Early Bird Immersions
Read below to learn about our Early Bird Immersion opportunities.
2026 Early Bird Immersion RSVPs will go live on Monday, June 1, 2026. The deadline to RSVP for 2026 Early Bird Immersions is Monday, July 27, 2026. Please review information below about 2025 Early Bird Immersions for reference.
Due to overlapping dates, students may only participate in one Early Bird Immersion program, unless they sign up for Connections Leadership Program + (CLP+).
- Please be advised that spots for each immersion program are limited and fill quickly. All spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Questions? Email us at orientation@seattleu.edu.
Early Bird Immersions are early arrival programs that offer new First Hill students the opportunity to come to campus a few days before Fall Welcome and connect with other new students who share your passions and interests. Each experience focuses on a different theme, such as outdoor adventure, community service, identity exploration, and academic success.
Participating in an early arrival program is an opportunity to make new friends with similar interests, move into your residence hall early (if living on-campus), and get settled into life at Seattle University a few days before the start of Fall Welcome.
Some programs have a fee and others have no cost. Program fees will cover the cost of meals, program supplies, and activities. Some programs with fees will have a full or half scholarship request option.
Students can sign up for an Early Bird Immersion in their Orientation Portal starting on June 1, 2026.
Students living in on-campus residence halls will be approved to move in early for their immersion program. Your move-in date and time will depend on which immersion you sign up for. Early move-in dates and times will be noted on the sign-up form for each immersion . Detailed move-in instructions will be emailed to students' Seattle University email from Housing and Residence Life in early August. There is no additional cost for early move-in.
- Cancellations can be made at any time, however, may not include a refund. If you need to cancel your RSVP, please email orientation@seattleu.edu.
- If you must cancel your RSVP, a refund (minus transaction fee, approximately 2.3% plus $0.30 per transaction) will be provided up to two weeks (14 calendar days) before the start date of the event.
- Refunds will not be provided after two weeks (14 calendar days) before the start date of the event.
- Refunds are not provided for no-shows.
2025 Early Bird Immersions
The 2026 Early Bird Immersion information will be posted in mid-May. You can review last year's programs to get a sense of what's to come! Click each Early Bird Immersion below to learn more:
Host: College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Who is this program for? New First-Year and Transfer students in College of Nursing and Health Sciences (primary focus of this experience is for Nursing majors, however, DIUS majors are welcome to participate)
Program Description:
Join nursing advisors, faculty and current students at the Clinical Performance Lab to learn more about the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Students will be able to watch a nursing simulation, learn a nursing assessment skill, meet with current students and learn more about their upcoming program of study.
Host: Albers School of Business and Economics
Who is this program for? First-Year and Transfer Students in Albers School of Business and Economics
Program Description: The Albers School of Business and Economics has a rich tradition of business leaders and innovators in the Seattle area, including Seattle's delicious restaurant scene. This immersion program is designed to introduce new students to this tradition. Begin building your network by connecting with your fellow new classmates in an engaging (and delicious!) day designed to introduce you to restaurants in the Seattle area that are owned and/or founded by Albers alumni. You will also get to meet your Albers New Student Mentors, faculty, and staff.
Host: Sundborg Center for Community Engagement (CCE) and Campus Ministry (CM)
Who is this program for? First-Year and Transfer Students
Program Description:
Part-pilgrimage, part-immersion, part-retreat! Gather with fellow new Redhawks and campus leaders on an off-campus walking tour of our local neighborhoods and community partners in Seattle U’s backyard. Learn about local social justice issues, explore opportunities to make a positive impact on your new community, deepen your understanding of community engagement, and reflect on a commitment to justice in the Jesuit tradition.
Host: The MOSAIC Center
Who is this program for?: First-Year and Transfer Students who identify as BIPOC and/or First-Generation, however, all incoming undergraduate students are welcome to sign up.
Program Description:
CLP+ is an immersive experience designed to support new students of color and first-generation students to develop a community on campus, learn about opportunities for engagement and resources that can support their success, and develop leadership skills as they transition into college. You’ll examine personal values while exploring concepts around social justice and finding strategies to navigate these systems. CLP+ begins as a pre-fall immersion program and continues throughout the Fall quarter with regular touchpoints with staff and peer mentors.
Host: College of Science and Engineering (CSE)
Who is this program for?: First-Year and Transfer students in College of Science and Engineering
Program Description: LEAP into the school year with a community of fellow scientists and engineers! Cultivate connections with CSE students and faculty, participate in social and investigative activities on campus, experience the local neighborhoods, and learn approaches for succeeding academically, developing social networks, and pursuing future exploration in our disciplines and Seattle U.
Host: University Recreation (UREC) & University Ministry
Who is this program for?: First-Year and Transfer students
Program Description: Find and build your SU community over 5 days and 4 nights on the shore of Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park! Spend your days hiking, biking, and canoeing and your evenings engaging in fun activities. All programming is beginner-friendly and previous outdoor experience is not required. In the evenings, we will reflect on the start of your college experience and discuss different possibilities for connecting with your new SU community. Transport, food, lodging, and activities are all included in the cost of the program.
Host: College of Arts and Sciences
Who is this program for?: New First-Year and Transfer students in the College of Arts and Sciences. (Open to all majors within the college.)
Program Description: This immersive welcome experience invites students to explore the people, places, and stories that shape the neighborhoods surrounding Seattle University through the interdisciplinary lenses of the social sciences and liberal arts. Through guided walks and curated stops, participants will encounter a mix of art, food, music, and history, from spaces like the Hedreen Gallery and the Chapel of St. Ignatius, to off-campus visits that highlight Seattle’s layered cultural identities. Whether reflecting on local landmarks or sampling neighborhood favorites, students will begin building a shared sense of connection and belonging as they prepare to launch their academic journey.
Host: University Recreation (UREC)
Who is this program for?: First-Year and Transfer Students
Program Description:
Join fellow new Redhawks and campus leaders from UREC on a classic Seattle one-day hike at Little Si! We will meet on campus, then drive out to a small rocky bluff that is a moderately graded 3.7 mile trail with a gain of 1,300 feet. Although relatively steep inclines bookend this hike, this primarily north to south route is perfect for beginners.
Host: University Recreation
Who is this program for?: First-Year and Transfer Students
Program Description:
Join fellow new Redhawks and campus leaders from UREC on a one-day hike at this 4.3-mile out-and-back trail! Get a workout and experience rock work completed by Department of Natural Resources and WTA volunteer crews on this hike. Your reward is a rocky overlook from which you can marvel at Mount Kent, McClellan Butte, and Mount Washington, the behemoths forming the south rim of the west entrance to Snoqualmie Pass.