SIA Fall 2022 Orientation

Date & Time: August 19, 2022 | 10:00 PM – April 26, 2024 | 10:44 AM

Location: Lewis Katz Building

We are excited to welcome you to the Penn State School of International Affairs! Orientation for the SIA Class of 2024 will take place on Friday, August 19th at the Lewis Katz Building. In addition, we will host a Welcome Picnic on Tuesday, August 23rd and a mandatory workshop day on Friday, August 26th (see below for a full schedule of orientation events and activities).

The MIA degree is a cohort-based program in which you participate in core classes and simulations with your peers. It is important for all incoming students to attend the SIA New Student Orientation. This is an opportunity to not only to learn about relevant academic, career, and programmatic information that will aid in your student success at SIA, but also to give you a chance to begin fostering team-building skills and rapport with your fellow classmates. As such, attendance is required for all outlined agenda items. If you have any concerns about your ability to attend any of these required orientation activities, please contact SIA Admissions at admissions@sia.psu.edu.

SIA ORIENTATION AGENDA — Friday, August 19
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.

Check-in and Professional Headshot Photo
Please arrive during your designated time slot below based on the first letter of your surname:

A-C — 8:00-8:10 a.m.
D-G — 8:10-8:20 a.m.
H-O — 8:20-8:30 a.m.
P-S — 8:30-8:40 a.m.
T-Z — 8:40-8:50 a.m.

Finish breakfast and make your way to Katz Auditorium — 8:50 - 9:00 a.m.

Katz Atrium
9:00 - 9:15 a.m. Welcome Message
Retired Vice Adm. James Houck, Interim Dean
Katz Auditorium
9:15 - 9:25 a.m. Convocation
Dr. Elizabeth Ransom, Interim Director
Katz Auditorium
9:25 - 9:30 a.m. Information Technology
Matt Gardner, Assistant Dean for Digital Learning and Information Technology
Katz Auditorium
9:30 - 9:40 a.m. Financial Information
Kim Wyatt, Financial Officer
Susan Bogart, Director of Financial Aid
Katz Auditorium
9:40 - 9:50 a.m. Overview of Academic & Student Information
Nate Schierman, Academic Adviser
Anne Demo, Student Services Associate
Katz Auditorium
9:50 - 9:55 a.m. Capstone Planning, Internships, Employment, & Professional Development
Grant Littke, Director of Career Services
Katz Auditorium
9:55 - 10:00 a.m. Break Katz Auditorium
10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Class Photo Katz Lawn
10:30 - 12:00 p.m.

Experiential Activities
(Please note, these activities will be out on the Katz lawn weather permitting. Please ensure you have suitable footwear for such activities).

Katz Atrium
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Katz Atrium
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. University Resource Fair & Katz Building Tours
Katz Building Grounds

SIA WELCOME PICNIC — Tuesday, August 23
12:45 - 1:00 p.m. Meet Student Ambassadors in Katz Atrium & Walk to Sunset Park Katz Atrium
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. SIA Welcome Picnic Sunset Park
3:00 - 3:15 p.m. Walk back to Katz with Student Ambassadors Sunset Park/Katz Building

SIA ORIENTATION MANDATORY WORKSHOP DAY — Friday, August 26
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Group Academic Advising Workshop 116 Katz
11:00 - 12:00 p.m. Professional Development Workshop 116 Katz
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch 116 Katz
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Workshops 116 Katz