Welcome Week 2023
Welcome Week will be an in-person series of workshops, experiences, and social engagements to prepare you for the start of this new adventure! While not technically mandatory, attendance at our Welcome Week activities is strongly encouraged. You will meet key faculty, staff, and peers throughout this week and build bonds and friendships that will last throughout your time at Cooper Union and beyond.
The schedule for Welcome Week 2023 is available to view below. The schedule will continue to be modified and updated over the coming weeks. All new students should plan to be in New York City for this in-person Welcome Week starting Sunday, August 20, 2023.
Welcome Week Schedule for New Students
- Go to Sunday, August 20
- Go to Monday, August 21
- Go to Tuesday, August 22
- Go to Wednesday, August 23
- Go to Thursday, August 24
- Go to Friday, August 25
- Go to Saturday, August 26
- Go to Sunday, August 27
- Go to Monday, August 28
- Go to Tuesday, August 29
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Residence Hall Check-In
29 3rd Ave Residence Hall
Welcome to your new home! Upon arrival, you will be given move-in materials, including your room key, mailbox key, and general building information. Please abide by the staggered move-in times supplied by the Housing & Residential Education staff. There will be several Cooper Union students and staff members present to help you with all your personal items.
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Check-in and Student ID Card Pick-Up for Non-Residential Students
Stop by the lobby of the Foundation Building and let us know you're here! We'll have some exciting Cooper surprises for you!
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Financial Aid Meetings
41 Cooper Square — The Hub (entrance on 6th Street)
The Office of Student Financial Services (SFS) is offering in-person appointments between 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on August 20. Meetings are by appointment only. Schedule here.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Family Orientation Session
The Great Hall, Foundation Building
Geared towards the families and loved ones of our new students. Join our Dean of Students and others from Cooper Union to review what new students will experience during Welcome Week and an overview of the supportive services and resources available to students during their time at Cooper Union. There are two Family Orientation Sessions, one at 11 am and one at 1 pm – these are identical sessions, and you only need to attend one. Sessions are not recorded but slides from this session can be found here.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Family Orientation Session
The Great Hall, Foundation Building
Geared towards the families and loved ones of our new students. Join our Dean of Students and others from Cooper Union to review what new students will experience during Welcome Week and an overview of the supportive services and resources available to students during their time at Cooper Union. There are two Family Orientation Sessions, one at 11 am and one at 1 pm – these are identical sessions, and you only need to attend one. Sessions are not recorded but slides from this session can be found here.
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Welcome Week Official Start Welcome Address
The Great Hall, Foundation Building
Please join President Laura Sparks, and members of her leadership team, for a Welcome Address and formal start to our Welcome Week activities followed by a welcome reception.
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception for Students and Family
Peter Cooper Park – Outside Foundation Building
Following the Welcome Address from President Sparks, please join The Cooper Union community for a welcome reception. The Office of Alumni Affairs and Development invites you to enjoy some light refreshments while mingling with Cooper Union faculty, staff, and fellow new students.
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Commuter Student Welcome and Meet and Greet
2nd Floor Lobby, Foundation Building
Come and meet your fellow commuter students. Make some friends, commuting partners, and begin your journey with us!
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Residence Hall Floor Meetings
29 3rd Ave Residence Hall
Details will be provided when you check into the Residence Hall by your Resident Assistant.
8:00 p.m. – ?
New Student Welcome Party
Residence Hall
Join us on the 4th floor of the Student Residence Hall!! All new students are welcome! Come out and relax a bit after a chaotic and exciting day of beginning your college adventure! Meet your fellow first-year students and upper-class students including College Orientation Guides who will be with you through your Welcome Week journey.
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Student Welcome and Orientation Overview
Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square
Dean Chris Chamberlin and the Student Affairs team will welcome you to the Cooper Union community and will provide an overview of Welcome Week. This session is essential to understand upcoming sessions and to ask any general questions you may have. Slides from this session can be found here.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Meet the College Orientation Guides
LL120 Gallery, 41 Cooper Square
Get to know our upper-class College Orientation Guides a little bit better. Learn how they can help you get your questions answered and just make you feel a bit more at ease.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch with the College Orientation Guides
Lobby, 41 Cooper Square
Enjoy lunch with our College Orientation Guides. Mix, mingle, and continue to get to know each other.
