Destination Arizona

Friday, August 23 - Saturday, August 24

Your journey at the University of Arizona is about to begin! Are you ready? 

Destination Arizona is a mandatory program designed to welcome all new students, like yourself, to campus before the start of classes. Our goal is to ensure that you feel welcomed and know that you can find your community of Wildcats. 

Destination Arizona programming focuses on three themes that offer new students the opportunity to discover all that Arizona has to offer and support them during their time here.

Academic Enrichment
Academic units will be providing new students with resources on how to be a successful student within their program(s) by understanding academic expectations. Additionally, students will be given the opportunity to strengthen and foster their relationship with their academic unit through various activities alongside their peers. 

Self-Advocacy
Entering a new environment can be scary and exciting. Arizona has a wide variety of resources and wants students to succeed during their time here. Destination Arizona programming provides students the tools and resources needed to establish confidence in order to advocate for themselves and their well-being; academically and personally. 

Community Engagement 
What does it mean to be a Wildcat? Find out how Wildcat and Tucson pride is ingrained in student life through various opportunities to connect with campus resources, other new students, and current students.

Sessions + Events

Destination Arizona is a mix of mandatory & optional programming. Students will have two (2) programs they are required to attend over the span of the weekend. Sessions are based on Academic Unit and Destination Arizona Group numbers. In addition to mandatory programs, Destination Arizona will offer various optional programming for students to build an entire weekend of learning, fun and connection! 

Details are subject to change. Mandatory program session times and locations along with the opportunity to build your personalized schedule will be released the week of July 1.

 

Next Stop: Academic Unit Welcome

Mandatory Program
Friday, August 23
Time Commitment: 1.5 Hours 

Next Stop is the first step to your academic journey at Arizona! Connect with your Academic Unit’s faculty, staff, current students and new peers through academic expectation presentations and community building activities.

Convocation

Mandatory Program
Saturday, August 24
Time Commitment: 1 Hour

Join us for the official closing to Destination Arizona and your official welcome to The University of Arizona. Convocation will mix the themes and lessons of Destination Arizona with Arizona pride to get new students excited about everything that their new journey at Arizona has in store for them! Hear from University Officials like President Robbins, Academic Deans, current students and more.

Small Groups

Friday, August 23 & Saturday, August 24
Time Commitment: 1 Hour and 15 Minutes

Led by Destination Arizona Leaders. Small Groups provide incoming students an opportunity to connect with a group of ~35 other new students and bond over their new experiences. Destination Arizona Leaders will guide new students in making connections and share their Wildcat expertise. Small groups will meet Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24. 

Resource Fair

Friday, August 23
11 AM - 2 PM

Meet various campus departments at the same time and learn a little more about how their office is built to support you as a student at Arizona.

Campus Mixers

Saturday, August 24
1 PM - 4 PM

Meet and mingle with resources centers and offices like our Cultural Centers and learn about how these centers support students who identify within their identities.

Evening Oasis

Saturday, August 24
6 PM - 10 PM

The grand finale to Destination Arizona! Join us for food, fun and music! To participate in all the fun that Evening Oasis has to offer be sure to fill out the Liability Waiver. Please note this event is only open to new students – non-incoming students will not be allowed entry.

Get Prepared

With questions about access or to request any disability-related accommodations at Destination Arizona such as ASL interpreting, closed-captioning, wheelchair access, or electronic text, etc., please contact our office at destination@arizona.edu

During Destination Arizona, we will be using two different apps. Both apps are available for download free of charge on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. 

  • Our Arizona Guidebook will provide you a full schedule of events, on-campus locations, resources and so much more! Once in the Arizona Guidebook, you will see the program guide for Destination Arizona. Feel free to begin adding events to your schedule and planning your experience. 
  • The Goosechase app is an interactive scavenger hunt that you can engage with during your entire Destination Arizona experience. Once the event begins, you will see specific missions that pop-up. Each mission that you complete awards different points. During our Convocation, we will be announcing our top scorers and awarding prizes! Game code will be provided via email and Next Steps Center. Please note the Destination Arizona game will not be live until August 18 when Destination Arizona Check-In events begin. 

Notice of Photographic and Media Recording

When you attend Destination Arizona, you enter an area where photography, audio recording and video recording may occur. By entering the event premises, you consent to such media recording and its release, publication, exhibition or reproduction to be used for news, webcasts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising and inclusion on websites. You further waive all rights you may have to any claims in connection with any exhibition, streaming, webcasting, televising or other publication of these materials, regardless of the purpose or sponsoring of such exhibiting, broadcasting, webcasting or other publication.

Service Animal/Pet Policy

Animals are generally not permitted in Arizona buildings with some exceptions, such as service animals, service animals in training and assistance animals determined to be a reasonable accommodation. Service animals are permitted at Destination Arizona. If a dog is not trained to do work or perform tasks, and only provides comfort or emotional support, the dog is not a service dog and may be excluded from public areas and buildings during Destination Arizona. Please see the UA Disability Resource Center website for further policy information.

Prohibited and Permissible Items

Prohibited Items

  • Purses and all bags
  • Air horns
  • Large or oversized umbrellas
  • Confetti and Flutterfetti
  • Silly String
  • Balloons or inflatable items, such as beach balls
  • Poles, monopods, tripods
  • Weapons: guns, ammunition, knives, box cutters
  • Leatherman or similar tools
  • Sharp and/or pointed objects (scissors, knitting needles, etc.)
  • Mace, pepper spray
  • Spray containers, aerosols, flammable liquids
  • Explosives, fireworks, laser lights, laser pointers
  • Unopened packages
  • Signs with sticks or on poles
  • Cans, bottles, coolers
  • Hoverboards, segways, scooters, roller skates, skateboards, bicycles
  • Unmanned aerial vehicles, such as drones

Permissible Items (all items subject to search)

  • Small umbrellas
  • The following is a list of bags that will be accepted for entry:
    • Bags that are clear plastic or vinyl and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”
    • One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc bag or similar)
    • Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, after being searched
    • Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection, including but not limited to oxygen tanks, diabetes kits, allergy pens, etc.
  • Water bottles (may be asked to dispose of liquid before entry)
  • Small hand-held still cameras and video cameras (no tripods)
  • Binoculars
  • Kleenex

Tucson, AZ is located in the Sonoran Desert. What does this mean? It’s HOT! Especially this time of year. Be sure that you dress accordingly and don’t leave the water bottle behind. In this heat, it’s important to stay hydrated and take care of yourself.

While students are attending their mandatory Destination Arizona sessions, family and supporters of new students will be invited to attend various sessions hosted by Parent & Family Programs. For updates to times and locations, be sure to keep checking the Parent & Family Programs website and sign-up for updates!