Pre-Orientation
September 20 - 24, 2025
Pre-Orientation is for new students. This 5-day, 2-credit course is designed to jump-start your Evergreen education. As a Pre-Orientation student, you can:
- Explore Evergreen’s beautiful 1,000-acre Olympia campus including our forests, beaches, farm and gardens, libraries, labs, studios, and House of Welcome that sits on the traditional lands of the Squaxin Island Tribe
- Discover resources and organizations at Evergreen, in Olympia, and beyond
- Build trusting relationships and support networks with mentors and your fellow Greeners
- Move into Campus Housing early if you are living on-campus in Fall
Apply for Pre-Orientation
An application is required to register for Pre-Orientation. Invitations to apply are sent to your Evergreen email in early June.
- Application Opens: June 2, 2025
- Priority Deadline for Applications: August 4, 2025
Fall 2025
Pre-Orientation Program Tracks
Arts & Letters in Olympia: Invisible Cities
Explore Olympia and Evergreen as artists, writers, and readers
Faculty: Steven Hendricks, Shaw Osha (Flores)
Our focus will be exploring Olympia and Evergreen as artists, writers, and readers with Invisible Cities, Italo Calvino’s weird and wondrous novel of exploration and imagination, as our guide. You’ll get a dynamic introduction to what it’s like to study interdisciplinary arts and humanities at Evergreen. You’ll be introduced to the campus studios, local artists and arts organizations, methods and tools for creative inquiry, and the injunction to enjoy. Throughout the week, students will read, discuss, and create works that respond to place and memory, patterns of life and thought. Perfect for students interested in the visual arts, creative writing, literature, and humanities
Biodiversity in Evergreen’s Backyard
Visit old-growth forests, marine reserves, and local watersheds
Faculty: Paul Przybylowicz and Erik Thuesen
Located at the southern tip of Puget Sound with over ½ mile of beachfront and about 1,000 acres of forest, Evergreen is located at the intersection of the marine and terrestrial worlds. Join us for explorations of the local flora and fauna as we visit some of the local gems; old-growth forests, marine reserves, and local watersheds. We will observe nature at multiple levels, from landscape to microscopic. There will be an all-day field trip using sea kayaks in southern Puget Sound to examine diversity in situ, and microscopy labs that we will use to examine the morphological diversity of local organisms.
Civic Engagement Institute
Launch your experience as a co-learner and leader at Evergreen
Faculty: Carolyn Prouty and Anthony Zaragoza
The Civic Engagement Institute is designed to launch your experience as a co-learner and leader at Evergreen. Our approach to civic engagement emphasizes developing knowledge, capacities, values, and motivation to participate ethically in sustaining the vibrance of our communities, including our own learning community. In our time together, we’ll focus on three aspects of civic engagement and you will learn about:
- What it means to become scholars and organizers engaged in community advocacy or activism by learning about public scholarship, visiting local history projects, and connecting with Olympia organizers.
- Community-engaged research and inquiry by using field techniques for learning, looking, and listening to their communities–including observation and documentation, interviewing, and self-reflection.
- Community-based action and service learning through connecting with Evergreen alumni working in non-profit organizations; in addition, students will volunteer at a local organization during our five-day institute.
Each of our activities will emphasize: a) building awareness of our own identities in the context of the communities we’re a part of, b) community-building among peers and faculty, and c) connecting with potential community partners.
Growing Wellness: Community Gardens and Forest Trails of Olympia
Learn about local food systems, community gardens, and nearby trails
Faculty: Melissa Nivala and Steve Scheuerell
We will focus on the individual and community wellness benefits of having publicly supported local food systems, community gardens, and forest and beach trails. Students will be introduced to local volunteer opportunities while considering the individual wellness and social benefits of regular, active community engagement. In addition to field trips, students will complete a group volunteer activity at the campus organic farm and community gardens and do light trail maintenance on a campus trail. Students will be familiarized with published evidence for the benefits of participating in regular outdoor activities and develop a personal outdoor wellness plan. Students will be introduced to various outdoor spaces on our 1000-acre campus and using the Olympia bus system to access volunteer and recreational opportunities off campus. Field trips include The Olympia Farmers Market, Thurston County Food Bank, GRUB, Heritage Park, Washington State Capitol grounds, Evergreen’s gardens and organic farm, campus forest and beach trails.
Multicultural Scholars
Embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment
Faculty: Kendra Aguilar and Prita Lal
Instructors: Michael Rupp Talamantez and Juanita Hopkins
The Multicultural Scholars Program is a dynamic and empowering experience dedicated to championing the academic and personal growth of incoming students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. In collaboration with faculty, staff, and students, this intensive 2-credit course serves as a pivotal platform for cultivating enduring connections and setting the stage for a successful college journey.
Throughout the program, participants will be immersed in a stimulating blend of seminars, immersive projects, and thought-provoking discussions designed to ignite critical thinking and foster holistic personal development. Additionally, students will have access to a diverse range of wellness practices and tools aimed at nurturing balance and resilience, ensuring they are well-prepared for success in both academic and personal spheres.
Together, we will embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, challenging ingrained perceptions, dismantling biases, and reshaping our understanding of ourselves, our peers, and the world at large.
Pre-Orientation Course Information
- Dates: September 20 - 24, 2025
- Location: Olympia campus and regional field experiences
- Course Credits: 2
Tuition and Fees
Tuition Costs, Course Fee, and Housing Fee
Tuition
- Full-Time Students: If you are enrolled full-time (10-16 credits) for Fall 2025, you can add this course at no additional tuition costs
- Part-Time Students: If you are enrolled part-time (2-9 credits) for Fall 2025, you can add this course at your regular tuition rate
Fees
- Course Fee: $100, Includes transportation, meals, and supplies
- Housing Fee: $100, applicable only if you are moving into Campus Housing early
Accommodations
Access Services and Religious Observance
Reasonable accommodations and adjustments need to be requested as soon as possible.
- For disability accommodations, submit your request with Access Services
- For adjustments for religious observance, reach out to the faculty directly to request holidays for reasons of faith or conscience
Access Services for Students with Disabilities
Holidays for Reasons of Faith or Conscience
Contact Us
New Student Programs
Pre-orientation information
Residential Services
Campus housing & dining
New Student Advising
Degree planning