The Graduate School at ESF
Fall 2026 Graduate Orientation
Welcome to SUNY ESF! We're looking forward to helping you get settled in through a variety of events and sessions.
Orientation week is designed to help new graduate students:
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Meet other graduate students -
Be welcomed by ESF’s faculty, staff, and administration - Learn about resources available to you
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Understand ESF values and student expectations -
Get tips for a successful graduate school experience -
Explore the city of Syracuse
Graduate School Orientation
Date: Aug.17, 2026
Time: 9 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Location: Gateway Center
Orientation Schedule
|
Time |
Event |
Speaker |
|
7:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. |
Sign-in and Breakfast |
|
|
8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. |
Welcome & Introduction to Tabling Organizations |
|
|
9:10 a.m. - 9:20 a.m. |
Visit Tabling Organizations |
|
|
9:20 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. |
Official Welcome |
Zora Thomova, Ph.D., Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate School, ESF Joanie Mahoney, Esq., President, ESF
|
|
9:20 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. |
How Things Work: Answers to Your Questions About Grad School |
Zora Thomova, Ph.D., Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate School, ESF Katherina Searing, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of Graduate School, ESF |
|
9:50 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. |
Break & Visit Tabling Organizations |
|
|
10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. |
A Grain of Salt: A Short History of Syracuse |
Robert Searing, Curator of History, Onondaga Historical Association |
|
11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. |
Mental Health and Wellness |
Erica Allen, Director of Counseling Services |
|
11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. |
Campus Safety |
Robert Dugan, Deputy Chief of Police |
|
11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. |
CommUnity & Title VI & IX |
Seth Thompson, Chief Diversity Officer |
|
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. |
Interactive Panel Discussion: Thriving in Graduate School - Insights from Students |
Graduate Student Panel |
|
12:30 p.m. - 12:35 p.m. |
Closing Remarks |
Zora Thomova, Ph.D., Associate Provost and Dean of Graduate School, ESF |
|
12:30 p.m. - 12:35 p.m. |
Buffet Lunch with Department Chairs & Grad Coordinators |
|
|
12:35 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. |
Adjourn Optional Tours with GSA |
Emily Friden, President, GSA |
|
2:30 p.m. |
Departmental Meetings |
|
Meet representatives from offices and organizations who are eager to answer questions & provide information about services they provide for graduate students.
- Bursar
- Career Services
- Communications & Marketing
- Computing and Network Services
- Counseling Center
- Digital Storytelling Studio
- The Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc.
- ESF Library
- The Graduate School
- Graduate Student Association
- Human Resources
- Off-Campus living
- Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access
- Office of International Education (OIE)
- Office of Research Programs
- Office of Sustainability
- Onondaga County Public Library
- Registrar
- Student Affairs
- Teaching and Learning Center
- University Police
International Student Orientation
Date: Aug. 19, 2026 | Wednesday
Time: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Place: 24 Marshall Hall
Graduate Assistant Colloquium
Date: Aug.21, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location: Moon Library
New Student Checklist
- Health and immunization forms
- Set up ESFid and SU NetID
- Enrolling for classes | MySlice
- Computing resources for new students
- Grad student life
Communications
Miss any of our emails? No worries, we’re compiling them here as an easy reference.
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