Current Clarkson undergraduate and graduate students can take advantage of a variety of microcredential offerings while pursuing bachelor's, master's and PhD programs.
Current Clarkson undergraduate and graduate students can take advantage of a variety of microcredential offerings while pursuing bachelor's, master's and PhD programs.
Current Clarkson undergraduate and graduate students can take advantage of a variety of microcredential offerings while pursuing bachelor's, master's and PhD programs.
As soon as you commit to Clarkson, you're part of the family.
Our commitment back to you is this - we'll give you every resource possible to make becoming a Golden Knight a seamless process. Here's just some examples of what's next:
Whether you make your deposit on December 15 or May 1, we've got a few resources and activities up our sleeves to help prepare you for Golden Knight life!
Each summer, our staff in undergraduate admissions, student life, and alumni relations work together to host a number of in person welcome picnics across New York and New England to bring together our newest Golden Knights with our alumni, staff and current students. These picnics typically take place in mid-late July and sometimes even early August. Welcome Picnics are fun for the whole family and are designed to get you even more excited for your first semester!
2026 Dates/Locations
Tuesday, July 14 at 6pm: Buffalo, Connecticut, Boston
Wednesday, July 15 at 6pm: Rochester, Albany, New Hampshire
Thursday, July 16 at 6pm: Syracuse, Vermont, Mohawk Valley
Saturday, July 18 at 1pm: New York City
Wednesday, July 22 at 6pm: North Country
Log in to your Golden Knight Gateway to learn more and register for a picnic near you today!
You’ve made your commitment to become a Golden Knight…now what? We’ve got you! There is a lot to do to get you ready for your journey at Clarkson University, and your CU Connect Mentor will be there every step of the way! From navigating your next steps—like how course registration, housing selection and orientation happen—to answering any questions you might have about campus life, your mentor is here to ensure a smooth transition.
Your CU Connect Mentor is a dedicated professional staff member who knows the ins and outs of Clarkson and can provide personalized guidance tailored to your interests and needs. They'll be in touch with you after you make your deposit, usually in early-mid May but sometimes sooner, and you are welcome to get in touch with them earlier. Whether it’s connecting you with campus resources, helping you build your network, or just offering support as you settle in, they’ll be your go-to person from the moment you commit through your first semester.
Welcome to the Clarkson family—we’re excited to support you on this journey!
We pack a lot into one weekend! You'll be moving in, experiencing your first Clarkson tradition, Convocation, and participating in Orientation activities during your first days on campus.
Convocation is an honored Clarkson tradition. During this special event, all new students gather in Cheel Arena for inspiring remarks and the celebration of the start of another year. You'll hear the Clarkson bell ring for the first time, just like you will at the end of your Commencement!
A new event in 2024, the New Knight Expo takes place within the first few weeks of the fall semester. Departments from across the University come out to showcase how they support students and how students can get involved. Prizes, giveaways, games and more make this a fun introduction to all the resources our students have at Clarkson.
First Year Seminar (FYS) is a one credit, pass/fail course required for all first year students at Clarkson. The goal of FYS is to serve as a college transition course, helping new students successfully become part of the Clarkson community. Current students help create the curriculum and teach the course as peer educators, master peers and student coordinators. Learn more about FYS in this blog post.
The First Year Cup (FYC) is an engaging and competitive initiative that promotes student involvement and community spirit within residential floors. Each floor participates by attending various campus events listed on the FYC calendar, earning a point(s) for each event attended. The winning floor, determined by the highest point accumulation, is rewarded with prizes for housing opportunities and a catered dinner with the Clarkson University President. Events included in the FYC calendar cater to a diverse range of interests and activities, such as athletic events, sustainability initiatives, career fairs, international fairs, guest speakers and more. This ensures something for everyone, encouraging broad participation across the student body with educational and physically active events. Events are also tied in annually to the First Year Seminar class.
Living Learning Communities are residential environments where students with shared interests live together. They engage in programs that support their academic, social, and personal growth. Students benefit from diverse community interactions while exploring common interests. All first-year Living Learning Communities are located in “The Quad,” which includes Brooks, Cubley, Reynolds, and Ross House residence halls. Residence Life programming is open to all students living on theme floors. Learn more about our current LLCs.
Hosted every fall around our home DI hockey games, Family Weekend is filled with activities for families of our current students to enjoy on our campus. Events like open skating, DIII athletic competitions, family receptions, hiking and 5Ks, open houses and showcases, meals, pumpkin painting, SPEED team demonstrations, shows, concerts and games all bring our Clarkson community closer together. Learn more about Family Weekend.
At Clarkson, we have many forms of academic advising. Advising is done differently in each of our schools and institutes. A new webpage is forthcoming with information about all advising, including specialty advising for health careers, law studies and accelerated programs.
