More than 100 students filled the Great Hall on January 21, 2026, for the Colin Powell School’s spring orientation—part of a cohort of over 400 new students beginning their academic careers at CCNY this semester.
Now in its fifth year, the orientation has evolved into a cornerstone event for incoming first-year and transfer students, offering a comprehensive introduction to college leadership, academic support systems, and the resources that extend learning beyond the lecture hall.
“The college experience is so much more than what happens in the classroom,” Dean Marc Ostfield told attendees during his opening remarks. The day’s programming reflected that philosophy, with targeted sessions covering academic advising, career development, internship pathways, mentorship opportunities, fellowships, financial aid, and tutoring services.
While students attended programming in the Great Hall, families gathered separately in the NAC building for a parallel orientation designed to help them understand the academic environment and their role in supporting students through the college transition.
The morning’s division-specific sessions gave way to a college-wide program featuring President Boudreau, Student Affairs leadership, and panel discussions with current students and alumni. The panels underscored CCNY’s broader culture and the integration of classroom learning with co-curricular opportunities.
For the hundreds of new students walking through CCNY’s doors this spring, the message was clear: success here is built on connection—to peers, to faculty, and to the institutional resources designed to help them thrive.
New Beginnings, Shared Purpose
The incoming class represents a diverse cross-section of New York—from a retired Army veteran returning to academia after 29 years to study economics and business, to students coming back after 25-year gaps to pursue long-deferred career goals. What unites them is a common thread: a desire for rigorous political discourse, meaningful connections with like-minded peers, and the tools to build impactful careers in public service.
“I’m excited to meet people that have the same political interests and desires to help others that I do,” one student said during orientation interviews. Another emphasized the school’s resources: “The Colin Powell School has a lot of tools that will help me in my career journey. I feel hopeful.”
