Welcome Week

ISA Welcome Week 2026

International Student Affairs hosts an annual Welcome Week. Welcome Week takes place during the week before all-student orientation and focuses on cultural adjustment, community building, and immigration regulations. This is strongly encouraged for incoming F-1 and J-1 international students, but it is open to all incoming DePauw students.

For the class of 2029 arriving in January, Welcome Week arrival day begins on Tuesday, January 20th. Immediately followed by a 3 day-program from January 21st-23rd.

During Welcome Week, you will:

Complete important paperwork for your F-1 Visa status and learn immigration rules
Open a US bank account (if needed) and visit a local store for dorm supplies
Learn about classroom expectations in a U.S. cultural context
Meet peers, make friends, and learn about campus community and resources

Every student is assigned to an “Ambassador group,” led by a returning student “Ambassador” (Welcome Week Leader). Ambassadors contact their first-year students via their DePauw email in July. Learn more about them at the Ambassador page.

Before your arrival, be sure to complete the steps in the Getting Started Pages.

Arrival (Tuesday, January 20th)

Welcome Week arrival day is on Tuesday, January 20th, 2025. Late arrivals are not allowed. It is strongly recommended that new F-1 students attend the full duration of Welcome Week.

Participating students should complete the travel form sent to them via email over the summer and report their flight information. Due in early December.

Shuttle Transportation (Tuesday, January 20th)

On Arrival Day (Jan. 20, 2025), International Student Affairs will offer shuttles from Indianapolis Airport departing at:

11 am
3 pm

Lodging

Welcome Week students automatically get permission to move into their residence hall on Tuesday, January 20th, for arrival day. During check-in at Jordan Hall (between 9 am - 9 pm), housing and residence staff will hand out room keys.

Welcome Week Charges

To help defray the cost of Welcome Week, including the cost of bedding, students participating will be charged a cost of $125. This amount contributes to the overall costs of shuttles, meals, bedding, and more.

All students participating in ISA Welcome Week will receive a charge of $125 posted to their student account early in the Fall Semester.

Information for Welcome Week Guests

Guests are welcome to accompany their students to campus, but they must arrange their own lodging at the DePauw Inn or elsewhere.

Tentative Welcome Week Schedule 2026

Tuesday, January 20th

Arrival/Move-In Day
Airport Shuttles 11AM and 3PM
Evening Welcome Dinner, Meet Ambassador

Wednesday, January 21st

9:00AM Immigration Session with International Student Affairs Team
9:30AM Academic Culture Shock with English for Academic Purposes Director Lynn Ishikawa
10:00AM-12:00PM English Placement
12:00PM- 1:00PM DePauw Welcome with Administration
Campus Tour
Information Session
Dinner with RAs
Activity