New Student Orientation Fall 2025

August 14-17, 2025

Welcome Grizzlies!

Get ready to roar into your next chapter—we’re rolling out the green carpet to welcome the newest members of the Grizz Fam!

New Student Orientation is your first big step into Adams State. It’s a bear-y important time for you and your family to explore campus, discover your new community, and get the inside scoop on academic programs, housing, money matters, and student life. You’ll make connections, find your footing, and start to feel right at home in the huddle.

Whether you’re transferring from another institution or joining the Adams State Class of 2030, we can’t wait to paw-sitively welcome you (and your whole pack) to campus. Your Grizzly journey is about to begin—and it’s going to be un-bear-ably exciting.

To help us plan a claw-some experience, please let us know who you’ll be bringing along for the ride. The more we know, the better we can bear-hug everyone with the warmest welcome possible!

Click to Register for Fall 2025 NSO! Updated NSO Schedule!

Parent and Support System Participation in NSO

Parents and support persons are warmly invited to join in the New Student Orientation activities! You’re welcome to participate in all events except the student breakout groups, which are designed specifically for students. Instead, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in a special panel designed just for you—where you can ask questions, share experiences, and connect with others supporting our new Grizzlies.

Highlights for parents and supporters include:

  • Big Screen on the Green NSO Welcome event
  • The Parent/Support Panel — a great chance to ask questions and connect
  • The Campus Resources Fair downtown
  • Faculty Meet and Green 

We look forward to welcoming you as part of our Grizzly community!

NSO Student Schedule Fall 2025


Thursday, August 14 – Move-In & Movie Night

12:00 PM – 7:00 PM- Check-In & Move-Ins – Residence Halls

  •  Pick up your room keys, check into NSO and get your welcome bag! Our Grizzly Welcome Team will be on hand to help you get moved in and settled.

6:00 PM New Student Welcome & Big Screen on the Green – Richardson Lawn

  • Movie: Monsters UniversityRichardson Lawn Officially kick off NSO with a warm welcome from the Adams State community, student leaders!
  • Dinner is on us. Come get dinner from one of our local food trucks!  Stick around for an outdoor movie with free popcorn and snacks. Bring a blanket!
  • The movie starts at dusk

Friday, August 15 – Welcome Day & Celebration Night

7:00 AM – 10:00 AM Check-Ins & Move-Ins – Residence Halls

  • Continuation of check-ins and move-ins

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Welcome & Convocation – Rex Field

  • Celebrate the start of your academic journey with the entire incoming class. Hear words from President Tandberg, student leaders, and performances 

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Lunch on the Lawn – Richardson Lawn

  •  Enjoy lunch with the Grizzly Community: Faculty, Staff, and Students 

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Faculty Meet & Greet – Richardson Lawn.

  •  Meet your Professors and get to know your department and other departments 

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM NSO Huddle – Richardson Auditorium

  • In this huddle, our resource highlight will feature One Stop  Learn, where you can find all your essential student services—from financial aid to course registration.

**** NSO Huddles is your Grizzly pit stop! In each huddle, we’ll rally up, tell you where to head next, and shine a spotlight on a must-know campus resource. Quick, powerful, and keeps our Grizzly pack moving strong.

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Dinner – La Mesa Dining Hall

  • Join us for dinner at La Mesa Dining Hall, located in the Student Union Building 

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Floor Meetings with RAs – See location list next page

  •  Meet your RA, connect with your neighbors, and go over important residence hall info.

8:00 PM – its finished; Welcome Back Party – Coronado & Girulat Courtyards

  •  Music, games, and snacks to celebrate your first night as a Grizzly.

Floor meeting locations 

If you live in… 

Girault 1-24, 25-50, Meet at the SE Edge for Campus Green by the rocks 

Giault 51 -75, 76-100, Meet at the Girault Lobby

Coronado A wing, all floors– Meet at NE Edge of Campus Green by the tables 

Coronado  B wing, all floors and Coronado 1st floor C-wing – Meet in Coronado Lobby

Coronado C Wing- 2nd and 3rd floor meet at the Coronado South Courtyard by the volley ball courts 

Coronado D wings All floors– meet at Coronado North Courtyard 


Saturday, August 16 – Campus Connections & Community Night

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM  Breakfast and NSO Huddle– Richardson Hall

  • Start the day with breakfast and a resource highlight. 

