The School of Public Policy's Orientation for new MPA Fellows and annual School-wide Welcome Social provides an interactive opportunity for incoming graduate students to learn about program expectations, enrichment options, and degree requirements; meet faculty and staff, returning students, and alumni; and most importantly, be welcomed into the School of Public Policy (SPP) community!

Details and T-Shirt Request
Attendance at Orientation from 3:00-5:00pm is required. Orientation will be immediately followed by our annual SPP Welcome Social at 5:00pm. We strongly encourage you to attend the Welcome Social to get to know each other, meet returning students, and get to know the SPP faculty, staff and alumni. You do not need to stay for the entire time. Light refreshments will be served.

Students will receive their free SPP t-shirt and swag at Orientation. Please complete our t-shirt order form by August 14 to request your size.

Location and Parking
Check-in will be in the Atrium of the Hartford Times Building (HTB). The entrance to the HTB is on Front Street across from the UConn Bookstore and Starbucks (maps and directions).

If parking on campus for 2025-2026, students parking at the Hartford campus need to purchase their permits before August 21*. Please view the information here for details on student access to the garages. UConn Hartford offers dedicated student parking in the Connecticut Convention Center and Connecticut Science Center garages. On-street metered parking is also available. Students are need to purchase their parking permit and have their transponder installed prior to Orientation.

*There is free parking on most streets near the Hartford campus Monday through Friday after 6:00pm and on weekends. See kiosks at parking spaces for free parking availability.

Additional Information
Please wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. 

Questions? Contact us at publicpolicy@uconn.edu or Catherine Guarino, Director of Student and Academic Affairs, at catherine.guarino@uconn.edu. 
 

We look forward to meeting you!