As a part of Orientation, all incoming students will be placed into one of the following small-group experiences based on their responses from their Orientation Registration. Students do not select their small-group experience program. In these small-group experiences led by upper-class students, you will get to participate in activities to get to know other incoming students outside of your residential college, engage with and learn about the values of the Princeton community, and have fun! Learn more about the types of small-group experiences below! 

CA leaders preppingCommunity Action

Community Action (CA) allows students to form connections with peers and members of the campus and local communities rooted in respect and humility, to participate in community-building activities focused on individual and collective well-being, and to explore civic engagement opportunities. Community Action (CA) welcomes students to one of the greatest traditions at Princeton… service.

CA partners with non-profit organizations, faith communities, local government agencies, schools and other community-based groups to introduce students to the broad landscape of service at Princeton and throughout the local region. Students participate in small groups led by student leaders focused on complex societal questions with topics ranging from educational access to climate change to food insecurity and more.

 

DDA students in programDialogue and Difference in Action 


Dialogue and Difference in Action (DDA) engages students in critical dialogues focused on identity, power, privilege, and difference. Students will examine these concepts within the contexts of the Princeton University community, and in society at large. Students are challenged and supported in these conversations by trained student facilitators and staff members in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Through self-reflection and dialogue, students develop competencies and perspectives crucial to the creation of an inclusive campus climate. By the end of DDA students develop a greater knowledge of themselves, structures, and systems that contribute to privilege, power, and difference.

athletes during their SGEFall Sport Student-Athlete Orientation

Fall Sport Student-Athlete Orientation. Being a member of one of Princeton’s 37 varsity teams provides a tremendous opportunity to develop a tight-knit bond with fellow first-year students and form meaningful relationships with upper-class students. Led by upper-class student-athletes, these small groups will be united by a common curriculum that asks students to think deeply about the values and expectations of their place in our community. First-year students will be able to foster friendships across teams and widen the concept of team dynamics during their first few weeks as a Princeton student-athlete. 

While members of the class who are part of teams who compete during the winter and spring seasons participate in the small-group activities led by the Outdoor Action and Community Action programs, we’re pleased to provide a similar experience through our Fall Sport Athlete Orientation.

This Orientation aims to provide incoming athletes with a focus on their identity on and off the field. Discussions often include conversations with Princeton alumni focusing on topics facing student-athletes and the world around us, alumni athlete panels, and conversations about what it means to be a Princeton athlete. This reflective engagement is also paired with some competitive team events throughout your Orientation experience.

OA activitiesOutdoor Action

The Outdoor Action Program (OA) provides a supportive environment to form connections with peers through exploration and recreation in the outdoors. OA activities include hiking, canoeing, kayaking, teambuilding games, mindfulness in nature, and other ways to connect with nature. No outdoor experience needed! Most students who participate in OA have never been hiking or camping before. You will be accompanied by trained student leaders who will teach you the skills you need to live and travel comfortably in an outdoor setting. Some trips will participate in outdoor activities adjacent to Princeton University, some will stay overnight at a campground facility, and others will sleep in tents in the backcountry.