Congratulations and Welcome from the FYE Team

Welcome to the Class of 2029 at W&L! As the First-Year Experience (FYE) team, we are here to help you from now until your sophomore year. Our office includes:

  • Jason Rodocker - Associate Dean of Students and Dean for First-Year Experience
  • Ronda Bryant - Associate Dean of Students
  • Kim Hodge - Assistant Dean of Students
  • Colleen Drake - Student Affairs Operations and First-Year Coordinator

We will guide you through the process of joining our community and answer any questions you might have regarding academic, co-curricular, or other matters.

What's Next?

Please refer to the enrollment checklist in your admission portal account to make sure you complete all steps required by the Office of Admissions to finalize your eligibility to enroll.

Onboarding will begin in early April, when you will receive a detailed email with instructions and a mailing with a summer timeline. The mailing and follow-up communications will answer many questions and guide you through your transition.

For now, you should read carefully through the FYE website at my.wlu.edu/student-life/first-year-experience. Please note the "my" in "my.wlu.edu" takes you to the university's internal website with significantly more resources for current students.

Interact with Future Classmates and Current Students

  • GroupMe: W&L Class of 2029
  • WhatsApp: W&L Class of 2029
  • FYOC Instagram: @wlufyoc
  • Class of 2028 Instagram: @wlu_29
  • Facebook: Washington and Lee University Class of 2029
  • TikTok: @wlufyoc
  • Snapchat: @wlufyoc
  • Pinterest: W&L FYOC
  • YouTube: W&L FYOC Communications
  • Use the hashtag #wlu29

Looking Ahead

Important dates to mark on your calendar include:

• August 23, 2025: First-Year Move-In
      You will be assigned a 30-minute arrival time between 9am and 1pm.
• August 23 - September 3, 2025: First-Year Orientation
       Parent Orientation: August 23 from 3-5pm (attendance is optional)
       Leading Edge: August 24-29
• October 24 - 26, 2025 (Friday-Sunday): Parents and Family Weekend

Some common points of interest include:

Housing is determined based on the Housing Match you will fill out in April during New Student Onboarding.
Dining Services requires all first years to have the Continuous Dining meal plan.
Registration for Fall Term classes will be explained this summer and you will meet with your initial faculty adviser during orientation.
Transportation options include university shuttles to and from nearby airports.


A Final and Important Note

We encourage you to share this information with your parents and family and to take ownership of your educational experience. You should consult your parents and family regularly, but we prefer to hear questions directly from you, the student. Please let us know if you have questions at any time. If you are ever in doubt of who to contact or how to proceed, please ask us. Welcome to W&L!

Sincerely,

Jason Rodocker
Associate Dean of Students &
Dean for First-Year Experience
(540) 458-8753
jrodocker@wlu.edu

Ronda Bryant
Associate Dean of Students
(540) 458-4111
rbryant2@wlu.edu

Kim Hodge
Assistant Dean of Students
(540) 458-4041
hodgek@wlu.edu

Colleen Drake
Student Affairs Operations and First-Year Coordinator
540-458-8037
cdrake@wlu.edu