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Student Care and Wellbeing
Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square
During this session, our Student Care Coordinators and Director of Student Care and Support will discuss common mental health concerns among college students and how to identify these concerns in oneself. This session will provide students with information regarding supportive resources available at Cooper Union and throughout NYC. The session will include tips and resources to engage in self-care and suggestions on how to stay healthy and be successful at Cooper Union. Slides from this presentation can be found here.
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Healthy Interpersonal Relationships
Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square
This session will discuss the characteristics of healthy interpersonal relationships – sexual and otherwise – and how to seek help and support should concerns arise. We will cover the details of the Cooper Union policy relating to sexual misconduct and student rights and responsibilities. This workshop will include direct connections to supportive resources at Cooper Union and in New York City. Slides from this session can be found here.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Safety and Security in New York City
Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square
Join representatives from Cooper Union’s security team to talk about general personal security when navigating in and around New York City. Slides from this presentation can be found here.
Residence Hall
5:30pm
Grocery Get Ready Event #YoureOnYourOwnKid
Menschel (4th Floor ResHall)
Come join us for a fun time of painting tote bags (you can use for recreational or sustainable grocery bag alternatives) and a lemonade bar. Not to mention you can grab some grocery list templates for a “no sweat” grocery shopping experience (all diets considered).
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Commuter Student Breakfast Meeting and Social
2nd Floor Lobby, Foundation Building
Meet up with fellow commuter students, share some breakfast, and make connections.
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Student Health Insurance and Healthcare in NYC
Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square
This session will provide an overview of healthcare resources (physical and mental health) that are available to Cooper Union students. This session will also provide a brief overview of accessing healthcare in New York City. This session is highly recommended for all students but is especially important for students not from the NYC metro area and students coming to Cooper Union with pre-existing physical and/or mental healthcare needs. Slides from this session can be found here.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Library & Archives Workshop Session
Library Atrium, Foundation Building
Meet in the library Atrium (just past the circulation desk to the left) for a quick game of "Get to Know the Library and Archives BINGO" - legitimately cool prizes will be given!!!
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Cooper Union 101
Great Hall, Foundation Building
Dean Chamberlin will provide an overview of the student experience which will include important policies and procedures that will be essential for you to know and navigate during your time here at The Cooper Union. Slides from this presentation can be found here.
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Cooper Union Cycling Club
41 Cooper Square Lobby
Join the cycling club for an evening ride into central park! Whether on your own bike or using a Citi Bike, all students are welcome to come and pedal, with the option to stay for a group lunch! Bring a helmet if you have one!
5:30 p.m.
Ice Cream Social
Menschel Room, Residence Hall Fourth Floor
Come chill out with your favorite RAs for a sweet treat! Bring your new roommates or welcome week friends! Bring a bowl & spoon if you'd like! We will be serving up some yummy ice cream on the Terrace.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Engineering Math Placement Exam – ENGINEERING STUDENTS ONLY
Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square
The math placement exam is applicable to qualified Engineering majors only. Students seeking to place out of MA111 should take this placement exam. Students who are qualified to take the placement exam will be notified by the Enrollment Management team in advance. If you have any questions about the math placement exam, please contact Professor Mili Shah, Chair of the Math Department at mili.shah@cooper.edu.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Self-Offense Safety Workshop
The Great Hall, Foundation Building
Be Your Own Superhero! Join Michelle Gay and Zelda Gay from Karate-Do Ken Wa Kan here in NYC for a self-offense workshop. Self-Offense is an unprecedented approach to safety training. It provides a fundamental shift in perspective that prompts participants to create the experience of safety for themselves and others. Participants will gain a profound and lasting understanding of their own power and capabilities while learning techniques that can be put to immediate use. This is a two-part workshop. This is Part One, taking place during Welcome Week. Part Two will be offered a few weeks into the fall semester - watch for an announcement with date, time, and location! This program is free and open to ALL Cooper Union students.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
School of Art Meetings – New Art Exchange Students ONLY
Room 212, Foundation Building
Mandatory art exchange student gathering to review important academic opportunities and policies.
