Before the first day of classes, you’ll round out your Orientation and Transition process by participating in Panther Transition Experience on Monday, Aug. 25 if you commute to campus or the day after you move-in to University Housing (Aug. 27, 28, or 29). You’ll participate in small group workshops, visit and learn about campus resources, and experience UWM traditions.
The timing of your schedule will be determined by the group you are with. You can expect to participate in the following activities between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Check-In
Spaights Plaza 8 a.m.
Check your UWM email and/or text messages for your personalized QR code to have scanned upon your arrival. This code is specific to each student. There will be a support table available for students who are having difficulty locating their QR code. Students will receive a UWM string bag to keep and utilize to carry any materials collected throughout the day.
Welcome
Various Locations 15 minutes
Orientation and Transition Leaders will lead a review of the schedule, community-building activities, Q&A, and setting expectations with the group.
Wellness and Safety Session
Union Ballroom or Wisconsin Room 1 hour
Student Health and Wellness staff with the UWM Police Department will facilitate an interactive session on the important topics of overdose, mental health and sexual and relationship violence.
Lunch
Various Locations 1 hour between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
On Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, students should plan to utilize their residential dining meal plan or other means to cover the cost of their own lunch. On Monday, all students will eat lunch in the Union, and on Wednesday or Thursday, students will be assigned to Sandburg or the Union to each lunch with their assigned group. Exact timing of lunch is dependent upon the assigned group’s schedule. See menus and dietary accommodation information.
Workshops
Various Locations 20 – 30 minutes each
Four sessions developed with the Student Success Center and Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning will be facilitated by Orientation and Transition Leaders in classrooms and computer labs across campus.
Time management
Understanding a Syllabus & Academic Support
Educational Technology
First-Day of School Essentials
Campus Resource Exploration
Various Locations 3 – 5 minutes at each stop
In addition to the workshops and sessions, students will visit the following support services:
Accessibility Resource Center
Center for International Education
Student Experience & Talent
Golda Meir Library
Centers for Advocacy and Student Engagement
Off-Campus Resource Center
Student Involvement
Dean of Students
Food Pantry
Gasthaus and Rec Center
Klotsche Center
Student Health & Wellness Center
Nalox-Zone Location
UWM Police Department
Student Financial Service Center
Transportation Services
Student Success Center
Office of Undergraduate Research
Multicultural Student Centers
UW Credit Union
UWM Fountain – Coin Toss
Closing Session
Various Locations 10 minutes
Orientation and Transition Leaders will take final attendance, address questions, and share important reminders with students before completing the program.
Class Photo, Lunch, and Academic Welcomes
The Class Photo tradition will take place on Friday, Aug. 29 at Spaights Plaza. Students may begin arriving at 11:30 a.m. to receive their limited-edition gold class t-shirt as they enter Spaights Plaza from the North on either side of the Library. Access to Spaights Plaza from Bolton, Arts, and the Student Union will not be available. In addition to a DJ ready to get everyone hyped up, Chancellor Gibson will welcome the class at 11:45 a.m. from the 2 level outdoor balcony of the Student Union in advance of the photo being taken promptly at noon.
Following the photo, students will be dismissed to pick up their lunch provided by Campus Dining underneath the Library Overhang. Dietary accommodations for gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian will be available.
Students are encouraged to take their lunch to their Academic Welcome locations across campus. Staff will be distributed across campus to support way-finding until 1:15 p.m. At Academic Welcomes, students will engage with their School or College leaders, faculty and staff about important information on your area of study.
*Transfer students in the College of Engineering & Applied Science and Lubar College of Business attend academic welcomes from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. before the class photo.
Additional Information
Academic Welcome Locations
Make sure to bring a fully charged mobile device with you to your academic welcome. Check out the campus map.
Northwest Quadrant Building D | Check-in at 3rd floor lounge
College of Engineering & Applied Science*
Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Building | Check-in on 1st floor First-Year Students: 1 – 2 p.m. | Transfer Students: 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
College of Health Professions & Sciences
Cunningham G40
College of Letters & Science
Bolton Hall | 1st floor
College of Public Health
Enderis Hall 1st floor
First Year Bridge
Chemistry Building 1st floor
Lubar College of Business*
Transfer Students: Lubar Hall room S151 at 10:30am First-Year Students: Pangaea Mall (between Bolton, Lubar, and the Student Union) at 1pm
Pathway Advising
Lapham 162
Peck School of the Arts
ACL120
School of Architecture & Urban Planning
AUP Marcus Commons, 1st floor south side
School of Freshwater Sciences
Northwest Quadrant Building D room 1871
Accessibility Accommodations
An alternative in-person program is available for students needing mobility accommodations, with reduced campus travel. Students are encouraged to proactively reach out to orientation@uwm.edu if needing accommodations at least one week in advance of their assigned program date.
