Welcome to Your New Home

Leaving your comfort zone is hard, and Launch into Loras helps you transition smoothly from high school to college.

Launch into Loras is a required aspect of your Engaging Communities course and helps kick off your first-year experience at Loras. The program begins four days prior to your other fall courses and will help you build lasting relationships with students, faculty, and staff. Created to support the goals of your Engaging Communities course, all sessions offer hands-on experiential learning activities and discussion time.

Each Engaging Communities section will have a faculty, staff, and two upper-class students participating fully alongside first-year students. Through classroom sessions, team building, and social activities, the Launch into Loras program will aid incoming students with their Loras transition both in and outside the classroom.

Get in Touch

Student Life

loras.edu/campus-life
563.588.7731


Thursday, August 22

8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Residence Hall Move InVarious Locations
Welcome to Loras College! As you arrive at your assigned Residence Hall, Residence Life, and our Welcome Team will greet you and your guests and help you settle into your room.   
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Ring In Your First YearWahlert Hall Lawn
Welcome to Loras College! As you arrive at your assigned Residence Hall, Residence Life and our Welcome Team will greet you and your guests and help you settle into your room.   
3:00 p.m.Welcome MassChrist the King Chapel
 Participate in this tradition of ringing our Victory Bell. Students ring the bell at the beginning and again at the end of their Loras careers. You will want to capture the moment with a photo for a comparison in 2028!   
4:00 p.m.Families Say Goodbye   
Say goodbye to your family and head to the Rock Bowl for the welcome ceremony.
4:15 – 5:00 p.m.Welcome CeremonyRock Bowl
Attend the Welcome Ceremony with your Engaging Communities class. This event will kick off your career as a Loras College student, and it is mandatory for all first-year students. 
5:00 – 5:45 p.m.Engaging Communities Meet-n-GreetTBD
Attend the Engaging Communities Meet-n-Greet – it is mandatory for all first-year students.
5:45 – 6:45 p.m.Welcome CookoutMARC Lawn
Enjoy the cookout with members of your Engaging Communities class. Mandatory for all first-year students. 
7:30 p.m.Welcome to Residence LifeVarious Halls
 Join your RAs and fellow Duhawks for your first official residence hall meeting of the 2024-25 year! Mandatory for all first-year residents. 
9:00 p.m.PizzapaloozaMARC Lawn
 Enjoy pizza from some of the favorite local pizza places.   
10:30 p.m.Welcome HomeVarious Halls
 Join your RAs and fellow Duhawks for your first official residence hall meeting of the 2024-25 year! This meeting is mandatory for all first-year residents. 

Friday, August 23

CLUSTER 1: Cluster information Participant Workbook pg 5-6. Mandatory for all first-year residents.​

7:15 a.m. Breakfast
8:15 a.m. Load Busses
9:00 a.m. Ropes Course Experience
11:00 a.m. Engaging Communities Class #2
12:30 p.m. Lunch
CLUSTER 2 Cluster information Participant Workbook pg 5-6. Mandatory for all first-year residents.​

8:15 a.m. Breakfast
9:15 a.m. Engaging Communities Class #2
10:45 a.m. Load Busses
11:30 a.m. Ropes Course Experience
1:15 p.m. Lunch
4:30 – 6:00 p.m.Dinner with your Peer AdvisorCafeteria
 Your PA will communicate what time your section will meet 
6:30 p.m.Campus Scavenger Hunt 
 Join your Orientation Leaders in this fun and interactive event to help you get to know the Loras College campus.   
8:00 p.m.Slip-n-Slide Water PartyMARC Lawn
 Come cool off with some water games as well as yard games to meet some new Duhawks.   
10:30 p.m.Residence Hall SocialsVarious Halls
 Get to know your RAs and fellow Duhawks that live in your Residence Hall​! 

Saturday, August 24

7:15 – 9:30 a.m.BreakfastCafeteria

Gather together in the Loras cafeteria for breakfast. 
9:00 a.m. – NoonDu-DowntownDowntown Dubuque
Join your OL and fellow Duhawks and explore downtown Dubuque and visit some of the local businesses. Mandatory for all first-year students. 
12:00 p.m.Lunch with your Orientation Leader  Cafeteria
Gather together in the Loras cafeteria for lunch.
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.DuConnect FestTBD
Enjoy the carnival atmosphere of this festival as you get to know some of our many student organizations. Mandatory for all first-year students. 
2:00 – 6:30 p.m.Peer Advisor MeetingsVarious Locations
All first-year students will meet with your Peer Advisor for 15 minutes. Mandatory for all first-year students. 
5:00 p.m.Dinner with your floorCafeteria
 Enjoy dinner with your residence hall floor. 
6:30 p.m.Walk my scheduleLoras Campus
 Don’t be late on the first day of class! Loras Orientation Leaders will assist you in finding classrooms for your fall semester classes. 
7:30 p.m.First Year Bingo ExtravaganzaBallroom
 Come join your classmates in a campus favorite student event.  Have an opportunity to win PS5, flat screen tv, gift cards, and much more! 
9:00 p.m.Late Night in the CafeCafeteria
 Join your fellow Duhawks in this favorite program with free food, drinks, music, and fun.    
10:30 p.m.Residence Hall SocialVarious Halls

