Cultural Connections began as the Puerto Rican Orientation Program in the 1970s and as the needs of students of color changed on Yale's campus the program was renamed as the Pre-Registration Orientation Program. In 1999, the pre-orientation program became Cultural Connections and in 2004 the program was opened to all students. Each year, we host approximately 125 first year students during late August.

Our activities include an introduction to academic and co-curricular resources; presentations on campus life by ethnic counselors and current students; visits to local points of interest, and events showcasing the talent of program participants. CC creates a network of friends for program participants and introduces students to the various university support systems.

Many students come to Yale from a variety of towns, cities and neighborhoods. Cultural Connections is designed to help assist in your transition from high school to college. Our group of CC Aides, generally sophomores and juniors, are chosen for their familiarity with Yale's resources, willingness to serve as an older brother/sister to incoming freshmen, and for their diverse interests (academic, community, extracurricular, etc.). These Aides serve as program staff during our five-day program and not only assist us in day-to-day logistics, but more importantly, help create a friendly atmosphere for our incoming freshmen.