Welcome, New Graduate Students!

We are pleased to welcome you to UCSF and to San Francisco. We’ve provided helpful resources and information to make the most of your time here.

Orientation for New Master’s and PhD Students

You may have an orientation with your program, but Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) orientation is an additional orientation that includes information required by the university. Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs orientation takes place on UCSF’s Mission Bay campus.

Save the date for Friday, September 5, 2025! More details will be available as the event nears. It’s helpful to watch the Student Services video below prior to orientation.

2024 Agenda

Time	Activity
8:15 a.m. – 9 a.m.	Registration and Breakfast Breakfast will be provided. Please bring your student ID (if available to you).
9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.	Dean's Welcome and Kickoff Activities Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs Deans welcome you and provide an overview of the day’s events. Nicquet Blake, Dean, Graduate Division and Vice Provost, Student Academic Affairs D’Anne Duncan, Assistant Dean, Diversity and Learner Success Jennifer Nazareno, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs
9:45 – 9:55 a.m.	ORCID Demo Farah Lare-Masters, Business Systems Analyst, Registrar and Student Information
9:55 – 10:15 a.m.	Wellness Activity with Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Jeanne Stanford, PhD, Interim Executive Director, Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Cynthia Tawasha Diwan, M.A., LMFT, Clinical Coordinator, Student Mental Health and Wellbeing
10:30 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.	Student Life Integrated Orientation Q&A Watch the Student Life video and come prepared with questions. Alece Alderson, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Life Lauren Cox, Virtual Engagement and Project Coordinator, Student Life
11:10 a.m. – 12 p.m.	Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Orientation with CARE (Campus Advocacy Resources & Education) Advocate This session is mandatory for all new students and covers Sexual Assault, Gender Based Violence, and Harassment and Discrimination Awareness & Prevention.  Sarah Lance, Associate Director of CARE, UC Law San Francisco
12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Lunch and Fall Celebration for New Students Lunch will be provided alongside a Fall Celebration for all new students. Come learn about campus services, join a student group, and mingle with other students!
1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.	Mentor/Mentee Responsibilities and Navigating Conflicts of Interest This session explores professional skills and strategies needed to establish high-functioning working relationships (i.e. advisers, sponsors, PI, etc.) and provides on-campus resources to help navigate these relationships. Naledi Saul, Director, Office of Career and Professional Development
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.	Closing/Ice Cream End the day enjoying a frozen treat with your new friends!

Virtual Integrated Student Services Orientation

This video orientation, prepared by the Student Success Center, introduces you to the key resources, services, and people dedicated to supporting your success at UCSF!

Video Chapters with Timestamps

Specific topics are discussed at the following times:

0:05 - Introduction
1:14 - Academics - Learning Resource Services
4:07 - Academics - UCSF Library
5:59 - Academics - Student Disability Services
7:55 - Finances - Student Financial Services
8:54 - Finances - Basic Needs and Food Security for Students
9:34 - Student Involvement
11:05 - Community - Multicultural Resource Center
13:27 - Community - LGBT Resource Center
14:55 - Community - Undocumented Student Support Services
17:09 - Community - Disability Access and Inclusion
20:38 - Community - First Generation Support Services
21:52 - Community - Guardian Scholars Program
22:56 - Community - Student Veteran and Military Support Services
23:26 - Community - International Students and Scholars Services
24:20 - Community - Student Rights and Responsibilities
25:35 - Community - UCSF Police Department
27:38 - Community - Office of the Ombuds
31:41 - Community - Restorative Justice Practices
34:02 - Community - Transportation Services
36:20 - Well-being - Fitness and Recreation
38:46 - Well-being - UC Student Health
41:21 - Well-being - Student Mental Health and Wellbeing
44:24 - Well-being - Family Services
46:16 - Career - Office of Career and Professional Development
47:58 - Career - UCSF Connect

Community Circles

New PhD students will be invited to participate in Community Circles within their specific program. These facilitated conversations encompass community building, understanding personal values and identities, and collectively developing community values that align with the individuals in the program. Please contact your program administrator if you have questions.

Important Reminders and Resources

First Year Rotations

Basic and biomedical science PhD students: Good rotations set you up for finding a good dissertation lab ... but what's a good rotation and how do you have one? Visit the new Conducting Successful Rotations webpage. It covers what you need to do and understand before, during, and after your rotations.

Basic Needs

Visit basicneeds.ucsf.edu to learn about the resources available to support your well-being, including the Student Food Market, CalFresh, the Food4Students app, and more.

UCSF Mobile App

Powered by Campus Life Services, the UCSF Mobile App offers information on shuttles, parking, campus retailers, news, events, and more. Find more details and download the app.

WarnMe Alert System

WarnMe is UCSF's enterprise-wide alerting and warning service. Your UCSF-assigned email address is automatically added to WarnMe. You can also receive alerts via a personal phone, text message device, mobile app, pager or personal email. Sign up to receive WarnMe alerts via text message.

Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination

Employees and students can report complaints of sexual violence and sexual harassment, and other protected category harassment and discrimination via email at [email protected], by calling 415-502-3400, or submitting a complaint here: ophd.ucsf.edu/reporting-form.