Destination Arizona
Welcome New Wildcats!
Orientation & New Student Services is excited to welcome all new University of Arizona students during our Destination Arizona program beginning on August 22nd! DAZ is a two-day program that takes place on the main University of Arizona campus. Students learn what it means to be a Wildcat through sessions about Arizona's traditions and resources. After Destination Arizona ends, Wildcat Welcome begins!
Learn more about Destination Arizona on the orientation website.
Support starts at DAZ for our First Cats!
At U of A we define a first-gen student, or First Cat as a student whose parents did not receive a bachelor’s degree. We have more than 10,000 First Cats on campus, and we have programs and resources specific to support our First Cats.
Check out sessions on the DAZ schedule from the Thrive Center to help you navigate campus, understand your balance and student account, and connect you with other students with similar interests!
First-Gen support and programming can be found at the Thrive Center. This year’s programming is sponsored by a generous grant from TIAA and First-Gen Forward.
Thursday, August 21st | What is College, & What the Heck Did I Get Myself into?
- English session | 2:00pm | BASC 102, Thrive Center
- Spanish session | 4:00pm | BASC 102, Thrive Center
- Indigenous Students & Families | 4:00pm | Bear Down 104
Learn the ins and outs of the U of A and how it differs from K-12: new terms, acronyms, various roles of staff and faculty on campus, important dates and deadlines, and making the most of your college experience.
Friday, August 22nd | Why Do I Still Have a Balance?
1:00pm - 4:00pm | BASC 102, Thrive Center
If you still have a balance when you log into your Student Center, and you're not sure why, come to this session for support. There will be a brief presentation to start, but feel free to drop in at any time to learn more about how to pay for college.
Saturday, August 23rd | First Cats Mixer
10:00am - 12:00pm | BASC First Floor
Come connect with other first-generation college students and join a "50" group with other First Cats who have similar interests as you