we continue to welcome a record-breaking number of students from around the world, all bringing a wide variety of academic, cultural, personal and social interests. it's important that you have a clear picture of what's needed to begin your lipscomb experience. entering an academic community is important and can be stressful, but don't worry. we're here to help. the orientation team is dedicated to serving you and easing this exciting transition. we can't wait to welcome you home!
log into your bison portal to sign up for one of our new student orientation sessions!
here, you will also be able to pay your enrollment and housing fees. once you’ve completed both, you will receive instructions about receiving a room in one of our residence halls and a roommate.
new student orientation is a one-day onboarding experience designed specifically for first-time lipscomb students and their guests. here, you will learn about student life, get acquainted with campus, meet with faculty in your field of study, and connect with your peers.
all new students are required to attend one of the nso sessions. space is limited.
nso session #1 - friday, june 9th, 2023
nso session #2 - monday, june 12th, 2023
nso session #3 (virtual) - thursday, june 29th, 2023
nso session #4 - friday june 30th, 2023
each student is invited to bring up to two parents or guests with them to nso.
tentative in-person schedule
7:45 am - check-in
8:45 am - 10:50 am - morning sessions
11:00 am - 11:45 am - lunch
12:00 pm - 4:50 pm - afternoon sessions
5:00 pm - closing session
tentative virtual schedule
9:00 am - welcome
9:05 am - 10:30 am - sessions
10:30 am - 10:40 am - break
10:40 pm - 12:25 pm - sessions
12:25 pm - closing & resources
for questions, please read the "common questions" tab below. to sign up, please visit your bison portal. for any additional questions, please contact your admissions counselor or email orientation@lipscomb.edu.
lipscomb orientation also runs a parallel program for parents and guests during new student orientation. those who participate will have the opportunity to meet university leaders, interact with other parents and guests, and attend a wide range of sessions including everything from financial aid to tips for the adjustment to college life.
to register for any of our orientation programs, students must first have been accepted for admission to the university and paid their enrollment fee. each student is invited to bring up to two parents or guests. the first guest's attendance is included in the student's enrollment fees. the second guest will pay a $30 guest fee to cover costs and materials.
please begin familiarizing yourself with local lodging accommodations. lipscomb has an on-campus hotel, bison inn (subject to availability), as well as a list of local accommodations that offer lipscomb discounts and preferred rates. learn more on our hotel information page.
questweek (fall orientation) is required of all freshmen as well as transfers 21 and under (by aug. 1). this is an intentional extension of your orientation experience and will engage you academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. you’ll get to meet other new students and, if you’re a residential student, begin getting accustomed to dorm life.
time frames of the required questweek core sessions can be found under the tentative questweek schedule below denoted with an asterisk.
if you have questions, please contact your admissions counselor or email orientation@lipscomb.edu.
tentative questweek schedule
tuesday, august 15th
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm • commuter student check-in
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm • questweek tips & tricks for commuter students
5:00 pm • family dinner
6:30 pm - 7:00 pm • family worship + send-off
8:00 pm - 8:45 pm • questweek kickoff
9:00 pm - 9:45 pm • community groups with the quest team
spring new student orientation, also known as spring nso is a one-day onboarding experience designed specifically for first-time lipscomb students and their guests. whether you are transferring into lipscomb, or are starting your higher education journey, you will learn about life at lipscomb, get acquainted with campus, meet with faculty in your field of study, and connect with your peers.
all new students are required to attend spring nso.
each student is invited to bring up to two parents/guests with them to nso.
for questions, please read the "common questions" tab below. to sign up, please visit your bison portal. for any additional questions, please contact your admissions counselor or email orientation@lipscomb.edu.
what is the quest team?
the quest team is a group of peer leaders who have gone through a rigorous interview, selection and training process in order to prepare them to serve you throughout the entire summer as orientation leaders. they're here to walk students through the entire process from registering for classes to hanging out during questweek. they've been where you are and are here to point you in the right direction so that you feel welcome in your new home at lipscomb.
asc: academic success center, your one-stop shop for all things regarding your academic success, including services like the writing studio, peer tutors, and more!
battle of the boulevard: a 67-year tradition where we battle it out on the basketball court each year with our arch-nemesis down the street to see who owns the boulevard!
