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 videos linked below prior to orientation.

2025 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, Vice Provost and Dean, Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs D’Anne Duncan, Assistant Dean, Graduate Student Affairs Jennifer Nazareno, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
9:45 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.	Wellness Activity with Student Mental Health and Wellbeing
10:10 a.m. –10:45 a.m.	Student Life Integrated Orientation Q&A Watch the Student Services Orientation videos on the Student Success website and come prepared with questions. Alece Alderson, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Life Lauren Cox, Virtual Engagement and Project Coordinator, Student Life
10:45 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.	Break
10:55 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.	Expectations of a GEPA Student Jennifer Nazareno, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
11:40 a.m. – 1:00 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!
1:00 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.	ORCID Demo Farah Lare-Masters, Business Systems Analyst, Registrar and Student Information
1:10 p.m. – 2:40 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
2:40 p.m. – 4 p.m.	Closing/Ice Cream End the day enjoying a frozen treat with your new friends!

Student Services Orientation Videos

The Student Success Center has prepared several brief videos that introduce you to the key resources, services, and people dedicated to supporting your success at UCSF!

view orientation videos on the student success website

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.