First Days 2023 Schedule

This schedule is subject to change and additional content may be added so please check back regularly and get familiar with it. It is also mobile friendly! Please note sessions with an R, E, or W next to the location indicates if it is required, encouraged, or has a focus on Health and Wellness.

R-Required

E-Encouraged

W-Focused on Health and Wellness

Information about Religious Observance during First Days

Thursday, August 31 - Move-In Day

Time Event Location
8:00am-12:00pmStudents Arrive at Pre-scheduled check in times (EphHelpers available to assist 8-11am)Paresky Center
8:00am-1:00pmZilkha Center Reusable Water Bottle Pick Up - Complete the sustainability course in your inbox to be eligible!

WOOLF students who have completed the module: your bottle will be waiting for you at WOOLF check-in on September 1st. Please do not pick up during this distribution time.
Class of 1966 Environmental Center
10:00am-1:00pmCommunity Resource FairParesky Center (E)
11:00am-1:00pmFirst-Year Family LunchParesky Tent (E)
11:00am-12:00pmCampus Tour:
Take a guided walk on the beautiful Williams campus,
explore the landscape, academic and residential
spaces, and learn more about the place our students call home.
Meet at Weston Hall (E)
12:00pm-1:00pmExploring Sacred Space Campus Tour:
Come join students and chaplains for a tour of the
Thompson Memorial Chapel and the Jewish Religious
Center! See the places where the students hold
worship and prayer services, spaces for hanging out,
and celebrations. For more information contact the
Chaplains' Office at 413-597-2483.
Steps of Chapin Hall - left side (E)
12:00pm-1:00pmParents of Varsity Athletes MeetingBernhard Music Center/Brooks Rogers
1:00pm-1:30pmGOODBYE HUGS!
1:30pm-2:30pmWelcoming Families to Williams:
Maud Mandel, President, Prof. of History
Gretchen Long, Dean of the College, Frederick Rudolph
Class of 1965 Prof. of American Culture
Leticia Smith-Evans Haynes, Vice President for
Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Chapin Hall
1:30pm-2:15pmFirst Entry MeetingsYour Assigned Entry Space (students only) (R)
2:30pm-3:45pmVOICES Group A Frosh Quad - Community on CampusChapin Hall (R)
2:30pm-4:00pmPARTY SAFER Group B Mission'62 Center (R)
4:00pm-4:30pmVOICES Group A Frosh Quad - DebriefSage 1 - Physics 205
Sage 2 - Wach 015
Sage 3 - Chem 202
Sage 4 - Wach 113
Willy 1 - Wach 114
Willy 2 - Griffin 6
Willy 3 - Griffin 7
Willy 4 - Griffin 5
4:45pm-6:00pmVOICES Group B Mission - Community on CampusChapin Hall (R)
4:45pm-6:15pmPARTY SAFER Group A Frosh Quad'62 Center (R)
6:15pm-6:45pmVOICES Group B Mission - DebriefAP1 - Griffin 5
AP2 - Physics 203
AP3 - Physics 205
AP4 - Wach 015
MD1 - Griffin 7
MD2 - Wach 114
MD3 - Chem 202
MD4 - Wach 113
6:00pm-8:00pmDining Hall Debut! Dinner with your entry mates in the dining hall.Various Dining Halls
8:00pm-11:00pmFirst Night Fest!
Featuring ice cream from Sisters of Anarchy
ice cream from Vermont, Doggies from the
local community, "Dunk the Dean" Dunk Tank,
Bouncy slide, Skee Ball, Soccer Darts,
Lawn Games, and meet Ephelia our mascot!
Paresky & Sawyer Quad (E) (W)

