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AHANA Connections orientation

  1. Admissions & Financial Aid
  2. Admitted students (undergraduate)
  3. Orientation
  4. AHANA Connections orientation

AHANA (African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian-Pacific Islander, Native American) Connections is a three-day orientation for students of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds to come together and engage with the campus community, gather information about student support services, make new connections and begin building friendships that last.

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AHANA Connections
August 21 - 23, 2024

Register for AHANA 2024

AHANA Connections is a three-day orientation for students of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds to come together and engage with the campus community, gather information about student support services, make new connections and begin building friendships that last. One of the biggest perks of attending AHANA Connections is getting early move-in for those who will be living on campus and getting a jump-start on building your new community.

Ready to dive in?

Our Diversity and Equity Center serves as a student hub for clubs and programs. Find out more below!

Diversity and Equity Center

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Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging

Led by our Benedictine values of hospitality and respect for persons, Saint Martin's University is committed to promoting diversity and building community. We are a work in progress: read about we as a community have been done so far and the initiatives and goals that we continue to work towards.

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FAQs

Yes, your attendance is required at all AHANA events and workshops. The AHANA Mentors have designed a wonderful program for you. Missing sessions or leaving campus only makes it more difficult for your to connect with your peers. If you have a schedule conflict due to work or family reasons, please let us know of your absence.

  • No, AHANA Connections ends Friday, August 23 at 12 p.m. Afterwards, you will attend New Student Convocation and Welcome Weekend.
  • AHANA Connections does not replace the Welcome Weekend, but rather supplements it. We strongly recommend that you participate in the Welcome Weekend. This program will help you to build community with other students.

Check-in for all students begins Wednesday, August 21:

  • For on-campus students: Check-in begins at 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Parsons Hall. There you'll be greeted by AHANA Orientation Leaders and RA staff who will check you in for AHANA and help with your move-in. If you need earlier accommodations on that day only, please let us know.
  • For commuter students: Check-in begins at 11 a.m. Go to the DEC Lounge in the Harned Hall building; you will go up the stairs and locate room 207.
  • For on-campus students, move-in parking is at your assigned residence hall.
  • For commuter students, parking is available nearby the Trautman Union Building in Lots M, N, or O.

AHANA is completely free of charge to all participating students. We provide all meals and activity costs. However, you may want to bring spending money for any last minute needs you may need to grab from the store.

Yes. There are several hotels nearby Saint Martin's campus:

Parents and families are invited to the Welcome Lunch, Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 12 p.m. This is a wonderful time for us to break bread together and welcome you to Saint Martin's. Just keep in mind this is a time for you to meet new friends and acclimate to the campus environment. As much as we welcome your families, we highly recommend that parents and families respect the AHANA space.

For further assistance, clarification or accommodations, please call the DEC staff at 360-486-8847 or email jhopkins@stmartin.edu or ccardona@stmartin.edu. We look forward to meeting you in August and serving you in the years to come. Have a wonderful summer!

Questions about AHANA?

Diversity and Equity Center

The Diversity and Equity Center (DEC) of Saint Martin's University is committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive and equitable learning environment for all members of the campus community. Inspired by our Catholic, Benedictine tradition, which honors the dignity of each person and strives for peace and justice in our world, the DEC seeks to build a campus community that engenders inclusive excellence, facilitates intercultural understanding, and promotes social justice learning.