breakouts: on thursdays, you have the opportunity to attend a wide variety of spiritual formation experiences we like to call breakouts
cdc: career development center, your one-stop shop for career exploration, resume help, networking opportunities, internship experience and the job search
the gathering: campus pauses at 10:55 a.m. every tuesday to come together for a campus-wide chapel called the gathering
lmn: lipscomb mentoring network, provides an opportunity for freshmen to connect with volunteer mentors in order to ease the transition into the lipscomb community
oid: office of intercultural development, build community through culture by being involved in programs, events and activities that empower and support lipscomb's diverse community
ra: resident assistant, the trained student leader who acts as your primary contact while living in the residence halls who lives on your floor, coordinates activities and builds relationships to shape your on-campus experience
rhd: residence hall director, the full-time, live-in professional staff member who oversees your building and maintains a safe and welcoming residential community
sab: student activities board, a group of student interns responsible for planning and executing free events for the student body
sac: student activities center, full of racquetball courts, a weight room, running or walking tracks, a spin studio and basketball courts (free with your student id!)
singarama: one of the lipscomb's longest-standing traditions where students create mini-musicals with the hope of being crowned the sweepstakes winner
stokes: an overflow parking lot located adjacent to campus, right across belmont blvd
the 2023 quest team
connor adair
adair is a junior musical theatre major from edmond, oklahoma.
logan bennett
bennett is a sophomore commercial music: songwriting major from cartersville, georgia.
trinity brown
brown is a senior psychology major from nashville, tennessee.
brady bryson
bryson is a junior finance and theology major from murfreesboro, tennessee.
reece collie
collie is a senior entrepreneurship major from montreat, north carolina.
grayson crockett
crockett is a senior history teaching major from willmore, kentucky.
madison eisler
eisler is a senior exercise science major from spring hill, tennessee.
holden fernandez
fernandez is a junior marketing major from nashville, tennessee.
elijah hodges
hodges is a junior communications major from dallas, texas.
ashlyn holmes
holmes is a senior nursing major from franklin, tennessee.
marley jefferson
jefferson is a junior worship arts major from longmont, colorado.
allena klamorick
klamorick is a junior nursing major from canal winchester, ohio.
amada lashmit-pena
lashmit-pena is a sophomore spanish & mathematics double major from maryville, tennessee.
brayden lovell
lovell is a junior philosophy major from evansville, indiana.
max martin
martin is a junior commercial music: songwriting major from atlanta, georgia.
dillon mccracken
mccracken is a sophomore political science major from marietta, georgia.
maddie middleton
middleton is a senior secondary biology teaching major from new baden, illinois.
lawton miller
miller is a junior accounting major from nashville, tennessee.
oliver orellana
orellana is a junior political science & urban affairs double major from comayagua, honduras.
emily perkins
perkins is a junior nursing major from bedford, new hampshire.
madisyn rentz
rentz is a senior dietetics major from rockford, minnesota.
mason reynolds
reynolds is a sophomore exercise science major from mount juliet, tennessee.
y'alexia robinson
robinson is a junior public relations & communications double major from lavergne, tennessee.
reese rogers
rogers is a junior marketing major from charlottesville, virginia.
kendall sain
sain is a junior marketing major from murfreesboro, tennessee.
carley spaeth
spaeth is a junior nursing major from elkton, maryland.
emily stephens
stephens is a junior acting major from tampa, florida.
ella williams
williams is a sophomore neurobiology major from lexington, kentucky.
sean worth
worth is a junior graphic design major from warrington, pennsylvania.
ashley zwiers
zwiers is a senior elementary education & special education double major from grand rapids, michigan.
7 tips to prepare for life at lipscomb
1. spend time with family.
“i wish i would have really cherished the time i had with my family. you don’t really realize that you will not see them as often when you get to college, especially being far away from home.”
- madisyn rentz, ’24, dietetics, rockford, minnesota
2. get a plan for the semester.
“take some time before you get here to map out and plan what’s important to you! once school starts, you will have to pick up a lot of things related to academics and student life, so making sure you have a plan for self-care and spiritual investment will provide a lot of help in creating moments for rest.”
- seth meyer, ’24, biochemistry, mount juliet, tennessee
3. connect with new students.
“i wish i would have reached out to more people who were coming to lipscomb. starting those conversations would have been super beneficial!” - brady bryson, ’25, finance and theology, murfreesboro, tennessee
“don’t sweat move-in day and don’t overpack! a lot of times people bring too much stuff, so start with the necessities then go from there.”
- abby duesing, ’23, nursing, south holland, illinois
5. prepare your dorm room.
“the most useful things i brought for my dorm room were cleaning products and decor. everything in life feels easier to handle if my living space is clean and homey!”
- priscilla obregon, ’23, information technology management and graphic design, nashville, tennessee
“don’t be afraid to explore new things! college is all about finding your interests and passions. try everything once, then you’ll know if you like it or not.”
- priscilla obregon, ’23, information technology management and graphic design, nashville, tennessee
7. make a nashville bucket list
“i would never get this type of stuff in my hometown, so i love having access to different experiences in nashville.”
- alexis cole, ’22, theology and ministry, bristol, virginia
