New Student Orientation

WELCOME TO COUGAR NATION!

We are excited to welcome you to our vibrant community. The New Student Experience is designed to seamlessly transition you into the Kean community. Orientation is the heartbeat of the New Student Experience. This is where your “college experience” comes to life, and you begin to see yourself as a Kean Cougar. All incoming Kean Union freshmen students are required to attend.  

Beyond tours, you’ll participate in sessions that introduce you to our diverse campus culture and the wealth of resources available within small groups led by Orientation Leaders. Expect high energy, plenty of icebreakers, and the official start of lifelong friendships. 

Remember to complete the Pre-Orientation Modules before coming to your Orientation date. 

All incoming Fall 2026 Kean Union freshmen students are required to attend orientation as part of New Student Experience to transition from an "accepted student" to "climbing higher” as a Kean Cougar in the fall. 

Register for the session based on your major's college, and if you are undecided, please choose the last session. If you are unable to attend the NSO for your college, please attend the make-up session or any open dates as capacity permits.

Note: To know which college you belong to for orientation registration, find your major. 
 

Orientation Dates:  

• Tuesday, July 7, 2026  
  Colleges: Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology (HCSMT) and College of Business and Public Management (CBPM)   

Register for 7/7 Orientation

• Thursday, July 16, 2026  
  Colleges: College of Education (COE), Michael Graves College (MGC), College of Health Professions and Human Services (CHPHS), and College of Liberal Arts (CLA)  

Register for 7/16 Orientation

• Tuesday, July 21, 2026  
  Colleges: Undecided Majors and Make-Up Session for All Colleges 

Register for 7/21 Orientation

The Office of Accessibility Services provides assistance and accommodations for all students with physical, medical, learning, emotional and/or psychological documented disabilities both temporary and permanent. Any student requiring an accommodation due to a disability needs to contact the Office of Accessibility Services two (2) weeks prior to their selected NSO session. The Office of Accessibility Services can be reached at (908) 737-4910 or accessibilityservices@kean.edu.

If you need or would like to make NSO an overnight trip, you can look into staying at one of local hotels listed below:

Crowne Plaza Newark Airport (2.7 miles away)
901 Spring St, Elizabeth, NJ 07201

The Kenilworth (2.9 miles away)
60 S. 31st St., Kenilworth, NJ 07033

Hilton Newark Airport (3.1 miles away)
1170 Spring St, Elizabeth, NJ 07201

Courtyard by Marriott, Newark/Elizabeth (4.5 miles away)
87 International Blvd, Elizabeth, NJ 07201

Homewood Suites by Hilton, Newark-Cranford (4.6 miles away)
2 Jackson Dr, Cranford, NJ 07016

Hampton Inn, Linden (5.7 miles away)
501 W Edgar Rd, Linden, NJ 07036

Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield (6.4 miles away)
304 US-22, Springfield, NJ 07081

More hotels and information on the area can be found at VisitNJ.org, New Jersey's Official Tourism website.