Welcome Week

Welcome Week 2024

Friday, August 23 through Monday, August 26, 2024

We are thrilled that you have chosen Messiah University and look forward to your arrival for our Fall Semester, 2024! We are in the process of preparing our orientation programs and schedules. The full Welcome Week schedule will be available starting July 1, 2024. In the meantime, please reference the general information here regarding our typical orientation events.

All Student Arrival Day will be held on Friday, August 23, 2024. All incoming new and transfer students (both residential and commuting) should plan to check-in on campus by this day. Some students may be invited to arrive earlier if they participate in certain pre-orientation programs, such as University Athletics, SOAR Peer-Mentorship, or Multicultural Move-In.

All events taking place on Friday, Aug. 23 will be open to both new students and their families/guests. The concluding event for the day will be our Candlelight Service of Worship, which will start at 7pm and end by 8:30pm. At the conclusion of that event, parents, families, and other supporters will be asked to say goodbye to their students and depart from campus. New students will be introduced to their orientation groups at this time.

If you have any pressing questions regarding Messiah University New Student Orientation, please email Jake Edmunds, Director of First Year Experience, at jedmunds@messiah.edu.

Welcome Week Theme

We are excited to be welcoming you to our community at Messiah University! Our theme for Welcome Week at Messiah University is "Take Flight." Your educational journey is a series of steps toward independence. Much of your life has prepared you for college, just as college will prepare you for the chapter beyond graduation. While at Messiah, we how you embrace your growing independence, the rigor of your studies, the richness of your community, and your ever-deepening faith. We hope that Messiah University is a place where you can Take Flight as you thrive in there here and now while preparing for your future.

Student Services Available

These are highlights of services offered by Messiah University that students will want to become familiar with early.

Campus Mailbox

Your address at Messiah University will be:

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Messiah Log-in Username]*
1 University Avenue
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

*Your log-in username is your first and last lnitial + 4-Digit Number (everything that precedes the @ in your email address)

Whenever you receive mail and packages, our automated Slingshot Logistics system will send you an email notification from donotreply@slingshotedu.com. To pick up your mail and packages, visit the Campus Store during their operating hours posted on the Campus Store Website. You can also find a helpful Mail FAQ there as well. Please remember to bring your student ID to pick up your mail.

Computer Access

Messiah University offers both in-room and/or public network jacks. There is a wired-network connection in each room in the residence halls and public jacks are available in the base of the benches located in the hallways of Boyer Hall, Larsen Student Union, and in Falcon Services. For information such as minimum system requirements and connecting to the Messiah network, visit Information Technology Services (ITS).

Campus Wireless Network

Wireless internet access is available in all campus buildings and select outdoor locations. When connecting your computer or smart phone, you will want to choose to connect to the Messiah Secure wireless network. On most devices, you will then simply need to enter your Messiah username and password and accept the security certificate when prompted. Chromebooks and Android devices require additional settings to be configured to connect.

Smart TVs and Gaming systems require registration and connect to a different network on campus. For detailed instructions to connect those devices, please visit the ITS blog.

Bicycle Registration

All students, faculty, and staff who have a bicycle on campus must register it upon bringing it to campus. Registration of bicycles at the Dispatch window in the Eisenhower Campus Center or register online. There is no fee for registering a bicycle. You will receive a Messiah University Bicycle Identification Sticker that is to be placed on your bicycle. Unlike vehicles, bicycle registration only needs to happen once. For more information, visit the Department of Safety website.

Commuter Students

Are You a New Commuter Student?

As a new student who is commuting to Messiah, you will be involved heavily in the Welcome Week activities. Special events are held throughout that week specifically created to help you transition to your life as a student. These events include a Living in Community policy overview session and a social in the Frey Commuter Lounge.

Please note that certain events that pertain to residence halls, such as all-hall meetings, are not required for commuter students.

If you have any questions about commuter student services, please contact Jake Edmunds.

Click here to go to the Commuter Services page and see what sessions you should attend.

New International (F-1 visa, missionary, and/or third culture) Students

Welcome international students and families! The Office of International Student Programs is working to make the 2024 Fall Orientation Week an unforgettable one.

*Just as a clarification, you are considered an international student at Messiah if you are on an F-1 visa, if you are a missionary kid, or if you have spent significant time living abroad and are now returning to the United States*

To help with your travel plans, International Student Orientation begins on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Please check this site for more details. We are working on the 2024 schedule now and will keep you updated through the spring and summer months.