Friday, September 1

Time Event Location
7:30am-9:00amBreakfastDining Halls
9:30am-10:30amFirst Class Meeting
Dean Walsh, Dean for First Year Students
Maud Mandel, President, Prof. of History
Gretchen Long, Dean of the College, Frederick Rudolph
Class of 1965 Prof. of American Culture
Leticia Smith-Evans Haynes, Vice President for
Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
JAAB - Jahnavi Kirtane ’24 & Daniela Sanchez ‘24
FAST - Serah Park '26
MinCo - Palvasha Khan '25
Chapin Hall (R)
10:30am-11:30amClass PhotographSawyer Lawn (R)
11:30am-1:00pmPicnic on the President's House Lawn
Grab a spot on a picnic blanket for lunch
on Maud's lawn! Music, selfie photo booth,
and presidential engagement!
President's House (E)
1:00pm-2:00pmSpeak About It Group A Frosh Quad'62 Center (R)(W)
2:30pm-3:30pmSpeak About It Group B Mission'62 Center (R)(W)
3:45pm-4:30pmDeans Office/Housing OfficeChapin (R)
4:30pmEphVenture Program Check InsWOOLF: Lansing Chapman Hockey Rink
ETA, WAI?, Root, Leading Minds: Paresky Porch
5:00pm-8:00pmDinnerParesky Tent

Saturday, Sept 2-Monday, Sept 4 - EphVentures

Monday, September 4

Time Event Location
7:30am-10:30amBreakfastDining Halls
10:00am-1:00pmFree time-relax, explore, chill post EphVAll around
11:30am-2:00pmLunchDining Halls
12:00pm-1:00pmPop-up Yoga
Bring your own mat if you have one
Some mats will be available for use
Attendance capped at 50
Goodrich 207
Sign up here
1:00pm-2:30pmPost EphVenture JA/Entry ReunionYour Entry Space (E)
2:30pm-3:15pmFraming Community:
Presented by the Davis Center
Who are you? Where are you from? Have you examined
how your privileges can impact others? How can you
find a sense of inclusion and belonging at Williams?
Please join the Davis Center to think through these
questions together. Framing Community will discuss our
identities in relationship to race, gender, sexuality,
and other social group identities.
Chapin Hall (R)
3:30pm-5:30pmMusic, Ballet, Japanese and Chinese Placement Exams.
NOTE: These exams take place during various times within
the 3:30pm-5:30pm window. Check the link to verify
exact exam times and locations.
Placement Information
5:00pm-8:00pmDinner - All Campus Picnic
Featuring live performances by Williams students
Joshua Kombet '25 will open with his original
hip hop talent at 5:15pm followed by headliner
Diego Mongue '25 Band at 5:40pm.
Paresky Tent
7:00pm-9:00pmSexpo - Whether you had great sex ed in high school
or no sex ed in high school, there's always more
to discuss and think about. Join the Sexpo
peer educators for conversations about
healthy relationships, identity, pleasure,
sexual health, and more! Snacks, fun, and prizes!
Shapiro 129 (E)(W)
7:00pm-9:00pmFaith & Environment Sorbet Social
Join the Chaplains’ Office and the Zilkha Center for,
Environmental Initiatives for a sorbet social! We’ll break
up into small groups to talk about how faith can
inform and sustain environmental action.
Whether you associate with a particular religion,
consider yourself spiritual but not religious, or don’t
ascribe to any form of spirituality, we’re eager to
have you there and hear your thoughts! Attendance
capped at 35.
Class of 1966 Environmental Center (E)
Sign up here