Sunday, August 25

7:15 – 9:30 a.m.Breakfast  Cafeteria
Gather together in the Loras cafeteria for breakfast.
10:15 – 11:30 a.m.Engaging Communities ClassTBD
Wrap up your Launch into Loras experience with this session. Mandatory for all first-year students. 
11:30 a.m.Presidential LunchBallroom
This is another favorite Loras tradition.  Join President Jim Collins and your fellow Duhawks for a special meal to kick off your first year.  Dress is Business Casual. Mandatory for all first-year students. 
2:00 – 8:00 p.m.Peer Advisor MeetingsTBD
All first-year students will meet with your Peer Advisor for 15 minutes. Mandatory for all first-year students. 
8:00 p.m.Sunday MassChrist the King Chapel

Launch Schedule:
Transfer Students

Friday, August 23

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.Transfer Student Move-InACC Concourse
Transfer students can pick up their housing keys in the ACC Concourse and have a member of the 
transfer staff walk them to their campus housing.  
 
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.Transfer Student Welcome (Mandatory)3rd Floor MARC
PA Introductions, team building, hand out t-shirts, review schedule. Introduction to Downtown
Dubuque Bingo and DuConnect Fest.  
 
5:30 p.m.Dinner in the CafeCafeteria
 Gather together in the Loras cafeteria for dinner.   
6:30 p.m.Campus Scavenger Hunt   
Say goodbye to your family and head to the rockbowl for the welcome ceremony.
8:00 p.m.Slip-n-Slide Water PartyMARC Lawn
Join your fellow Duhawks, and have fun with Giant Slip n’ Slide, light snacks, drinks, yard games, music, water balloons, water guns, etc. 
10:30 p.m.Residence Hall SocialsVarious Halls
Meet your Engaging Communities professor, peer advisor, Success Coordinator, and fellow classmates. Mandatory for all first-year students.

Transfer Students
Saturday, August 24

7:30 – 9:30 a.m.BreakfastCafeteria

Gather together in the Loras cafeteria for breakfast. 
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Du Downtown Dubuque (Mandatory)Downtown Dubuque
Join your OL and fellow Duhawks and explore downtown Dubuque and visit some of the local businesses.  
12:00 p.m.Lunch Cafeteria
Gather together in the Loras cafeteria for lunch.
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.Campus Fest (Mandatory)MARC Lawn
Enjoy the carnival atmosphere of this festival as you get to know some of our many student organizations. 
2:15 – 4:00 p.m.Transfer and Transformation Meeting (Mandatory)3rd Floor MARC
All transfer students will gather for a mandatory Transfer Student meeting.  
4:00 p.m.Walk my scheduleLoras Campus
 Don’t be late on the first day of class! You will be assisted in finding classrooms for your Fall classes. 
5:30 p.m.Dinner in the CafeCafeteria
Gather together in the Loras cafeteria for dinner.  
7:30 p.m.New Student Bingo ExtravaganzaBallroom
 Come join your fellow new students in a campus favorite. Have an opportunity to win PS5, flat screen tv, gift cards, and much more! 
9:00 p.m.Late Night in the CafeCafeteria
 Join your fellow Duhawks in this favorite program with free food, drinks, music, and fun.    

Transfer Students
Sunday, August 25

7:30 – 9:30 a.m.Breakfast  Cafeteria
Gather together in the Loras cafeteria for breakfast.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.Transfer and Transformation Meeting (Mandatory)TBD
Wrap up your Launch into Loras experience in this session. Students will need their laptops to go over software programs needed for success. 
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.Welcome Luncheon (Mandatory)The Pub
This is another favorite Loras tradition. Join members of the College Administrative team and your fellow Duhawks for a special meal to kick off your first year at Loras. Dress is Business Casual. 
4:30 – 7:00 p.m.Dinner in the CafeCafeteria
Gather together in the Loras cafeteria for dinner.  
8:00 p.m.Sunday MassChrist the King Chapel