10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Breakout Session 1 – Various Campus Locations; Parent Panel- Richardson Hall

  • Jumpstart your Adams State journey with the essentials you need to thrive! Meet the friendly faces from our Title IX office and Counseling Center, discover everything the Nielsen Library has to offer, get the inside scoop from fellow students at the Grizz Be Real panel, and dive into Blackboard so you’re ready to hit the ground running.

Parents and support systems—while your students are in their first two breakout sessions, you’re invited to your own Parent Panel with campus leaders and key offices. This is your one-stop shop to get answers to all your questions, with representatives from every major department ready to help you feel connected and informed.

***Get breakout rooms and rotation schedule at NSO HUDDLE 

11:30 AM – 12:15 PM  Breakout Session 2 – Parents and Support Systems at Panel 

12:30 PM – 2:00 PM  Lunch – La Mesa Dining Hall

  • Join us at the La Mesa Dining Hall for Lunch 

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM  NSO Huddle– Richardson Auditorium

  • In this Huddle, we will highlight our Grizzly Learning and Testing Center, the home of accommodations and tutors.

2:45 PM – 3:30 PM  Breakout Session 3  ( Parents and Support System Take a Breather)

3:45 PM NSO Huddle– Richardson Hall

  • In this huddle, we will highlight our amazing Adams State Police Department. 

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Resource Fair/Dinner  – Downtown Alamosa- 

We’re taking NSO to the heart of Alamosa! Join us downtown on Main Street (between San Juan & State) for a night of food, fun, and connections.

The evening kicks off with dinner at the Alamosa Welcome Center, where we will feature a local food truck around 5:30 PMcheck in there, fuel up, and then we’ll make our way over to Main Street, where the fair begins.

Need a ride? We’ve got you covered! A shuttle will run about every 15 minutes from The Rock (between the SUB Building and Coronado) straight to the Welcome Center.

Click Here For directions to Alamosa Welcome Cente

Here’s your mission:

  • Pick up your NSO Passport at check-in 

  • Explore every Adams State table and connect with at least three community resources.

  • Once you’ve filled your passport with stamps, bring it to the NSO Leaders Tent and score your exclusive NSO T-shirt!

This is your chance to meet the people and places that will make your Adams State experience unforgettable—both on campus and out in the community. Come ready to explore, connect, and celebrate your new home!


Sunday, August 17 – Adventure Day & Community Fun

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM

  •  NSO Huddle: Goodbye Parents & Breakfast – Richardson Lawn

10:00 AM – 12:00ish PM

  •  Choose Your Own Adventure – 
    • Paddle Boarding at Blanca Vista Park- Sign up at the NSO Table
  • Hang back and get ready for the first day of school, the NSO Leaders will help you find where your classes are and help answer last-minute questions 

12:00 PM Lunch – La Mesa Dining Hall

1:00 PM – 6:00 PM; You Time

  •  Relax, Settle In, & Finalize Move-In – Residence Halls

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM NSO Takes Over Sundays at Six – Cole Park

  • We’re wrapping up NSO with music, munchies, and maximum chill! 🎶 
    • Join the Grizzly crew at Sundays at Six, the summer concert series hosted by the Alamosa Live Music Association at Cole Park. 
  • Here’s the game plan:
  • Check in at the NSO table to score your free meal ticket for the food truck.
  • Need a ride? Hop on the Grizzly Shuttle, running every 15 minutes from The Rock (between the SUB and Coronado Hall) straight to the park.
  • Kick back, grab some grub, and enjoy the tunes starting at 6 PM.

Cole Park is about a 10-15 min walk from the campus Click Here For Directions 

It’s your last official NSO night—so let’s make it count. Bring your blanket, your appetite, and your best “I’m officially a Grizzly” energy!


Lodging Options

If you are looking for a place to stay overnight in Alamosa, check out the following hotels in Alamosa.

Surge Flow on Medano CreekExplore the San Luis Valley

Contact Us!

Vince Alcon (He/him/they/siya)
Director of Student Life

The Adams Experience

Your experience at Adams extends beyond the classroom through extracurriculars on-campus and within the San Luis Valley. Learn more about The Adams Experience.

Questions

Have immediate questions about New Student Orientation? Contact the NSO Team or take a look at the Orientation FAQs page.