Move-In Day
TBA
First-year students will arrive early to campus over one week before the fall semester begins. You'll check in at a Saddle Up station, be assigned to your Poke Pack group and receive all the details (and SWAG!) for the upcoming week.
Weekend Community Building
August 16 - 17, 2025
Learn your campus and your classmates over the weekend as you take a tour and get to know your peer mentor, called a Poke Pack Leader, for the week of Saddle Up. You will also get to meet other students from your college who you'll likely have classes with throughout your time at UW!
Saddle Up - Academic Prep
August 18 - 22, 2025
Students will partake in a week of skill-building, study sessions, and a course that will earn one college credit toward their degree. These essential touchpoints are designed to help pave the way for a successful journey at UW. Your individualized schedule will be assigned to you at check-in.
Since Saddle Up is required for incoming first-year, full-time students, you will
earn one (1) college credit hour toward your degree after successfully completing
the Saddle Up program.
Saddle Up will allow our first-year students to arrive to campus ahead of the fall
semester. That's right! You'll get to settle into the residence halls over one week
in advance of the fall semester. Students will arrive to check in* and move into the
halls. Your housing assignments will be finalized at the end of July, so if you haven't
started your housing contract yet for fall, now is the time!
**First-year students who have received an exemption from living in the UW residence
halls will still be required to check in on campus on move-in day and participate
during the full week of Saddle Up. Housing exemption notifications are sent to students
weekly.
You and a small group of classmates will be assigned to a Poke Pack led by one of
our student peer mentors called Poke Pack Leaders. Selected across various degree
programs and colleges, these 150 student peer mentors will guide students throughout
the week of Saddle Up.