Family Freshman Orientation - Schedule
Session 1 - June 13
Session 2 - June 19
Session 3 - June 22
Session 4 - August 16
Family Transfer Orientation - August 7 - Schedule
The Family Orientation program offers parents and family members the opportunity to learn about various campus services, policies and procedures, and also assists them in understanding the challenges their students may face. The goal of Family Orientation is to provide you with the information to help support your student as they transition into the Winthrop community.
The schedule for Family Orientation can be found with the corresponding Freshmen Orientation, Transfer Orientation, or Spring Orientation session schedules. To register to attend family orientation with your student, please have your student register up to two family members in their Admissions Portal at the time they register for their orientation session. If your student has already registered for their orientation and they need to add a family member, please call our office 803/323-2387, or e-mail orientation@winthrop.edu Family members registered for orientation will have their students accounts billed $25 for each family member up to two. The billing will occur after your student attends orientation and will include charges for no shows who were registered to attend family orientation. If you are traveling from out of town to attend orientation, families are encouraged to secure off campus overnight accommodations while their student participates in the two-day freshman orientation program.
"While I was at Orientation, my mom was at a Family Orientation where they explained what I was going to experience here at Winthrop, making my mom feel much more secure."
History Education major from Dillon, SC
"During Orientation, Winthrop made sure to include all of the parents and make sure they understand the transition from high school to college, as well as what the students need to succeed and graduate from Winthrop."
Biology major from Aiken, SC
Freshman Family Orientation is held concurrently during the first day of Freshman Orientation sessions (in-person). Students and families will arrive at Orientation together and then separate, branching off to their respective Orientations. Freshman Family Orientation will begin around 8:00 a.m. and end around 5:00 p.m.
In the student Orientation registration process, your student will have the option to register up to two family members. The Freshman Family Orientation fee of $25 will be billed to the students account up to a week after their orientation session. Family Orientation fees are non-refundable.
If you are in the area while your student is busy with Orientation (like on Day 2 when there are no Family Orientation sessions), we encourage you to explore Rock Hill and the surrounding areas!
Virtual resources will be shared with the families of transfer students who are registered for session B & C throughout the summer. Students registered for Session D, will have the opportunity to attend in-person and we will offer a Family Orientation Session on August 7. The Family Orientation fee of $25 will be billed to the students account up to a week after their orientation session. Family Orientation fees are non-refundable.
We are hosting the Garnet & Gold Letter Program where families are given the opportunity to send a letter of advice, encouragement, support, etc. to their student halfway through their first semester at Winthrop. If you are interested in participating in this program, please e-mail FamilyProgramsGA@winthrop.edu for more information.
To request accessibility accommodations for Orientation, please have your student provide information about your needs through the Orientation Registration process, and we will work with you through your request. Please note that both Orientation and Family Orientation do involve a good bit of walking around campus (if the sessions are in-person, on campus). Winthrop University does not have wheelchairs, scooters, or other equipment available for rent, so please plan to bring or rent your own equipment for your visit, sufficient for your needs.
If you have questions about New Student Orientation, please check out our Freshman Orientation, Transfer Orientation, or Spring Orientation webpages.
We also encourage you to explore Rock Hill and the surrounding area. This is a great way to learn more about the city your student will live in, and you may find opportunities to spend time with your student.
Contact the Office of New Student and Family Programs via e-mail at Orientation@winthrop.edu.
