Shadow Day takes place each spring on the Syracuse University campus. It brings fifth grade students to campus, where they experience college life firsthand by shadowing an SU student all day. The event is sponsored by University College in partnership with Seymour Magnet School of the Syracuse City School District, members of various fraternities, sororities, SU's Golden Key International Honor Society, and other student organizations.

The day begins with a breakfast at the home of Chancellor Nancy Cantor, where the Seymour students are introduced to the assistant chancellor and the deans of University College. Each student is paired with a sponsoring college student from La Lucha, or the Golden Key Society, who provides an introduction to campus life. The shadows attend a class, have lunch in the campus center, and spend the day discussing requirements and opportunities for attending a college like SU. The day culminates in a visit to the Carrier Dome, where students are greeted by Otto the Orange and a contingent of SU athletes, followed by a tour of the Dome. Each student receives a Shadow Day t-shirt as well as a gift bag of school supplies donated by the SU bookstore.

The event is meant to inspire students to strive to do their best and set goals to attend college themselves when they are older.

Shadow Day seeks to encourage SU students to make connections with community youth, and to expose the children to the responsibilities and opportunities of college. The ultimate goal is that the young students learn that an education will take them where they want to go in life.