Sapere Aude Pre-orientation
All students registered for HUM 103 are required to participate in the Sapere Aude pre-orientation program.
Sapere Aude (鈥淒are to Know鈥) is four days of community building, introductions, games, and close reading and discussion of key texts and artifacts with the Humanities faculty, fellows, librarians, and archivists. The pre-orientation is a great way to start your 糖心vlgo传媒 experience with your Humes cohort and Humes Fellows.
Humes students can do both Sapere Aude and any of the other pre-orientation programs or take part in any athletic team's pre-season activities. Humes is accessible to all! Once students are placed in Humes 103, we will reach out with a questionnaire requesting information about other pre-orientation programs and athletic commitments.
Program Dates & Location
- Program Dates: August 14-18, 2026
- Location: Holston Conference Center in the beautiful North Carolina mountains
Program Cost
There is no cost. All travel from Davidson to Banner Elk, room, and board expenses are covered by the Humanities Program.
Arrival Information
New Humesters should arrive on campus on August 14th to stow their things in their residence hall rooms, except for a small bag and day pack for Sapere Aude. We鈥檒l board buses for the mountains at around 3 p.m.
If flights from faraway places can鈥檛 arrive on the morning of departure, Friday morning, please contact our program coordinator Susan Archer (suarcher@davidson.edu).
International students should be in touch with both Susan Archer and Sayre Weir (saweir@davidson.edu) about arrival times.
Information for Parents and Families
For parents and families who are unable to attend regular orientation, we will hold a parent and family orientation session on Friday, August 14 at 11 a.m. in the Carolina Inn, located at 215 North Main Street in Davidson. This is the morning of the day students depart for Sapere Aude. For families unable to travel to Davidson, we will also have a remote zoom info session the evening of Wednesday, August 13.
Please email Susan Archer (suarcher@davidson.edu) to be added to that group. You will receive an invitation and zoom link via email a couple days before the session.
The August 13 (Zoom) and August 14 (in-person) sessions replace the session for parents and families during regular orientation.
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