Welcome!

The Office of Student Life, Campus Ambassadors and the entire SLU-Madrid community are excited to welcome you this spring with orientation events! Orientation is not required, however, it is strongly encouraged. You never know where you might make a lifelong friend. Check your email for further information about event schedules and how to participate.

• Thursday, Jan. 8: Orientation Day! Save this day for us. We will host all first-year and transfer students for welcome sessions where you can learn more about life at SLU-Madrid, what services are available to you, and you will learn more about your academic life from a professor.
  
  Starting in mid-October, we will send you a guide that includes everything you need to know about orientation timing, how to RSVP, and a bunch of frequently asked questions. 
• Saturday, Jan. 10: Optional day trip to Toledo. 
• Monday, Jan. 12: First day of classes.
• Wednesday, Jan. 14: Activities Fair. Meet leaders of SLU-Madrid's 40+ student clubs to see how you might get involved. You can also meet community organizers from different nonprofit groups that offer volunteering opportunities. 
• Saturday, Jan. 17: Optional day trip to Segovia. Sunday, Jan. 18: Optional day trip to Salamanca. 
• Events to be scheduled:
  • Student Life will host walking tours, a tapas tour and more. Watch for more information via email and Raftr on how to sign up.
  • The U.S. Embassy visits SLU-Madrid during the first few weeks of the semester to do a safety briefing that is required for all students who are U.S. citizens. 
  • Student Life will also host at least one residency card (TIE) workshop where students can learn about the process of getting their first card. 

Host family move-in: Starting Thursday, Jan. 8, students living with host families can move in. Contact housing-madrid@slu.edu if you have any concerns about timing. If you arrive after move-in day, do not stress. Just be sure to communicate with the housing coordinator and your host family so they know when to expect you.

Raftr: The Admissions team and Student Life will inform you through email and Raftr about things you need to know before starting the semester. Join the Raftr community if you haven't already. Contact admissions-madrid@slu.edu for your code.

We are so excited to welcome you to your study abroad experience at SLU-Madrid! To make your time abroad a little easier, we host a series of welcome events. Check your email for further information about event schedules and how to participate.

• Thursday, Jan. 8: Host family move in. Students who are living with host families can move in! Please contact housing-madrid@slu.edu if you have any concerns about timing. If you arrive after move-in day, do not stress. Just be sure you communicate with the housing coordinator and your host family so they know when to expect you.
• Friday, Jan. 9: Orientation day! Save this day for us. We will host welcome sessions where you can learn about life at SLU-Madrid, what services are here for you, and academic expectations while you're abroad from one of our professors.
  
  There are quite a lot of you joining us this spring, so we have divided orientation into two sections: 
  
  • Students with the last names starting with A-L:
    • Check in at San Ignacio Hall from 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. — this is where you'll get your student ID and Sanitas insurance card
    • Welcome sessions from 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
    • Campus tour from 12:30-1 p.m.
  • Students with the last names starting with M-Z:
    • Check in at San Ignacio Hall from 2:30 - 3:15 p.m. — this is where you'll get your student ID and Sanitas insurance card
    • Welcome sessions from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
    • Campus tour from 5:30-6 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 10: Optional day trip to Toledo. We'll send more information about how to sign up for this trip and other day trips via email so be on the lookout for that.
• Monday, Jan. 12: First day of classes.
• Wednesday, Jan. 14: Activities Fair. Meet leaders of SLU-Madrid's 40+ student clubs to see how to get involved. You can also meet community organizers from different nonprofit groups that provide volunteer opportunities.
• Saturday, Jan. 17: Optional day trip to Segovia. 
• Sunday, Jan. 18: Optional day trip to Salamanca.
• Events to be scheduled:
  • Student Life will host walking tours, a tapas tour and more. Watch for more information via email and Raftr on how to sign up.
  • The U.S. Embassy visits SLU-Madrid during the first few weeks of the semester to do a safety briefing that is required for all students who are U.S. citizens. 

We love hosting families who are eager to learn more about their student's life at SLU-Madrid.

Please encourage your student to share orientation emails with you so you are updated on scheduling as we get closer to the date. We plan to host a special orientation for parents and families on Thursday, Jan. 8.

• 3-4 p.m.: Orientation with the Office of Student Life. You will get to learn what your students are hearing about their new academic and social life in Madrid! 
• 4-5 p.m.: A campus tour with the admissions team.

While parent and family orientation is focused on what loved ones of our permanent SLU-Madrid students need to know, our study abroad families are still welcome to join us! We'll do our best to delineate the information that won't apply to students who are studying abroad with us for a short period, versus staying with us for their full degree.

Raftr: The Admissions team and Student Life will inform your students about things they need to know before starting the semester through email and Raftr for families of permanent SLU-Madrid students. Email admissions-madrid@slu.edu to connect with the Raftr community!