Orientation

Orientation Header

The Graduate School offers two orientation sessions to support your transition: one for all new graduate students, GradStart, and another specifically for those serving as teaching assistants (TAs). For both GradStart and New TA Orientation offerings, it is important to note that programs and departments may offer and require attendance at additional orientation offerings. Please register for the sessions that apply to you.

Orientation Type	Who Should Attend	Registration Required
New Graduate Student Orientation- GradStart	All incoming graduate students	All new graduate students will be automatically enrolled in the course, opening mid-December 2025
New Teaching Assistant (TA) Orientation	Graduate students with first-time teaching assistant assignments	Yes—you can register here.

See below for important details respective to our Pre-Arrival, GradStart, and TA Orientation offerings. Additionally, the University of Florida International Center (UFIC) has created a series of pre-arrival videos for new international students.

Participate in our virtual Pre-arrival offerings to become familiar with campus resources and strategies you can use to prepare for your relocation to Gainesville, FL, and your graduate journey. All sessions are recorded and will be published below and in the GradStart course, available beginning on August 5th.

Date	Title	Intended Audience	Register to attend
Wednesday, July 2^nd 9:00 a.m. EST Via Zoom Webinar	Navigating the Off-Campus Housing Market and Exploring Life in Gainesville	All new graduate students	Watch the recording and find it in the GradStart course beginning August 5th.
Wednesday, July 9^th 9:00 a.m. EST Via Zoom Webinar	Understanding graduate assistant appointments (with Human Resources)	All new graduate students	Watch the recording and find it in the GradStart course beginning August 5th.
Wednesday, July 16^th 9:00 a.m. EST Via Zoom Webinar	Exploring and engaging with Campus Resources for Success: In this session, we highlight services and resources available to you as a new Gator grad student!	All new Graduate Students	Watch the recording and find it in the GradStart course beginning August 5th.
Wednesday, July 23^rd 9:00 a.m. EST Via Zoom Webinar	Life in the Swamp: Join us for a panel discussion with current graduate students. In this session, you'll learn about involvement opportunities, grad life, campus traditions, and ideas to support your well-being.	All new Graduate Students	Watch the recording and find it in the GradStart course beginning August 5th.

GradStart is the Graduate School's home for orientation resources for all incoming graduate students. GradStart is a Canvas-based orientation program. It provides asynchronous modules that introduce academic expectations at UF. GradStart materials and the event schedule are both accessible through eLearning, and all graduate students are invited to begin navigating the course before their first semester.  Most live sessions will be recorded and posted in the GradStart Canvas course.

Master's and Doctoral students who have been admitted will be automatically enrolled in the GradStart Spring 2026 canvas course in mid-December 2025.

Note: Participation in GradStart, including engagement with its content and attendance at live sessions, is strongly encouraged. GradStart is designed to help new graduate students connect with essential campus resources and support networks. Please note that it does not replace program-level orientations, which will be held separately by individual departments.

Questions? Email grad-success@ufl.edu

Title	Intended Audience	Register to attend
GradStart Canvas Course opens (mid-December 2025)	All new Graduate Students [Spring 2026]	log in via e-learning
GradStart Live Session- Official Welcome hosted by the UF Graduate School	All new Graduate Students	Thursday, January 8th at 10:00am est via Zoom
International Student Orientation with the UF International Center and Cross-Cultural Connections with the Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC)	Mandatory for New F-1 international students	Thursday, January 8th at 1:30 pm est via Zoom
Understanding Graduate Assistantships with HR benefits	All new Graduate Assistants	Friday, January 9th at 10:00 am via Zoom

In collaboration with the Center for Teaching Excellence, the UF Graduate School will host the Fall 2025 New Teaching Assistant (TA) Orientation. New TA Orientation is offered in two parts and is mandatory for graduate students who will be first time teaching assistants beginning in the Fall 2025, Spring 2026, or Summer 2026 semesters.

Part one will feature a welcome and overview of the TA role, a keynote speaker, opportunities to learn from experienced TAs and Faculty while engaging with the panel of experts, and pertinent information from Graduate Assistants United (GAU). Part one will be held synchronously via Zoom. (Note: You can register directly for the Zoom session here or follow the link on the Canvas homepage.)
Part two will be held through a Canvas course for the duration of the Fall semester. New TAs will navigate modules in Canvas/E-Learning to learn about regulations and policies such as student records, classroom management, disability and academic accommodations, best practices, and resources for new TAs.

Registration is now open! Register here!

If you have any questions about TA Orientation, please email grad-success@ufl.edu

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