New Student Orientation

The experience is designed to provide students with an understanding of the Harris School curriculum, academic support resources, Harris student life opportunities, campus systems, the city of Chicago, and University resources.

However, the most important element of the new student orientation experience is fostering a sense of community amongst our diverse student body.

One essential component of community building during orientation is the Polis Program. All incoming students are assigned a Polis, carrying the name of a Chicago neighborhood, that is comprised of a smaller subset of the incoming class and  led by an Orientation Leader. You will have the opportunity to engage virtually with your Polis before you arrive on campus and through in-person sessions held during Math & Coding Camp and Welcome Week. Learn more about the Polis Program.

We also offer a variety of information sessions and social programming throughout Math & Coding Camp and Welcome Week, designed to introduce you to your university, Harris, and Chicago, community.

Prepare to be Inspired

During orientation students are introduced to essential conversations about diversity and inclusion, leadership and personal development, career development. Students will also have the opportunity to hear from faculty and Harris leadership about the philosophical basis of the Harris academic experience and hear from key policy leaders and practitioners about the impact policy can mean for the world. 

Welcome Address

The Welcome Address kicks-off the new student orientation experience. This annual address is not only a chance for you to engage with other incoming students, but also to learn more about the impact of public policy and the academic journey you are about to embark on. 

Aims of Public Policy

The Aims of Public Policy provides a collective moment for students entering Harris during which they can think about the broader aspects of their education before becoming fully immersed in the data-driven Harris approach to policy analysis. This address for 2024 was given by Oeindrila Dube, Ph.D. and Philip K. Pearson Professor of Global Studies at Harris. Dube studies poverty, violence and crime in countries around the world. 

Chicago Principles, Policies, and Perspectives (CP3)

Chicago Principles, Policy, and Perspectives (CP3) offers Harris students the opportunity to share in a common co-curricular experience and engage in the practice of civil discourse, while gaining an appreciation for diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and policy areas. Starting during orientation and continuing throughout the year, the Office of Student Engagement & Belonging facilitates a number of opportunities, events, and activities, leaving participants with the ability to:

• Have prolific knowledge of practices and skillsets associated with effective civil discourse
• Recognize and respect the Chicago Principles and their role in obtaining a Harris education
• Engage in critical discourse on topics related to public policy
• Have a broad appreciation for, experience with, and understanding of the multiplicity of viewpoints across identities and experiences

Foundations of Professional Development

The ultimate goal for every Harris student is to find a role of impact after graduation. Your personal and professional development is critical to ensuring the outcomes you want for yourself. During orientation, participate in professional development seminars on self-awareness, leadership, and networking to kickstart your development. The seminars will provide you with a more in-depth understanding of our philosophy for professional development, the resources available to Harris students, and how to begin positioning yourself as the ideal candidate for the internship and job market.

Closing Keynote Address

The closing keynote address will challenge you to contemplate your role in complex global and social issues and craft a vision for the future of policy leadership and social change. This 2024 Closing Keynote was delivered by Trina Reynolds-Tyler, MPP '20. Trina is is the Data Director at the Invisible Institute, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, and a native of the South Side Chicago.

Schedule 

Orientation programming will take place throughout the weeks leading up the start of the autumn academic quarter. In addition to orientation specific programs, there will be other programming hosted by Harris Student Organizations (HSOs) and other UChicago departments. A detailed overview schedule will be released during the summer.  Please register for programming through the Event Digest and HarrisHub.

In-person orientation programming will start on Tuesday, September 2, coinciding with the first day of Math & Coding Camp. While it is not required to attend, we highly recommend participating in the orientation programming. As a reminder, all incoming Harris master's students with the exception of those in the MACRM program, are required to take the in-person mandatory math exam on September 22, 2025.