A large group of students gathers outdoors under umbrellas for the college’s annual welcome event and opening remarks.

Annual New Student Welcome

Smiling attendee proudly displays a blue T-shirt from the UC Davis biological sciences program amid a busy campus crowd.
UC Davis Biology staff hold class year signs and a large tardigrade cutout at a College of Biological Sciences event.
Students wearing UC Davis lanyards chat and smile outdoors during an orientation event on campus.
Students line up at an outdoor table, smiling and receiving materials during a new student welcome gathering.
At an outdoor welcome gathering, students wait in line to pick up free blue T-shirts featuring a DNA strand design.
Wearing a backpack, a student flashes a thumbs-up after receiving a DNA-themed shirt from the College of Biological Sciences.
Student in a navy UC Davis shirt speaks into a microphone on an outdoor stage, addressing a crowd under sunny trees.
Large group of students gathered in an outdoor courtyard, listening to a speaker under tree shade and patio umbrellas.
Student poses holding a “UC Davis College of Biological Sciences” sign while another takes her photo against a blue backdrop.
Smiling student wearing glasses chats with two others during an outdoor campus orientation, surrounded by a crowd of peers.
Faculty member with long curly hair speaks to a group of students in a grassy outdoor area during UC Davis orientation.
Faculty member in sunglasses and a DNA shirt gesture while speaking to a circle of students in a crowded outdoor setting.
Three smiling students stand together outdoors during orientation, holding campus maps with a crowd of peers behind them.
Student smiles while holding up a navy UC Davis College of Biological Sciences T-shirt with a white DNA helix design.
Orientation leader points while walking with students carrying tote bags and shirts across a shaded campus walkway.
Group of students walks across campus, led by a guide holding a bright sign for the “Marine & Coastal Science” program.
Orientation leader in sunglasses smiles widely while holding a bright “Biochemistry & Molecular Biology” sign before a crowd.
Hundreds of students gather under and around white tents on a sunny lawn during UC Davis College of Biological Sciences event.
Speaker in blue shirt addresses a crowd outdoors, holding a microphone and orientation flyer in front of a campus building.
Students speak with staff at an outdoor resource fair table lined with flyers, water bottles, and informational materials.

Welcome to the College of Biological Sciences!

Each fall, our college hosts special welcome events—one for first-year students and one for transfers—to kick off the year with connection and fun. Meet your faculty, get to know your peers, and grab some college swag (including the iconic t-shirt!). Past years have been filled with laughter, introductions, and lasting memories—and we can’t wait to do it again.

10 Tips for New CBS Aggies!

  • Visit the Biology Academic Success Center (BASC)
  • Your go-to place for academic advising, course planning, and resources.
  • Stay Organized
  • Use the UC Davis Canvas app to keep track of assignments and due dates.
  • Explore the Tutoring Resources
  • The Student Academic Success Center has free tutoring and study skills workshops.
  • Meet with Peer Advisors
  • Schedule an appointment with a BASC peer advisor to get insights from fellow students.
  • Utilize MyDegree
  • Track your progress toward graduation using the UC Davis MyDegree tool.
  • Know Your Professors
  • Attend office hours to build connections and get extra help in your classes.
  • Join Study Groups
  • Find study buddies through BASC, your classes, and the Tutoring Center.
  • Get Involved in Research
  • The Undergraduate Research Center is where you’ll find research opportunities.
  • Stay in-the-Know
  • The Deans’ News and Announcements (DNA) newsletter has events, BASC workshops, study strategies, and more.
  • Ask for Help
  • Whether it’s academic, personal, or career advice, BASC will guide you every step of the way.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - Transfer Welcome Event

The Day's Agenda

9:15–9:30 am: CBS transfer students arrive at the UC Davis Conference Center, pick up their shirts, and mingle. 

9:30 am: Program begins with remarks from college leadership, the Biology Academic Success Center, and a student speaker. 

9:50 am: Transition (10 min)

10:00 am: ROUND 1: Group 1 (Biological Sciences and Human Biology majors) - Meet and Greet w/Faculty; Group 2 (all other majors) - Club and Resource Fair (25 min)

10:25 am: Transition (10 min)

10:35 am: ROUND 2: Group 2 (all other majors) - Meet and Greet w/Faculty; Group 1 (Biological Sciences and Human Biology majors) - Club and Resource Fair (25 min)

11:00 am: All students move to Vanderhoef Quad (Orientation Leaders take over)

A map of the UC Davis Conference Center to the UC Davis Alumni Center

Agenda and Directions

The day's activities will be split between UC Davis Conference Center and the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center. 

Round 1: 10:00-10:25am
  • Biological Sciences majors stay in Conference Center for Faculty Meet and Greet.
  • Human Biology majors go to the Alumni Center for Faculty Meet and Greet.
  • All other majors go to the Alumni Center for Club and Resource Fair. 
Round 2: 10:35-11:00
  • Biological Sciences majors go to Alumni Center for Club and Resource Fair.
  • Human Biology majors stay in Alumni Center for Club and Resource Fair.
  • Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior; Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity; Plant Biology; and Systems and Synthetic Biology majors stay in Alumni Center for Faculty Meet and Greet.
  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Cell Biology; Genetics and Genomics; and Molecular and Medical Microbiology majors go to Conference Center for Faculty Meet and Greet.

Monday, September 22, 2025 - First-Year Welcome Event

The Day's Agenda

9:45–10:00 am: First-year students arrive and mingle at the lower level of the University Credit Union Center. 

10:00 am: Program begins with remarks from college leadership, BASC, and a student speaker.

10:20 am: Transition (10 min)

10:30 am: ROUND 1

Group 1: (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Human Biology; Marine and Coastal Science; Molecular and Medical Microbiology; Plant Biology; and Systems and Synthetic Biology majors) - Faculty Meet and Greet

Group 2: (Biological Sciences; Cell Biology; Genetics and Genomics; Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity; Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior; and Unidentified Life Sciences majors) - Club and Resource Fair (25 min)

10:55 am: Transition (10 min)

11:05 am: ROUND 2 

Group 1: (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Human Biology; Marine and Coastal Science; Molecular and Medical Microbiology; Plant Biology; and Systems and Synthetic Biology majors) - Club and Resource Fair

Group 2: (Biological Sciences; Cell Biology; Genetics and Genomics; Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity; Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior; and Unidentified Life Sciences majors) - Faculty Meet and Greet (25 min)

11:30 am: Students move to Hutchison Field (Orientation Leaders take over)

Map and Directions

The day's activities will be split between the court and stadium levels of the University Credit Union Center.  

Round 1: 10:30 - 10:55am
  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Human Biology; Marine and Coastal Science; Molecular and Medical Microbiology; Plant Biology; and Systems and Synthetic Biology majors remain on the lower level for Faculty Meet and Greet.
  • Biological Sciences; Cell Biology; Genetics and Genomics; Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity; Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior; and Unidentified Life Sciences majors move to the upper level for the Club and Resource Fair.
Round 2: 11:05 - 11:30am
  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Human Biology; Marine and Coastal Science; Molecular and Medical Microbiology; Plant Biology; and Systems and Synthetic Biology majors move to the upper level for the Club and Resource Fair.
  • Biological Sciences; Cell Biology; Genetics and Genomics; Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity; Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior; and Unidentified Life Sciences return to the lower level for Faculty Meet and Greets.