The Grainger College of Engineering
Women in Engineering

WIE Orientation

WIE Orientation 2024

WIE Orientation is the premier preparation program for women who are new first-year and transfer students to The Grainger College of Engineering (including Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and CS + X majors). The program includes virtual pre-orientation group mentoring sessions and an interactive, two-day campus program which helps new students build supportive connections with other women in the college and get connected to a robust system of people, resources, opportunities, and strategies to facilitate their path to success and wellness as a Grainger Engineering student.

Reasons to participate:

  • Build relationships with classmates, mentors, and advisors in your department.
  • Gain advice from upper division women students about classes and college life.
  • Explore new co-curricular, experiential learning, and leadership opportunities.
  • Discover academic and wellness support resources to contribute to your success.
  • Make connections through fun, team-building activities with the WIE community.

“WIE Orientation helped me learn more about Illinois, get a feel for Grainger Engineering, and make friends. I felt confident when classes started, and that I had a head start!” – Delanie, Chemical Engineering

 

 

WIE is hosting a series of pre-orientation virtual group mentoring sessions to build a sense of community and help students prepare before coming to campus for WIE Orientation. These sessions will be led by small groups of WIE Orientation Mentors, who are current student leaders representing a variety of majors in Grainger Engineering. The sessions will be informal for students to ask questions of the mentors and interact with new people in the Women in Engineering community. New students will be able to select the sessions they want to attend in the WIE Orientation registration form and will be provided with follow-up information to access the link for these virtual sessions. 

Wednesday, June 26, 7:00-8:00 p.m. CDT

Wednesday, July 17, 7:00-8:00 p.m. CDT

Wednesday, August 7, 7:00-8:00 p.m. CDT

Dates and Registration

WIE Orientation is scheduled on August 21-22, 2024. Registration is available from June 1-July 19, 2024. Capacity is limited, so register early! Once we reach capacity, registrants will be put on a wait list. WIE Orientation is designed to provide an interactive, multifaceted, and valuable program experience for new first-year and transfer students. With support from our Corporate Sponsors, WIE is able to offer this program free of charge to students. Registration is required to help us organize the best program possible, with appropriate volunteer staffing, activities, SWAG, and food orders. Please be mindful not take a spot from another student unless you are committed to full participation in our program!

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. 

WIE recommends that you elect Early Arrival on August 20 for a smoother move-in process and to get settled in before orientation and other activities during Welcome Week. University Housing charges a $60 fee to your student account for room/board for Early Arrival. Click here for more information about Early Arrival for University Housing. For the most up-to-date information on University Housing, please refer to the housing website. For more information about Early Arrival options for Private Certified Housing, click here. 

Schedule

The tentative schedule for WIE Orientation 2024 is included below. The dates/times are finalized, and more details will be added soon. 

Wednesday, August 21
2:00-2:30 p.m. Check-In (come early to have more time for the warm up activity) CIF 1035
2:30-2:45 p.m. Engineering Identity Warm-Up Activity [mixed-major groups] Monumental Steps
2:45-3:00 p.m. Welcome & Overview: "Making the Most of WIE Orientation" Monumental Steps
3:00-3:30 p.m. Grainger Alumna Keynote with Arielle Gross Samuels, BS in MatSE '11 Monumental Steps
3:30-3:45 p.m. Wellness Break/Transition  
3:45-4:45 p.m. "Exploring with Purpose Resource Fair": Co-curriculars, Experiential Learning, Leadership Opportunities, and Academic and Wellness Support Resources

CIF 0035 [CIF 0027 reflection/networking]
4:45-5:00 p.m. Wellness Break/Transition  
5:00-6:00 p.m. "Ask Me Anything" Dinner with WIE Mentors [mixed-major groups] CIF Breakout Rooms
6:00-7:00 p.m. Grainger Escape Room Fun: "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work" [mixed-major groups] CIF Breakout Rooms
Thursday, August 22
9:00-9:15 a.m. Check-In CIF Breakout Rooms
9:15-10:15 a.m.

Bagels & Coffee Fireside Chat with Department Faculty & Staff [grouped by majors/depts]

 CIF Breakout Rooms
10:15-10:30 a.m. Wellness Break/Transition  
10:30-10:45 a.m. WIE Group Photo Monumental Steps
10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Fun, interactive community-building activity [grouped by majors/depts] CIF Breakout Rooms
12:00-1:00 p.m. "All About My Major" Lunch with Lead Mentors and Peers [grouped by majors/depts] CIF Breakout Rooms
1:00-1:15 p.m. Wellness Break/Transition  
1:15-2:00 p.m. "Getting a Head Start with your Engineering Career": A Moderated Panel with Engineering Career Services, Research Park, and Corporate Sponsors CIF 0027/1025 Auditorium
2:00-2:30 p.m. Closing & Wrap-Up Reflection: "New Insights and Commitment Sharing" CIF 0027/1025 Auditorium

Read about WIE mentors in Student Stories! 

 

Sponsors