FAQs

WIE Orientation is coordinated by staff from Women in Engineering (WIE), a college-level program housed in the Undergraduate Programs Office, dedicated to supporting the success of women engineering students at Illinois. The program includes participation from faculty and staff across Grainger Engineering and the University of Illinois to help students learn about their departments and explore career and leadership opportunities, experiential learning, and academic and wellness support resources. The planning and execution of the program involves a tremendous level of support from a team of WIE Orientation Mentors, upper-division undergraduate women engineering student leaders who are invested in new student success and building a vibrant community for women to thrive at Grainger Engineering.

Any new first-year, transfer, or exchange student to The Grainger College of Engineering and to Agricultural & Biological Engineering (ABE), Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE), and CS+X majors is invited to participate. WIE Orientation supports building critical peer connections within each major and across Engineering majors.

View the schedule for WIE Orientation.  Students can expect to:

• Build relationships with classmates, mentors, and advisors in their 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 their success.
• Make connections through fun, team-building activities with the WIE community.

Students can register for orientation.  Registration closes July 19.  We have limited capacity, so register early to reserve your spot!

WIE Orientation is offered at no charge to students, due to generous support from our corporate sponsors in addition to significant funding that is provided by the Undergraduate Programs Office in The Grainger College of Engineering. Students receive WIE-branded SWAG, meals, and access to all program activities and resources. 

WIE recommends that you elect Early Arrival on Tuesday, August 19, 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, and fees for Private Certified Housing vary by residence. It will be worth the fee to cover an extra day of room/meals to avoid the crowds and chaos during official move-in days, to have time to settle-in early and adjust, and to be able to fully participate in value-added programs like WIE Orientation. Plus, you will receive well over a $100 value ($50+ in food/SWAG) if you participate in WIE Orientation. Alternatively, select a move-in time slot on the morning of Wednesday, August 20. Please note that WIE does not cover housing fees and is not involved with housing issues, so please direct housing-related questions to staff in University Housing or to your Private Certified Housing provider. 

As a University of Illinois student, you may be frequently presented with the challenge of competing commitments. You can't be everywhere all at once, and trying to go back and forth to "do a little bit of everything" is not a recommended strategy. It creates additional problems for staff who coordinate these events, and it generally does not result in the best experience for a student!  Think carefully about the experience that will bring you the most value during Welcome Week and beyond and commit fully to it. For example, it may be easier to connect with friends in an LLC after orientation because you live together and will have ongoing opportunities to connect through LLC programming.  LLC program directors encourage students to prioritize college/department orientations over LLC orientations when there are conflicts.  WIE Orientation is designed purposefully and with care, feedback, and involvement from upper-division women students in Grainger Engineering. The program addresses core elements that we know are important to the success and wellness of women engineering students, based on research and direct feedback from our student leaders and college staff. New students will gain a strong return on their investment of time in WIE Orientation. You will making lasting friendships with students from your major and across the college through interactive sessions, get a head-start with all the best insider's tips from a committed team of student mentors, make connections with core advising staff and faculty in your department, and gain exposure to the most useful resources and recommended opportunities for women engineering students. 

Send an email to wie@illinois.edu with your name and the change/correction, and WIE staff will make the adjustment.

Attend pre-orientation virtual group mentoring sessions offered on July 24, July 30, and Aug 5, 7:00-8:00 p.m. CDT. After WIE Orientation registration closes on July 19, you will receive an email with registration links for these sessions.