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Urban Plunge is a three-day pre-orientation program designed for incoming students who are critical thinkers and share a deep commitment to social justice advocacy.

During Urban Plunge, students are given an opportunity to explore New York City’s neighborhoods through a lens of community, diversity, and engagement. Students learn about unequal access to opportunities in the context of the city's history, and engage with local social justice advocates whose initiatives work to foster universal goodness in today’s world. We fearlessly address systemic injustices and highlight the beauty that coexists despite it, encouraging students to experience the vibrant culture within all of NYC’s boroughs.

Throughout the program, we emphasize a complete integration of reflection, expression, and action. All students are encouraged to cultivate what we call “bothered excellence,” diligently pursuing the truth and daring to have the necessary, difficult conversations wherever injustice resides.

This Year, Urban Plunge draws its inspiration from the rose that grew from concrete, Tupac Shakur’s poem, — a symbol of resilience, beauty, and strength in the face of adversity. We believe growth can happen even in the most unlikely places, and that every student has the power to rise and make a difference.
We see our students and our communities as resilient, radiant, and capable of transformation. Urban Plunge invites students to rise from the cracks — not in spite of them, but because of them — and to become powerful agents of justice, empathy, and collective healing.

This year, we’re rooted in challenge, guided by courage, and committed to consistent action. A growth mindset isn’t about perfection — it’s about showing up with intention, learning from discomfort, and believing that change is possible even under the most difficult conditions. It means embracing what’s unfamiliar, leaning into hard conversations, and choosing to act with purpose again and again.

Urban Plunge encourages students to see obstacles not as limitations, but as opportunities to grow — in character, in compassion, and in connection with the world around them.

9:00 am - 1:00 pm - Assigned Residence Hall Locations

Move In

All incoming Urban Plunge participants will move into their Fall housing assignment and have time before commissioning to get to meet their Plunge floor-mates!

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm - Local

Family Lunch

Families are invited to take a break to recuperate after moving in. This will be an opportunity for families to grab lunch off campus.

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Commissioning Ceremony

Families will accompany their Plungers for commissioning, a special welcoming ceremony by the Center for Community Engaged Learning!

  • Rose Hill Campus - Location: Keating 1st

  • Lincoln Center Campus - Location: McNally Amphitheatre | Platt Court

4:00 pm - 4:45 pm

Welcome Reception and Farewell

Families will say farewell (for now!) to their Urban Plungers as they are officially welcomed into Fordham University.

  • Rose Hill Campus - Location: Keating Hall Rotunda and Steps (Rain Location: McShane Student Center)

  • Lincoln Center Campus - Location: McNally Amphitheatre | Platt Court

5:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Plunger Welcome Activities

Plungers and Urban Plunge leaders will have dinner together and engage in several welcoming activities!

8:00 am - 11:00 am

Laying the groundwork

Rose Hill and Lincoln Center students will come together for breakfast. They will be guided through reflections and engage in a workshop about how to meaningfully engage with communities. Here, we will also have guest speakers present about social justice in the Bronx!

  • Morning Mindfulness (Rose Hill students only) - Location: Edward's Parade (RH)
  • Getting Ready to Engage Workshop - Location: Keating 1st (RH)

11:00 am - 5:00 pm - Local Sites

Engagement Sites

Students, guided by upperclassmen, will disperse to their designated engagement sites. Here, our community partners will give a further introduction to The Bronx and discuss how their organization positively impacts the community. Plungers will also have hands-on experiences, participating in the work done by the local organizations daily! 

   

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Edward's Parade

Dinner, Reflections, and Theatre & Arts Showcase

All Plungers will reconvene at the Rose Hill campus for dinner and small group reflections, followed by a carefully curated theatre & arts showcase celebrating the resilience of our community.

8:00 am - 10:00 am - Pope Auditorium

Breakfast and Bonding

Rose Hill and Lincoln Center students will have breakfast. Students, through different activities, will have the opportunity to further cultivate friendships.

10:00 am - 1:00 pm - Local Sites

Engagement Sites

Students, guided by upperclassmen, will disperse to their designated engagement sites. Here, our community partners will give a further introduction to Manhattan and discuss how their organization positively impacts the community. Plungers will also have hands-on experiences, participating in the work done by the local organizations daily! 

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Pope Auditorium

Lunch and Bonding

All students will come together for lunch to strengthen friendships and foster deeper connections.

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Pope Auditorium

Engagement at Fordham and Beyond 

With Fordham Alumni, Plungers will have the opportunity to reflect on their experiences over the weekend and contextualize how they can continue their engagement throughout their time at Fordham and beyond.

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Pope Auditorium

Reflections & Closing

All Plungers will reconvene at the Pope Auditorium Lincoln Center campus for group reflections, letter writing, and a meaningful closing to celebrate the journey, lessons learned, and the community built through Urban Plunge.

4:30 pm - 10:00 pm - Local

Discover NYC+

Student leaders will take their Plungers around NYC’s boroughs to learn more about NYC's history of social justice. Students will eat at local restaurants and walk the streets of their new community!