Saturday, August 22, 2026

Schedule: Orientation Day 1

8:00 AM–6:00 PM New and Transfer Student Check-in (Required for all first-year, transfer, commuter, and Founder’s College students)
📍Hinkle Fieldhouse Parking Lot

  • Residential Students: Set arrival time for check-in is based on a student’s room location within the residence hall. This time is emailed in early August.
  • Commuter and Founder’s College Students: May arrive any time after 3:30–5:00 PM to participate in the Resource Fair. Dinner and Commuter Meeting 5:30–7:00 PM. Student Orientation Guide Meeting at 7:30–8:30 PM.

10:00 AM–5:00 PM Relaxation Station
📍Butler Way Mall, Orientation Tent

Throughout the day, the Relaxation Station will offer calming and creative activities for students and families to unwind. Stop by for build-a-plant, coloring pages, tactile fidget toys, snacks, and a note-writing table. Licensed massage therapists will be offering neck and shoulder massages 2:00–4:00 PM. Be sure to sign up for a time at the tent! Come recharge, reconnect, and relax!

11:00 AM–3:00 PM Lunch
📍A-Town Cafe

Come see the newly renovated A-Town Cafe. It will feature a “Taste of Butler” with local partners and educational tabling. Credit card payment accepted. All new and transfer students can use their ID to swipe for their meals covered by Butler Orientation
through Tuesday at lunch.

2:00–5:00 PM Irwin Library Open House: Duck Drop Event 
📍Irwin Library

Drop by Irwin Library to try your hand at the famous Irwin Fountain Duck Drop competition. Besides winning prizes, you can meet library staff and faculty, learn about library services, and enjoy refreshments and a rest from the heat. The Duck Drop competition is a rite of passage you won’t want to miss!

2:00–5:00 PM Resource Fair
📍Atherton Mall, Orientation Tent

Drop in at the Resource Fair to meet with representatives from campus offices and external entities that serve and support our students. Stay for as long or short as you want!

5:00–7:15 PM Family Dinners on Your Own
📍On or Off Campus

5:30–6:30 PM Student-Athlete Welcome for Athletes and Parents (Required for all new student athletes; families are encouraged to attend)
📍Hinkle Fieldhouse, Main Gym

Dinner will be served for student athletes and their families.

7:30–8:15 PM Student Orientation Group Meeting (Required for all first-year, transfer, commuter, and Founder’s College students)
📍The location of your Orientation Group has been emailed to your Butler email.

Join your Orientation Group to meet your crew and your student leaders. This will be your team for Orientation and into your First-Year Seminar! 

7:30–9:00 PM Family Presentation and Dessert Reception
📍Schrott Center for the Arts

While students are in their required residence hall or commuter meetings, please come learn from University administrators how we support our Butler families while also meeting and connecting with other Butler families. Dress is casual.

8:30–10:30 PM Residence Hall Meetings for New Students (Required for residential students)
📍Residential College (ResCo), Irvington House, & Fairview House

8:30–10:00 PM Commuter Meeting for New Students (Required for commuter students)
📍Health Professions Building, Room 150

New commuter students will pick up their Orientation T-shirt and meet with campus representatives as well as returning commuter students.

10:00–11:30 PM Splash Saturday! 
📍Atherton Mall & Irwin Library

Join us for free food, play some rounds of Bin-glow under the tent for prizes, play in our splash pad and slip and slide, try to dunk a Student Orientation Guide (SOG), or head to the Irwin Library to sing karaoke. You can also play some board games and make friendship bracelets while the singers serenade you. Challenge a new friend to lawn games and inflatables on the Atherton Mall, arts and crafts, and much more!

Orientation Week: Campus locations and hours of operation

8:00 AM–4:30 PM Office of Parking Services open
📍4702 Sunset Avenue (Parking Garage, Suite 500)

8:00 AM–5:00 PM Starbucks open
📍Atherton Union

9:00 AM–2:00 PM A-Town Cafe open (brunch—first meal plan meal!)
📍Atherton Union

Brunch is available for students and guests. Students are able to utilize their meal plan via their student ID card and guests may use credit card (Visa and Mastercard accepted).

9:00 AM–5:00 PM Bookstore open
📍Atherton Union

Online order pick-up available on the landing between the bookstore and A-Town Market.

10:00 AM–5:00 PM A-Town Market open
📍Atherton Union

Visa and Mastercard accepted.

Noon–4:00 PM Health and Recreation Complex open
📍Health and Recreation Complex (HRC)

1:00–4:00 PM Student Accounts office open
📍Jordan Hall, Room 102

1:00–9:00 PM Esports Park open
📍Esports Park

4:30–8:30 PM A-Town Cafe open (dinner)
📍Atherton Union

Dinner is available by credit card (Visa and Mastercard accepted).