Tuesday, September 5

Time Event Location
7:30am-10:30amBreakfastDining Halls
10:30am-11:00amGetting to know CSSChapin (R)
11:00am-12:00pmMind, Body, and Spirit
Wellness & Self Care
Integrative Wellbeing Services & Chaplains' Office
Chapin (R)(W)
12:00pm-2:00pmLunchDining Halls
1:00pm-3:00pmIWS Open House
Come visit the Integrative Wellness Services location.
We welcome all students to come over, meet some
team members, learn about our resources and services,
and pick up some sweet swag!
Thompson Health Center -
105 The Knolls (E)(W)
1:00pm-3:00pmChaplains' Office Open HouseParesky 205 (E)(W)
1:00pm-3:00pmBiology PlacementTBL 112
1:00pm-3:00pmMusic Placement 2Bernhard 30
3:00pm-3:45pmSpeak About it Group A - Frosh Quad DEBRIEFSage 1 - Schow 030B
Sage 2 - Wachenheim 015
Sage 3 - Wachenheim 017
Sage 4 - Schapiro 129
Willy 1 - Wachenheim 113
Willy 2 - Chem 202
Willy 3 - Wachenheim 114
Willy 4 - Goodrich 207
4:00pm-4:45pmSpeak About it Group B - Mission DEBRIEFAP1/MD1 - Wachenheim 113
AP2 - Wachenheim 017
AP3 - Wachenheim 015
AP4 - Schapiro 129
MD2 - Wachenheim 114
MD3 - Goodrich 207
MD4 - Chem 202
5:00pm-8:00pmDinnerDining Halls
6:00pm-8:00pmCome join the Zilkha Center for Environmental
Initiatives and Sustainable Living Community to
learn about their programs and make fresh apple
cider! This event will be held outside on the Envi Center
patio if clear; moved inside if raining.
Capped at 30.
Class of 1966 Environmental Center (E)
Sign up here
7:00pm-8:30pmAdmissions and Student Financial Services Event
Musical Bingo, Sundae Bar, and Williams Swag!
Dive into an ice cream sundae bar (scooped by
the Admission and SFS team who can’t wait to
meet you), grab your (free) raffle ticket, and head
into Musical Bingo hosted by DJ Bizz for a chance
to win PRIZES! Door prizes for the first 100 people,
Musical Bingo prizes, and raffle prizes!
SO MUCH WILLIAMS SWAG! Musical Bingo
begins promptly at 7:15pm, and doors open
at 6:55pm. Come early for the best chance to win!
Weston Hall, First Floor (E)
7:00pm-9:00pmBob Ross Paint Night with the Area Coordinators!
The Area Coordinators invite you to paint some fluffy
clouds, almighty mountains, and happy little trees
for a Bob Ross paint-a-long event. We will be following
along with a Bob Ross video to create a wonderful
Mountain Lake scene that you can use to decorate your
entry common room. Groups will consist of 4-5 people.
There is limited space available, so make sure you sign up early!
We will be raffling off the Bob Ross Joy of Painting Kit
at the end of the event.
Dodd House (E)
Sign up here
7:00pm-10:00pmMini Golf Library Night!
Test out your mini golf skills (no actual skills required)
while familiarizing yourself with the spaces and
other resources available to you in the Libraries.
Our 9 hole course will take you throughout Sawyer
library, and takes under 90 minutes to play.
Sign up to reserve a time slot
- we only have space for 13 groups of up to 5
players. You can register as a group or join a
team with available space.
Sawyer Library (E)
Register here!

Wednesday, September 6

Time Event Location
7:30am-10:30amBreakfastDining Halls
10:00am-11:00amLooking Ahead to the Academic Life:
Gretchen Long, Dean of the College
Frederick Rudolph Class of 1965 Prof. of American Culture
G.L. Wallace, Office of Accessible Education
Hale Polebaum-Freeman, Reference and First-Year Outreach Librarian
Julia Munemo, Director of the Writing Center
Nick Hanford, Director of the Quantitative Skills Program
- Peer Academic Support
Harper Treschuk '26, Academic Honor Committee
Chapin (R)
11:00am-12:30pmAcademic Expo!Sawyer and Schow Libraries (R)
11:30am-2:00pmLunchDining Halls
12:00pm-3:00pmZilkha Center Reusable Water Bottle Pick Up -
Complete the sustainability course in your inbox to be eligible!

WOOLF students who have completed the module: your bottle will be waiting for you at WOOLF check-in on September 1st. Please do not pick up during this distribution time.
Class of 1966 Environmental Center
1:00pm-2:00pmTransfer and Non-traditional Student Sessions
(refer to Pre-O Schedule)
1:30pm-4:00pmAcademic AdvisingVarious locations
2:00pm-3:15pmAcademic Support Services -
Peer Tutoring, First Year Outreach Librarian, Office of Accessible
Education, Writing Center, Quantitative Skills Program,
Center for Career Exploration, Deans' Office and more!
Paresky Tent (Required) Note: If you are planning to meet with your academic advisor during this time window, plan to visit this event before or after your advising appointment).
3:30pm-4:00pmPractice and P. Sets: Preparing for Your First College Exams'62 Center (Required UNLESS you have an appointment scheduled between 3:30-4pm with your academic advisor)
4:00pm-5:00pmWriting Your First College Paper'62 Center (R)
5:00pm-8:00pmDinnerDining Halls
8:00pm-10:00pmJamboreeChapin

Thursday, September 7 -Classes Begin!

Time Event Location
8:30pm-10:30pmPurple Key FairParesky