Spartan Start
Spartan Start is UD's orientation and welcome program for new and transfer students. During the program, you'll get connected with other students, learn your way around campus, discover ways to get involved, and a lot more. Spartan Start provides the perfect start to a successful college experience.
First-Year Student Move-In
August 17, 2025
&
Spartan Start
August 18 and 19, 2025
Sunday, August 17
For driving directions to Heritage Center, please use 2255 Bennet Street, Dubuque, IA 52001.
| Time | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | Residence Hall Check-In Visit one-stop check-in to complete any required tasks and pick up your residence hall keys. Proceed to your assigned hall and get settled into your room. |
Heritage Center, A.Y. McDonald Lobby |
| 5:00 p.m. | University Welcome Dinner Enjoy a free meal and a welcome message from UD administrators. Families are invited and encouraged to attend. |
Chlapaty Recreation & Wellness Center |
| Familes are asked to depart campus by 7:30 p.m. | ||
| 7:30 p.m. | Residence Life & Student Guidelines Meeting For students living on campus, this important session will cover residence hall and student handbook guidelines. |
Heritage Center, Butler Hall |
| 8:30 p.m. | Floor Meeting Meet your Resident Assistants and other students from your floor and hall. |
Residence Halls |
Monday, August 18
| Time | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | Spartan Start Check-In and Breakfast Pick up your name tag and Spartan Start materials. Meet your Peer Leader and enjoy breakfast with your small group. |
Chlapaty Recreation & Wellness Center |
| 9:00 a.m. | Class Photo Capture this milestone with your classmates on the football field. |
Chalmers Field |
| 9:30 a.m. | Student Success Commitment Signing President Travis Frampton, PhD, will welcome you to the Spartan community and introduce the Student Success Commitment. |
Chlapaty Recreation & Wellness Center |
| 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Spartan Start Sessions Small groups will rotate through informational and interactive sessions presented by campus departments. Sessions include:
|
Various locations on campus |
| 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. | Dubuque Community Night Venture off campus for the evening to experience Dubuque's Millwork District. Enjoy free dinner (tacos and pizza), play arcade games, bowl, and continue to get to know other new students. Shuttles will run continuously between Heritage Center and Backpocket. Feel free to come any time and stay as long as you'd like. |
Shuttles depart from Heritage Center |
Tuesday, August 19
| Time | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast (optional) Use your meal plan to visit Smeltzer Dining Hall in Peters Commons for breakfast if you wish. |
Smeltzer Dining Hall, Peters Commons |
| 8:30 a.m. | Small Group Check-In Check in with your Peer Leader and small group members to review the schedule and start off the day. |
Small group rooms, various locations on campus |
| 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Spartan Start Sessions Small groups will rotate through informational and interactive sessions presented by campus departments. Sessions include:
|
Various locations on campus |
| 4:00 p.m. | Meet Your Major Connect with professors and other students in your major and get important academic information. |
Various locations on campus |
| 5:30 pm | Unity BBQ Join with the rest of the Spartan community to kick off the new academic year! |
Grace Plaza & Wallace Commons |
What to Expect
Attending UD will be a brand new experience for you. While starting at a new college is exciting, it can also be a little stressful. Spartan Start is designed to help you settle in and get comfortable with campus life. During the program you can expect to:
- Meet a lot of other new students who, like you, don't know a lot of people on campus and are feeling a bit nervous. It is possible that you may even feel overwhelmed at times. That's normal; just reach out to an orientation leader or Spartan Start staff member, and they can help.
- Learn about a lot of resources and opportunities. There are tons of ways to get involved on campus, and a lot of helpful, free services you can utilize. Even if you think something may not be of interest to you, keep an open mind. You may find that you need the information later. Plus, college is a great time to try something new.
- Take responsibility for your education. How you participate and what and how much you learn is up to you. As a college student, you'll need to make decisions about what classes to take, how often to study, when to ask for help, and more. Spartan Start will give you a chance to learn and practice those skills, so be sure to take advantage of the opportunity by being fully engaged and asking lots of questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I move in early?
We're glad you are ready to join us on campus! Our staff needs time to make sure everything is just right for you when you arrive, so unfortunately, we cannot allow early move-ins. If you have extenuating circumstances that you need to discuss, you may contact Residence Life at 563.589.3128 or Dillon Wager at DWagner@dbq.edu.
Do I have to attend Spartan Start?
Yes. Studies show that orientation programs contribute to a positive transition to college. Because we care about your success and want you to have every advantage possible, Spartan Start is a required component of your first week at UD. We work hard to build a fun and useful program you will not want to miss.
For more information, please contact:
Jaclyn Esqueda
Associate Dean of Student Engagement and Success
JEsqueda@dbq.edu | 563.589.3349