Attendance, T-Shirt Pick-up, Rescheduling, and Make-Up Availability
Panther Transition Experience is required for all new first-year students under 21, and strongly encouraged for new first-year students aged 21+ and transfer students.
Commuter students and all transfer students should RSVP in their admissions portal.
Students who have a conflict with their assigned date should contact orientation@uwm.edu to reschedule to an alternative date or to request approval to complete the online make-up program in Canvas.
Attendance will be taken at various points of the program and at Academic Welcomes.
Students who no show will automatically be added to the make-up program or may request to attend an alternative date.
On Friday, Aug. 29, all students are required to attend the Class Photo and Academic Welcome hosted by their School/College/Unit. Students are encouraged to notify their academic advisor if they are unable to attend their Academic Welcome.
Students who are unable to attend on Friday may pick up their class t-shirt at the Student Success Center front desk located in the Library East Wing, E154. T-shirts will not be available at the Bolton Hall location. Please note, sizes and quantities are limited and students must present their PantherCard to receive their shirt.
Pick-up times are 10am-4pm on the following dates:
Tuesday, September 2
Wednesday, September 3
Thursday, September 4
Be Prepared and What to Bring
Students who live in RiverView or Cambridge are strongly encouraged to review the Prowl Line information and download the Passio GO app which provides real time updates regarding the location and expected arrival times of the Prowl Line shuttle.
All programs will happen rain or shine! Plan to review the weather and dress accordingly. Consider applying sunscreen and bringing a reusable water bottle.
Locations are both inside and outside for all programs. Plan to be traveling around campus and walking or standing if you are able.
Make sure your mobile device is fully charged and consider bringing a portable charger if you have one. Many activities will incorporate the use of technology.
Commuters and Parking
All new commuter students attend on Monday, Aug. 25. Parking validation will be facilitated by the Off-Campus Resource Center (OCRC) and available for those that park in the Klotsche Pavillion or NWQ parking structures. Students will visit the OCRC during the resource exploration or at the Commuter Student Social.
Lunch is at students’ expense in the Union (11am and 2pm). The Commuter Student Social from 3 – 4:30 p.m. will feature free popsicles from a local vendor.
International Students
You are expected to attend UWM’s two-day in-person F-1/J-1 Student Orientation + Panther Transition Experience.
Day 1: Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025
This session will focus on topics unique to F-1/J-1 international students.
Time:
Check-in: 10 – 10:30 a.m.
Orientation programming: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Library 4th Floor Conference Center
Day 2: Friday, Aug. 29, 2025
This session is for all new undergraduate students. Topics covered will include course enrollment, UWM technology tools, key campus resources and policies, UWM traditions, and more.
Select “Register for the fall 2025 Panther Transition Experience for International Students” and complete the registration form.
Honors Convocation
Honors Convocation, hosted by the Honors College, is on Thursday, Aug. 28 from 9 – 11am in the Lubar Entrepreneurship & Welcome Center. Move-in for Honors College students living in University Housing has been coordinated to ensure attendance at all required programming without conflicts.
Shuttles from South Campus – RiverView and Cambridge
The Prowl Line will be running and ready to support residents of RiverView and Cambridge with getting to main campus for Panther Transition Experience.
Additional South Campus shuttles are provided for RiverView and Cambridge residents and will be staffed at building pick-up locations and at drop-off on Maryland Ave. near Lubar Hall to support way-finding.
Students assigned to Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday Panther Transition Experience dates should plan to board the shuttle to main campus at 7:30 a.m. Shuttles will be available to transport students back to RiverView and Cambridge from 3 – 4 p.m.
On Friday, Aug. 29, students who are shuttling to campus for the class photo should board a shuttle to campus between 10:30 – 11 a.m. to ensure arrival prior to the photo being taken. Students who are late should still shuttle to main campus to attend the required Academic Welcome sessions.
Shuttles returning to south campus will pick up near Lubar Hall on Maryland Ave. beginning at 1:45 p.m. until 5 p.m.
University Housing Floor Meetings
Community meetings for University Housing Residents of all buildings will be on Friday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. in the lounge of your residence hall floor. Community Meeting attendance is mandatory. See your Resident Assistant with questions.
