Discoveries Student Orientation Program

Programming for freshmen and new student orientation began after World War II and ramped up in the early 1950s. In the Fall of 1956, DU launched the "Welcome Week" orientation program “designed to acquaint freshmen and other new students with campus life, professions, other students, and to get them started on their college career.” Student leaders called Pioneer Guides aided the orientation effort. A "Freshmen Camp" or "Frosh camp" program also began in the late 1950s as an introduction to life at DU. This camp later happened at and was thus known as the Geneva Glen program. The SOAR orientation program (Summer Orientation and Registration and later Student Orientation, Advising and Registration) began in the 1970s and lasted through at least 2003. These programs were administered by different university units.