Backstage is Peabody’s New Student Orientation program focused on facilitating a smooth and successful transition for all first-year undergraduate, transfer, and graduate students.

Orientation is designed to introduce new students and their families to helpful resources and opportunities within the Peabody, Johns Hopkins, and Baltimore communities. Orientation for undergraduate students takes place starting with move-in and continues through the week prior to the start of classes. Attendance is required for all first-year undergraduate and transfer students. We also offer a one-day graduate student orientation during the week before classes start, and we strongly encourage all graduate students to attend. The dates for orientation are updated on the Peabody Academic Calendar.

Orientation Objectives

Excellence: Develop a cohesive understanding of the Peabody’s and JHU’s mission, values, and scholarship.

Interdisciplinary: Introduce campus resources and services designed to support students in achieving excellence academically, personally, and professionally at Peabody and beyond.

Innovation: Define concrete and attainable goals to inspire students to become leaders within the conservatory as well as their local and global communities.

Community Connectivity: Build a network of faculty, staff, and peers to provide support and mentorship, while challenging students to grow academically, personally, and professionally.

Educational Learning Outcomes

• Students will develop an understanding of Peabody environment, including the conservatory’s academic expectations and their degree requirements.
• Students will be introduced to campus and university resources that emphasize their holistic development as they define attainable goals and strive to achieve excellence.
• Students will begin to build a network of faculty, staff, advisors, and peers who challenge and mentor them to grow academically and as leaders within their communities.
• Students will understand the course registration process and successfully enroll in academic courses for the fall semester.

Backstage Online

Prior to arriving on campus, students are required to complete a series of checklist items and educational modules. These requirements are broken up into sections that span the summer, starting on May 15. The online orientation course includes detailed instructions and information to complete each requirement.