Washington and Lee University will shorten first-year orientation by two days next school year in an effort to improve the program. But that isn’t the only change.

University officials also want to reduce operating times for the Traveller busing system during orientation, according to a student who spoke with administrators about the changes. The student requested confidentiality for fear of retaliation from the university.

On Feb. 21, Jason Rodocker, the dean of first-year experience, sent out an email to current first-years, sophomores and juniors. The email informed students that first-year move-in day would now take place on Monday, Aug. 24, instead of a Saturday, shortening orientation from 12 days to 10 days. 

The first day of classes will still be held on a Thursday. In 2026, classes will start on Sept. 3.

The email also announced other changes, including the introduction of a new orientation leader position and a later move-in date for upperclassmen. Rodocker said in an email to the Phi that it all came as the result of a broad reevaluation by the first-year experience team — the first such review in 10 years.

“We are confident that these shifts are essential to welcoming our new students to campus and setting them up for success,” he said.

A shorter schedule

In past years, the Saturday move-in date has been followed by a six-day window for Leading Edge pre-orientation trips. After that, students are on campus full-time for what’s commonly called “O-week,” a five-day stretch of tours and information sessions before the start of classes.

Leading Edge pre-orientation trips will still be six days long, according to Rodocker’s initial email. But O-week will get two days shorter.

“The shortened on-campus programming will focus on our new students developing healthy balance and meaningful connections,” Rodocker said in his first email.

To accomplish this, the university will discontinue events like the Voices of W&L presentation, Rodocker said in his email to the Phi. Voices of W&L featured a series of student-performed skits meant to educate first-years about college life issues like drinking and driving, sexual assault, eating disorders and more. 

The Perspectives tour, which takes students to theme houses and other buildings around campus, will also end, according to Rodocker’s email to the Phi.

The university is also planning to cut down on information sessions during orientation by creating a summer webinar series and increasing communication with students once the semester starts.

“These shifts will ensure students receive information when it is most relevant, rather than all at once,” Rodocker said in his email to the Phi. “By optimizing our schedule and reducing the on-campus orientation duration by two days, we are making room for a more focused, high-energy welcome experience.”

Move-in times for upperclassmen have also been pushed closer to the start of classes. Upper-division students could check in on a Friday and Saturday in 2025. Now they’ll move in on Tuesday, Sep. 1 — two days before classes start.

Trav’s timetable

Traveller, Washington and Lee’s safe ride transportation system for off-campus parties, normally operates from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. In the past, Trav has expanded its schedule during O-week to also include the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before classes start.

The student who spoke to the Phi confidentially said administrators want to limit Trav’s O-week operation to just Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The student said one goal is to keep students from drinking too much.

“I think one of the main reasons they’re trying to reduce people going out is because there were a lot of hospitalizations last year during O-week,” the student said.

But the student said limiting Trav’s days of operation will lead to negative side effects, including a loss of work hours for Trav’s student employees. The student also said they don’t think this change will actually stop the problems with alcohol.

“People are going to go out regardless,” the student said. “O-week craziness is going to happen no matter what.”

Even though the university hasn’t announced it will be limiting Trav’s hours, the student who spoke to the Phi said the change is probably coming.

“I got the sense that we are going to limit it,” the student said. “But it’s hard to say for sure.”

Relief for RAs

Rodocker’s initial email also introduced the new orientation leader position. Orientation leaders will be responsible for overseeing groups of first-years during the orientation process. 

According to the email, Washington and Lee created the position to take pressure off resident assistants (RAs), who previously supervised first-years during orientation. 

“This new structure allows our Resident Assistants to focus on their primary responsibility of creating a vibrant, supportive community on their residence hall floors,” Rodocker wrote in his email to the Phi.

The student who spoke to the Phi confidentially said they think this change is a good idea.

“I really like the idea of orientation leaders, just cause it gives more chances for more upperclassmen to be involved,” the student said. “[It’s] kind of relieving the pressure off of RAs from having to shepherd all the first-years around.”