August 6, 2025
Dear Class of 2029,
During your first weeks on campus, much of your time will be devoted to getting settled, choosing classes, and sorting out the logistics for making the important transition to college. Just as important, this is also a time to start thinking about the community you are joining and learning about how to engage with it.
Dwight Hall
Community and civic engagement is an integral part of a Yale education. Dwight Hall at Yale, the oldest and largest student-led service organization in the country, is a vibrant center for students looking to learn from community leaders and meet fellow students. Visit Dwight Hall on Old Campus anytime to learn about volunteer opportunities, join a mission-based member group, or attend one of its many events over the year. Stop into the Dwight Hall Open House during Opening Days to meet the staff and students that lead the organization.
You can also join Dwight Hall’s group on YaleConnect, explore Dwight Hall’s website to get a sense of what’s available for you, or talk to student leaders, who are always happy to help. You can even register for a coming Service Opportunity or explore student organizations you can support. If you are participating in FOCUS on New Haven for your Camp Yale Program, you will learn more about the values behind Yale students’ community engagement efforts. If you aren’t, you can join First Years in Support of New Haven as a featured institutional program of Dwight Hall that works especially with first-years.
Whatever your interests may be, please complete the First-Year Service Survey to help Dwight Hall build programming that meets your needs.
Civic engagement
Participating in political life has long been a way for Yale students to engage with the community and contribute to civic debate. If you wish to participate in political campaign activity, be sure to read the published guidelines and related FAQs. Resources for voter registration, access to local or mail in voting resources, support voting initiatives, and deadline and requirement information regarding state and federal election information can be found on the Yale Votes website.
Finally, remember that Dean Lewis wrote earlier this summer with resources and training about free expression, particularly the Woodward report and the Perspectives training program, with its deadline of August 17. And last week, Elizabeth Conklin wrote about policies, procedures, and training related to discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct; that training's deadline is September 15.
With best wishes,
Hannah Peck
Associate Dean of Student Affairs
Yale College Dean's Office
Coming dates and deadlines
August 15 - Last day to complete Yale 101: Mapping Your Academic Journey
Last Day to schedule a peer advising session, required of all first-year students
Last day to indicate a preference for the “Ways of Knowing” talks during orientation.
August 17 - Last day to complete Perspectives training
August 20 - Registration
FIRST-YEAR WEBSITE
DATES AND DEADLINES
FORMS AND TASKS
FAQS
CAMP YALE
Have a Question? Write to us.