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Intersectional Justice Lecture and Lunch
Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square
Through a series of discussions of communally selected theory, poetry, fiction, video clips, and non-fiction, broadly organized around the theme of intersectional justice, these small group discussions ask us to pay attention, and to collectively forge a path towards clarity and justice. The resonance between and among texts is as beautiful as it is urgent. Lunch is included as part of this program.
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Center for Writing and Learning Workshop
Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square
Meet some of the Cooper Union’s Writing Associates, who are scholars (of history, dance, literature, and more), as well as poets and fiction writers. Find out how they can help you do your best work at Cooper.
5:00 p.m.
Supplies Auction
Menschel Room, Residence Hall Fourth Floor
Fake money but real prizes! Join us for a fun and friendly night of auctioning various school supplies, household items & so much more!
Residence Hall
6:00pm, meet at the front of the ResHall
Painting in the Park
Come and join us in Tompkins Square Park here in the East Village for a night of painting in the park! Enjoy an assortment of snacks while chatting away with new friends and painting fun :)
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
International Student Breakfast Meeting - MANDATORY FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Room 104, 41 Cooper Square
Mandatory Check-in meeting with Cooper’s PDSO and valuable information on how to keep your F-1 immigration status valid, get to know your fellow international students better, and have some breakfast!
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Student Collectives Meetings
101, 41 Cooper Square
Come to any and all small group meetings that apply to you for conversation and community-building among peers. Icebreakers and refreshments are provided at each session.
11:00 a.m. – LGBTQIA+ Students
12:00 p.m. – Students of Color
1:00 p.m. – First-Generation Students
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Academic School-Specific Events and Meetings - See School Programs Below
School of Architecture
2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Introductions (for all new undergraduate and graduate Architecture students)
330, Foundation Building
3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Studio Safety/Locker Information (for all new undergraduate and graduate Architecture students)
330, Foundation Building
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Meet the first-year faculty (for all new undergraduate Architecture students)
315, Foundation Building
Meet the graduate faculty (for all new graduate Architecture students)
712, Foundation Building
School of Art
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
School of Art Welcome Event
630C, Foundation Building
School of Engineering
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Overview of the School of Engineering
Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square
Meet the First-Year Faculty
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
International Exchange student gathering – New Engineering Exchange Students ONLY
Dean’s office Conference Room, Room 204, 41 Cooper Square
Meet the other students who have come to Cooper for their “study abroad” experience.
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
BSE: RM 204 | CE: RM 506 | ChE: RM 427 | EE: RM 603 (EE Lab) | ME: RM 503 - 41 Cooper Square
Meetings by Major
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
AIChE – DIY Oobleck
Room 101, 41 Cooper Sqaure
Come make some oobleck! Join us to learn something about non-Newtonian fluids and meet your future classmates!
Residence Hall
6:00pm-7:30pm, Menschel (4th Floor ResHall)
Cooper Community Quilting
The Cooper community will be able to come together to create a community quilt. All skills are welcome for sewing or painting 8 x 8" patches to stitch together a blanket of creativity, innovation, and togetherness.
11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Campus Open House and Lunch
Foundation Building and 41 Cooper Square lobbies
Our academic buildings and key spaces will be open for you to explore, meet the amazing humans who run these facilities and will provide key support. A pdf of spaces and details will be available for you to download here prior to the Open House. Lunch will be provided by Cooper Union - first come, first served! A guide for the Open House can be found here and Floor Plans for the buildings can be found here.
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Architecture Student Council – Material Run
Meet outside of the Foundation Building
Grab supplies and some treats with members of the student council!
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Ping Pong Tournament
Menschel Room, Residence Hall Fourth Floor
Come join the Campus Orientation Guides and show off your Ping Pong skills for a chance to win a prize!
