August 29 & September 2, 2022
What should you bring to orientation?
A reusable water bottle is a must-have. Face coverings and laptops are optional.
TIME | DAY ONE: MONDAY, AUGUST 29 | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 9:15 AM | Registration, Mingle, Resources Expo, & Tours Coffee & Light Refreshments Served | Rotunda |
| 10:30 AM | Orientation Opening & Campus Resources Assistant Dean Frances Laviscount | Peace and Justice Theatre |
| 10:45 AM | Welcome from Dean Patricia Márquez | Peace and Justice Theatre |
| 10:50 AM | You in a Nutshell! | Peace and Justice Theatre |
| 12:00 PM | Welcome Luncheon During lunch: Peacemakers Postcards | Garden of the Sea |
| 1:15 PM | Peer Sessions (choose one and register) | |
| Innovative Thinking Through Art & Storytelling with Stephanie Montes | KIPJ 247 | |
| USD Graduate Interfaith Series with Deepti Thakoor | KIPJ Reflection Room | |
| 2:30 PM | Peer Sessions (choose one and register) | |
| Authentic Relating Games with Bijan Heydari | KIPJ 247 | |
| If you can see it, you can build it - A visual guide to +Peace with Franco Castro Escobar | KIPJ 249 | |
| Democratic Dialogues! Social Movements and Gun Control with Mackoy Turpen | KIPJ H | |
3:30 PM | Day one of Orientation ends |
TIME | TUESDAY, AUGUST 30 | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 PM | Hike and Hops with PJSA | Meet in front of Jenny Craig Pavilion |
TIME | DAY TWO: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 AM | Dean’s Breakfast 2022 Cohort Group Photo | Garden of the Sea |
| 10:15 AM | Program Breakout: MASI | KIPJ 249 |
| 10:15 AM | Program Breakout: MSCMR | KIPJ 247 |
| 10:15 AM | Program Breakout: MAPJ | KIPJ H |
| 11:30 AM | Meet your Faculty Advisor | KIPJ CD |
12:00 PM | Orientation Ends |
Session Descriptions
Day One
Expo and Building Tours
Arrive early for breakfast refreshments and mix and mingle with USD services available for graduate students. You may also participate on a tour of the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Building.
Orientation Opening
Join Assistant Dean Frances Laviscount in the Peace and Justice Theatre to open orientation. Students will briefly learn about the many services offered to Kroc School students.
Dean’s Welcome
Hear from Dr. Patricia Márquez, Associate Provost for Academic Planning and Innovation; Dean & Professor of Social Innovation at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies.
You in a Nutshell!
Sit back and enjoy the premiere of the “You in a Nutshell!” Video series for the 2022 Kroc School Cohort. Feel free to stand and/or wave when your video is presented.
Peacemaker Postcards and Lunch
Students will be led through a moment for personal reflection. While knowing you are surrounded by your Kroc School community, envision for yourself how you would like to remake the world. Write a postcard to your future self with your current intentions and visions for your time in your academic program and beyond. How will you play your part in remaking our world?
The Kroc School will mail this postcard to you toward the end of your academic program, and we will hold faculty-led reflection sessions in which we look back at these postcards. Please input the address where you would like your postcard to be sent when you graduate.
Innovative Thinking Through Art & Storytelling
Stephanie Montes, MASI Student
The purpose of this workshop is to help students use alternative ways of using language to answer “why” they got here to Kroc. Students will interpret questions and stories through their own lens and create a visual representation of who they are. By using a creative session design, the goal is for students to feel comfortable in their own identities to build a sense of belonging at Kroc.
USD Graduate Interfaith Series
Deepti Thakoor, MS-CMR Student
This session is a taster of a series of dialogue sessions which will take place over the Fall 2022. The USD Graduate Interfaith Series is a part of my independent study as I embark on the third semester of my masters in Conflict Management and Resolution at the Kroc School of Peace Studies. It will take the form of a series of 6 small group dialogues. The purpose of these conversations is to encourage challenging and interesting conversations around a shared human experience to promote a better understanding of each other’s faith.
There is a need for such a platform if USD wants to position itself as a truly diverse and inclusive campus, welcoming students from different countries, backgrounds, cultures, religions and beliefs. In light of the catholic values which the University holds, making space for people of different faiths to come together and explore their uniqueness is the way towards creating a truly peaceful society
Authentic Relating Games
Bijan Heydari, MS-CMR Student
If you’re looking to make connections with new friends in a new environment, authentic relating games will help bridge those early struggles. Authentic relating games encompass a wide variety of activities that allow us to learn from, connect with, and relate to others. We invite you to start building your Kroc community!
If you can see it, you can build it – A visual guide to +Peace
Franco Castro Escobar, MAPJ Student
I would like to introduce incoming students to the concept of Positive Peace with a “Visual Guide and Dialogue”. My proposal is a dialogue that would involve using 24 artistic illustrations and a few facilitation techniques.
Democratic Dialogues! Social Movements and Gun Control
Mackoy Turpen, MAPJ Student
From day one students should be exposed to a restorative structure in an attempt normalize information dissemination that incentivizes active listening, understanding, and empathy in favor of dissenting dogmatism. To achieve this, students will democratically decide what hot button topic they would most like to discuss, and we will design a dialogue for that topic. The topic our incoming students voted on for this dialogue will be “social movements and gun control.”
Day Two
Dean’s Breakfast
Students are invited to get to know Dean Patricia Márquez during this informal event. Faculty and staff will also be present to mix and mingle with the Fall 2022 cohort.
Meet your Faculty Advisor
Your academic advisor will play an important role in your time as a Kroc School student. This meeting time will allow you to get to know the faculty member and your peers.
Program Breakouts
Social Innovation, Peace and Justice, and Conflict Management and Resolution students will meet with just their programs to get to know the professors, continuing students, and their cohort.
FAQs About Orientation
What is the face covering policy for orientation?
USD has made face coverings in indoor spaces optional for everyone. For more information on USD’s health and safety updates, please review the COVID-19 Campus Action Plan
What is the suggested attire for orientation?
Attire for all orientation events is casual. Please bring layers as room temperatures cannot be changed.
Should I bring my Reusable Water Bottle?
Yes! Please bring a reusable water bottle — no water will be served during orientation. We encourage our students to refill their water in the multiple bottle filling stations in the building.
What devices do I need?
Students may use their device or laptop during both days of orientation to participate in workshops, but devices won’t be required. If you bring a device, please be sure it is charged and you bring your power cord. You will need to connect to the USD wifi, eduroam, to participate.
What should I expect for parking at USD during orientation?
Parking will be limited during orientation. Please allow ample time — we suggest at least 30 minutes ahead of the start time — to search for parking and to take the USD Tram Service to the Kroc IPJ Building. For more information about USD parking, please visit this resource for students.
I’m riding my bike to campus — where can I lock it up?
USD worked with Park-a-Bike to install new bike racks as a two phase upgrade to increase bike parking and bike safety on campus. The increase in bike parking spaces is to encourage students and staff to commute to campus through cycling and alternative transportation. You can also check-out a bike for free from the USD Bike Library! Review bike safety tips before you ride.
Where can I find more information about alternative transportation?
Student and employee commuting comprises 27% of USD’s total carbon footprint. There are multiple modes of transportation that can help contribute to reducing USD’s impact on the environment. Please visit USD’s Office of Sustainability Programs website for more information.