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Welcome to the Class of 2030 at W&L! As the First-Year Experience (FYE) team, we are here to help you from now until your sophomore year. Our office includes:

• Jason Rodocker - Senior Associate Dean of Students and Dean for First-Year Experience 
• Nathan Graves - Assistant Dean of First-Year Experience 
• Colleen Drake - Student Affairs Operations and First Year Coordinator 

We will guide you through the process of joining our community and answer any questions you might have regarding academic, co-curricular, or other matters. 

What’s Next?

Please refer to the checklist in your applicant portal to make sure you complete all steps required by the Office of Admissions to finalize your eligibility to enroll. 

Onboarding will begin in early April, when you will receive a detailed email with instructions and a mailing with a summer timeline. The mailing and follow-up communications will answer many questions and guide you through your transition. 

For now, you should read carefully through the FYE website. Please note that the site is focused primarily on the current first-year class; information will be added over the spring and summer specific to your Class of 2030 first-year experience. 

Interact with Future Classmates and Current Students 

• GroupMe:
• WhatsApp:
• Instagram:
• Class of 2030 Instagram:
• Use the hashtag #wlu30 

Looking Ahead

Important dates to mark on your calendar include: 

• August 24, 2026 (Monday): First-Year Move-In 
  • You will be assigned a 30-minute arrival time between 8-11:30 am. 
• August 24 - September 2, 2026: First-Year Orientation 
  • Parent Orientation: August 24 from 3-4:30 pm (attendance is optional) 
  • Leading Edge: August 24-29 
• October 2-4, 2026 (Friday-Sunday): Parents and Family Weekend
  • We encourage you to make reservations as soon as possible as fills up quickly.

Some common points of interest include: 

• Housing is determined based on the Housing Match form you will complete in April during New Student Onboarding. 
• Dining Services requires all first-years to have the . 
• for Fall Term classes will be explained this summer, and you will meet with your initial faculty adviser during orientation. 
• Transportation options include university shuttles to and from nearby airports. 
• The Student Dashboard is a good site to bookmark, check periodically now, and use regularly next year.

A Final and Important Note 

We encourage you to share this information with your parents and family and to take ownership of your educational experience. You should consult your parents and family regularly, but we should hear questions directly from you, the student. Please let us know if you, or your parents, have questions at any time. If you are ever in doubt about who to contact or how to proceed, please ask us. Welcome to W&L! 

Jason Rodocker
Senior Associate Dean of Students
Dean for First-Year Experience
540-458-8753
jrodocker@wlu.edu

Nathan Graves
Assistant Dean of First-Year Experience
540-458-4041
ngraves@wlu.edu 

Colleen Drake
Student Affairs Operations and First Year Coordinator
540-458-8037
cdrake@wlu.edu