4:30 PM, they are expected to obtain financial clearance the next day or on Monday, August 26, by noon. Otherwise, the student’s ID card will be deactivated and they will be required to leave their residence hall until clearance is obtained.
You will be notified by the Business Office when you are financially cleared. Please make sure you have financial clearance prior to move-in. Students without financial clearance will not receive their room keys. If you have questions about financial clearance, please contact the Business Office at 724-537-4577.
Students Without Financial Clearance
Select administrative offices will be open between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM to assist students in obtaining financial clearance. Lot A Welcome Area staff will direct any students not financially cleared to the Business Office to complete the financial clearance process. You will not receive a room key until you are financially cleared. A staff member will direct you to an area to park. Then proceed into the Business Office to obtain clearance. Once clearance is attained, you should return to your car and a staff member will assist in directing you to your residence hall. In this case, there will be a delay in the move-in process.
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First-Year Student Commuter Check-In
All About Check-In
When should I arrive?
Please arrive to Check-In on Thursday, August 22 from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM.
Where should I go?
Commuter students should park in Parking Lot A near the Fred Rogers Center, then proceed directly to the Citrone Family Commuter Center, located in Placid Hall near the Post Office and Community Center Dining Room.
What can I expect to receive at Check-In?
This is where you will receive your student ID card, important first-year student information, and Welcome Weekend packets. You will also meet other Commuters and start to build your new home on campus.
Do I have to attend Check-In?
Check-In is mandatory, as are the other events of the weekend.
How do I get my parking permit?
To request a parking permit, please sign up on the Public Safety page on the MySV Portal. Students are required to display their permits. Cars without permits will be ticketed during the first week of classes.
Important Information About Financial Clearance
Financial Clearance must be obtained prior to check-in. Students who are not cleared will be directed to the Business Office to obtain their clearances. You will be notified by the Business Office when you are financially cleared. Please make sure you have financial clearance prior to check-in.
If you have questions about financial clearance, please contact the Business Office at 724-537-4577.
Who should I contact with questions specifically about commuting?
Bridget DiVittis, Coordinator of Commuter Outreach (bridget.divitties@stvincent.edu)
Miranda Guthrie, Graduate Assistant for Commuter Outreach (miranda.guthrie@stvincent.edu)
Orientation Committee (svc.orientation@stvincent.edu)
Welcome to the Neighborhood
Saint Vincent first-year residents live in Saint Benedict Hall, which has the most picturesque view of the sunrise over our Basilica. Saint Benedict Hall was specifically designed to help first-year students foster true community and get to know their fellow classmates.
Helping You Find Your Way
Upon arrival, upperclassman volunteers will help you move in and begin your first few weeks. Orientation at Saint Vincent includes a team of faculty, administrators and more than 100 student volunteers who work to make each incoming student’s transition to Saint Vincent a smooth one. You’ll be paired with an upperclassman mentor who will act as your “Big” and guide you through the year. Your Big will be able to personally help you with any questions or worries about transitioning to college, including how to register, how to navigate housing, and where your classes are on campus. The orientation program also includes an academic orientation day during the summer and First Year Seminar, and a Welcome Weekend prior to the start of classes which includes social events to meet other new students, programs to help you succeed, including information on drug and substance abuse education and personal safety, and an introduction to our Benedictine mission and values. Families are invited to participate in our Bearcat Connection family program and learn ways to help their students and enjoy their own new roles as members of the Saint Vincent community.
Getting Settled In
Your freshman year will be spent living in “pods” or neighborhoods of 16-24 students based on your study habits, interests, sleep schedule and more. Each of the 21 individual pods has its own lounge and bonds of having a theme. You’ll have the opportunity to go to programs, games, prayer sessions and bible studies together and make friends that last a lifetime. The most fun comes when you get to compete in “Pod Wars” activities like human battleship, a scavenger hunt and an ultimate finish finale to win the highly coveted title of Pod Wars Champions for your year. Your pod will be your team, your home and your family.
First-Year Commuter Students
Our Citrone Family Commuter Center offers a kitchenette, study tables, pool table, TV, a “Help Yourshelf” stocked with free snacks, and the opportunity to enjoy events and programs with other commuter students. You will also have access to Saint Benedict Hall and its lounge, computer lab, and kitchenette. As a commuter student, you’re assigned a home neighborhood with a prefect who will assist you and guide you through specified orientation evens. You will also be invited to participate in many activities throughout the year with your fellow first-year students.Academic Guidance
First-Year Seminar
First-Year Seminars are here to help you feel welcomed into the Saint Vincent college academic community. Through these courses, you gain a sense of accessibility with your professors and comfort with your peers, as well as an understanding of core areas of our curriculum like academic responsibility, critical thinking and the ability to present and communicate your ideas. Our First-Year Seminars emphasize that Saint Vincent professors want to build lasting connections with you. All students participate in First-Year Seminar courses, which incorporate extracurricular events to highlight the greater impact of what you learn on campus onto the world beyond.
The Office of Multicultural Student Life
The Office of Multicultural Student Life is a resource that is here to help students adjust to life at Saint Vincent by encouraging them to understand and respect one another, and to appreciate the different perspectives that each student brings. By encouraging a supportive and nurturing environment where everyone gets access to the help that they need, the Office of Multicultural Life works to educate students while nurturing understanding through programming efforts and partnerships.Contact Us
Orientation Office
Phone:724-805-2094
Email:svc.orientation@stvincent.edu