Mentoring
After the incoming class is admitted, current and incoming graduate students fill out a survey to gauge their mathematical and non-mathematical interests. Then, using the results of this survey, each incoming graduate student is paired with a current graduate student. This is done before summer, so the incoming graduate student can email the current graduate student with questions they have about finding housing, life in Ithaca, and anything else they want to know. Once the incoming graduate students arrive in Ithaca, the mentor and mentee receive funding from the department to have dinner together and get to know each other. After this, the mentor and mentee pairs continue to meet on their own terms. In most years the department sponsors a group activity for the entire mentoring contingent, usually in the Fall semester.
Orientation
the GFC & DGS hold a Math Program Orientation the week prior to the start of the fall semester.
"Desk Fest," is often the friday before the first day of the semester, this is where office spaces are assigned and graduate volunteer roles are distributed.
The department arranges another team-building outing at the Hoffman Challenge Course, near the beginning of Fall semester.