New Employee Orientation Staff FAQs

I started on March 13, 2023. Do I need to attend the in-person orientation session?

Yes, all who start with WashU on or after March 13, 2023, are required to complete the new employee orientation curriculum.

Note: If your assigned work location is more than 50 miles from WashU (1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, 63110) you will have an opportunity to opt out of the in-person session.

I cannot find my assigned in-person orientation session or mandatory compliance trainings in Learn@Work.

Once logged into Learn@Work, navigate to the top left-hand corner and click on the hamburger icon (three vertical lines), then select the “Me” section. Your in-person orientation and mandatory compliance training(s) should populate in the “My Plan” area under “Learning & Certifications”. Find step-by-step instructions online (PDF).

I cannot attend the assigned session, or need to change my in-person session as noted in Learn@Work. What should I do?

You may login to Learn@Work to drop the current session and then select a new session date and location. You must complete the in-person training with 30 days of your start date. Please notify your manager of any changes to orientation. Step-by-step directions to enroll and/or drop are available online (PDF).

How do I know which campus location I should attend?

Staff members whose primary work location is located on the Danforth Campus (the academic campus) and staff members who are part of the Central Fiscal Unit (such as Human Resources, Information Technology, Payroll, etc.) will be assigned the Danforth Campus session. This session is located at the Link in the Loop on the Delmar Avenue, near the Danforth Campus.

Staff who are work for the School of Medicine campus should plan to attend the orientation session at the School of Medicine campus, where the orientation session is located (Eric P. Newman Education Center).

If you are unsure which location to attend, please talk with your manager.

May I attend the orientation for a different campus?

Yes, you may choose to attend the new employee orientation on the opposite campus of your work location. Please confirm this is OK with your manager.

How can I change my session once I’ve selected it?

You will need to drop the old session and choose a new one. Refer to New Employee Orientation Instructions for New Staff (PDF).

How can I check the completion status of my compliance training in Learn@Work?

Please login to Learn@Work to see if the course is still listed and awaiting completion at the bottom of the screen. You can also select the Browse option, scroll across the top, select HR, and the Employee Relations. If you completed the course, it should be marked “Successful.” Find a screenshot of successful completion online (PDF).

I attended in-person orientation but Learn@Work still shows the session as In Progress. 

Please allow two business days for attendance to be marked for the session. If it has been more than two business days and the session that you attended has not been marked complete, please contact Learning & Development. 

Where should I park for the Danforth Campus in-person session?

Free visitor parking is available in the North Campus parking lot. Find a map and instructions online (PDF). Employees with accessible needs may park in the CVS parking lot just north of the building.

Where should I park for the Medical School campus?

Please plan to park in the Metro Garage or Taylor Avenue Parking Garage. A parking map is available online (PDF) specific to the orientation venue. Shuttles are available from the Taylor Avenue Parking Garage to the Eric P. Newman Education Center (EPNEC), where orientation will occur. You can find shuttle information, such as timelines and locations, online.

Attendees must bring their parking tickets with them to the meeting facility for validation and will need the ticket to re-enter the exterior door, elevator, and stairwell at the Metro Garage. Parking validation tickets will be distributed to new employee orientation attendees.

Please do not park in nearby patient garages (I.e., Euclid Parking Garage).

What days and time will orientation be held?

Find the full schedule online (PDF) for both campuses. In-person sessions will not be held on university-observed holidays.

Each orientation session will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Please plan to begin promptly at 9 a.m. We recommend you plan for time to park and walk to your orientation session. There will also be time at the end of the orientation session to ask questions. A break for lunch will occur at noon.

Should I bring anything to the in-person session? What about lunch?

You do not need to bring anything to the session. You may choose to bring a notepad and writing utensil to take notes.

Light refreshments (coffee, tea and water) and snacks will be available at both locations. You may also choose to bring a refillable water bottle and/or coffee mug.

We will break at noon for lunch. You can find plenty of restaurants nearby (Dining options: School of Medicine is located in the Central West End neighborhood and the Link in the Loop is located in University City). The Link in the Loop does have a fridge, microwave and sink available should you choose to pack a lunch.

What should I wear to the in-person orientation session?

Business causal dress is recommended. However, you may also wear what you would to your role within the institution (i.e. nurses attending orientation may wear scrubs).

Are there safety precautions in place?

WashU employees are required to provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccinations to keep our WashU community and the larger St. Louis community safe. At this time, masking is not required at either locations. You may choose to wear a mask. Masks, hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes will be available at each location. Please be respectful for your fellow staff and the presenters and follow good hygiene standards, such as sneezing into your elbow, washing hands after using the restroom, etc.

Are lactation rooms available for use during the breaks?

Yes, lactation rooms are available at both locations where in-person sessions are held.

• School of Medicine – The Mid Campus Center (MCC) building just south of EPNEC has a location room. Please reference the map online (PDF). Once inside the MCC, you may ask for directions for the second floor lactation room from the 1st floor Facilities welcome desk.
• The Link in the Loop – please ask a presenter to badge you into the HR suite for access to one of two lactation rooms.

How long will it take to complete the online training? 

It will vary by individual, but is estimated at about an hour. 

I work outside of the United States. Is anything different for me?  

You will need to complete the required curriculum that includes the online orientation session and the compliance training. Find enrollment instructions online (PDF).