- <a href="/live/image/gid/698/width/650/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image98976"> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 500px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/698/width/500/height/240/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/698/width/500/height/240/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/698/width/500/height/240/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 800px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/698/width/800/height/383/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/698/width/800/height/383/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/698/width/800/height/383/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 1200px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/698/width/1200/height/575/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/698/width/1200/height/575/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg 2x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(min-width: 1201px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/698/width/1440/height/690/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/698/width/1440/height/690/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg 2x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/698/width/1440/height/690/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg" alt="New Student Peer Mentors pose on the Glade." width="1440" height="690" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/698/width/1440/height/690/crop/1/98976_EVNT-E2-0822-0007.rev.1683911295.jpg 2x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2136"/> </picture> </a><div class="hero-full_image_caption collapsable-caption"> New Student Peer Mentors pose on the Glade.</div>
First-Year Experience
Your first year at L&C is full of a lot of excitement—and a lot of learning! Adjusting to your new home, friends, and coursework can be overwhelming, but our fantastic student support systems are here to guide you every step of the way.
Our First-Year Experience (FYE) is designed to help all new students—first year and transfer—with the transition to college life at Lewis & Clark. By connecting you to our on-campus resources and hosting events to foster a sense of belonging from day one, you will thrive in your personal and academic journey.
Meet Your Team
- Your Admissions Counselor will guide you through the admissions process.
- The Office of Financial Aid can answer all your affordability questions.
- The New Student Peer Mentors will be your support system throughout NSO and fall semester.
- Our academic support and resources will help you thrive in class and stay on track for graduation.
- The Career Center will assist you on your professional journey (even after graduation).
- The Office of Student Accessibility is here to help you access accommodation resources.
- Our Campus Living staff makes your residence hall feel like home.
- Our holistic wellness resources will connect you to yourself and the community.
- Franchesca Spann BA ’20
Our office helps new students engage with support offices, learn about resources for academic success, make meaningful connections with faculty, and unlock skills that will help them when they graduate.
First-Year Experience CoordinatorMore about Franchesca - Jonathan Manz
We strive to help incoming students (both first year and transfer) make personal connections, find ways to engage with the many opportunities at L&C, and successfully meet their academic goals.
Director of First-Year ExperienceMore about Jonathan
Specialized Support
Great Expectations
The Great Expectations Mentorship (GEM) Program is designed to support incoming BIPOC and/or first-generation new students with their transition to Lewis & Clark College.

International Students
As you start your life as a college student in the U.S., our International Students and Scholars Office is ready to support you, beginning with a specialized orientation!

Transfer Students
We recognize that as a transfer student, your needs differ from those of a first-year student. From the admission process to orientation, we ensure you have the support you need.
Your First Year
The New Student Summer Checklist launches in May and is designed to help you navigate new student tasks leading up to class registration and your arrival on campus.
The common reading is a New Student Orientation tradition, where all faculty and new students read the same book or articles. During NSO, you will hear from a distinguished speaker related to the reading and have the opportunity to participate in a professor-led small group discussion. More information to come soon about this year’s reading.
Registration for fall semester courses occurs in two rounds, on August 1 and August 3. Learn more.
Every year in August we offer new students an opportunity to launch their Lewis & Clark career in a fun and adventurous way. There are two types of trips: outdoor adventures and on-campus programs. The Pacific Northwest has a lot to offer and we love sharing what we are lucky enough to call our backyard! New Student Trips (NSTs) happen just before the college-wide New Student Orientation (NSO).
Throughout the five-day orientation process at the end of August, free from classes or returning students, you will engage in activities to learn about academic offerings, resources on campus, social outlets, and ways to engage with your new community. You will be assigned a New Student Peer Mentor, who will lead you and a small group of other new students through orientation and fall semester.
Schedule to come.
During NSO, you will be assigned to a small group that consists of other new students, led by a New Student Peer Mentor. Your group will meet regularly throughout orientation, will be the same peers in your First-Year Seminar (Words or Numbers) class, and will connect together for programming during the fall semester (including an excursion off campus in Portland!). Your New Student Peer Mentor will also facilitate one-on-one check-ins with each student in the group.
Kick-off the academic year at our annual Pio Fair in September, hosted by our Student Engagement office! You will meet student leaders from L&C’s 100+ student clubs and organizations, as well as offices and departments to learn about what they have planned for the year and how you can get involved.
Lewis & Clark is committed to the academic success of every student. One of the benefits of our personal approach to education is that we provide many resources to support students, both in and outside of the classroom. We find that the most successful students are the ones who take advantage of these resources!
Congratulations, you made it thorough your first semester of college! Now you are feeling more at home, confident, and ready to take on another semester at L&C. The First-Year Experience team is here for you when you need the support.
#1
Lewis & Clark is number one on Niche’s list of Best College Campuses in Oregon.
125
of our undergraduate students are Third Culture Kids.
15%
first-generation students at Lewis & Clark College
2,188
As of fall 2022, there are 2,188 degree-seeking students enrolled at Lewis & Clark College.
Top 100
Lewis & Clark is in the top 100 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2022–23 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” list.
Featured News
NSO Service Days were a success!
Huge thank you to all of our Community Partners for NSO: Tryon Creek Watershed Council, Friends of Terwilliger, Neighborhood House, Homeplate, SOLVE, SEED Club, Cards for Hospitalized Kids, Brighten a Day, LC Grounds Crew, Write Around Portland, The Blanchet House, Refugee Care Collective, Anti-Cruelty Society
And sincere thank you to all of our Staff and Faculty Volunteers: Tamara Ko, Ben Olson, Rocky Campbell, Doug Lennox, Jerry Harp, Jaime Cale, Gaby Herrmann, Max Lamas, Dylan Carlson, Gregory Dyrek and all those who donated items prior to service day! We appreciate you :)
email nso@lclark.edu
voice 503-768-7191
Director of First-Year Experience Jonathan Manz
First-Year Experience Coordinator Franchesca Spann BA ’20
First-Year Experience
Lewis & Clark
615 S. Palatine Hill Road
Portland OR 97219