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Art Student Council
Room 101, 41 Cooper Square
Meet and chat with the Art Student Council, while making exquisite corpses! Fun opportunity to make new friends and join in a conversation about what you want from ASC this year.
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Civil Engineering Societies – High Line Tour (CANCELED)
Residence Hall
6:00pm, Menschel (4th Floor ResHall)
Speed Friending!
Join us August 25th for a fun mingling event to connect with your fellow residents and play a fun game of RA trivia to get to know the RAs of the residence hall! Food and drinks provided.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Garden Project/ MUDBUG – Meet, Greet & Garden
8th Floor Terrace, 41 Cooper Square
Come learn about our club and help give the rooftop garden a makeover!
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Campus Welcome Back Picnic and Fall Festival – Sponsored by Enrollment and Student Affairs
Peter Cooper Park – Outside Foundation Building
All Day
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Society of Women Engineers – Freshmen Meet & Greet
Room 104, 41 Cooper Square
Come learn about the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Section at Cooper and meet our members. This event will be an opportunity to meet other incoming students and introduce you to the Society of Women Engineers. Come join us for a SWEet time!
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Cooper Union Track Club - Meet, Greet & Run
Room 101, 41 Cooper Square
Come learn about the members of Cooper Union Track Club and what they are all about! This will be a great opportunity to get a light run in and grab some lunch with your new peers!
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Cooper Climbing Club – Finger Climbing, Board Game, and Climbing Trip
Room 104, 41 Cooper Square
Join us and meet our team. You can either test your grip with one handed bouldering, play First Ascent (board game) or take a climbing trip to the nearest climbing gym.
2:00 p.m.
Cooper Union Motorsports – Mouse Trap
LL101, 41 Cooper Square
Come test your skills and compete in teams as we build and race mousetrap cars. The team will also host an info session about the type of work to expect as a first year. Food and prizes will be available!
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship – Worship Night
Room LL101, 41 Cooper Square
Join us for a night of worship! Meet the members of CUIV and other incoming freshmen while sharing the joy and love of God.
First Day of Classes!!!
(Faculty and Staff Welcome Back 4-6 PM)
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
All School Convocation and Gathering
Great Hall, Foundation Building
Welcome Back Concert and Community Dinner Featuring Jon Batiste
Great Hall, Foundation Building
Grammy-winner Jon Batiste performs as part of a special night kicking off the new academic year by gathering together as a community and exploring the power of music as medicine. Registration required at https://bit.ly/cubatiste. Please note this free event is first-come-first-served, and an RSVP does not guarantee admission.
A brilliant and accomplished musician who received both a B.A. and M.F.A. from The Juilliard School, Batiste has been making music history throughout his career. For his work with fellow composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, he won an Academy Award for Best Original Score for the Disney/Pixar film Soul in 2020. He is only the second Black composer, after legendary jazz musician Herbie Hancock, to win an Academy Award for composition. His work on Soul also earned him a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a NAACP Image Award, and a Critic’s Choice Award. In 2021, Batiste was nominated for eleven Grammys across seven different categories for his album, WE ARE—a first in Grammy history. He went on to win five of those Grammys, including Album of the Year. Most recently, he was awarded an Emmy in the category of “Outstanding Open/Tease” for his 2022 NCAA March Madness piece. Batiste’s latest studio album, World Music Radio, draws inspiration from his mission to create community and expand culture with the power of music. In addition to his prolific recording career, he also served as the bandleader and musical director of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS from 2015 until 2022.
The program is being presented in partnership with the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System's Assessment of Music Experiences in Navigating Depression (AMEND Lab) and Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute. The AMEND Lab assesses how live music may impact mental health through its cultural and social potential. The Cooper Union is a partner on the Lab’s recent National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant to investigate how music and music therapy, particularly with children, adolescents, and college students can influence mood and address depression symptoms. Audience members will be invited to complete a voluntary pre- and post-concert survey that explores the social-emotional benefits of music participation.
