The university鈥檚 annual Welcome Week gets underway, Aug. 15, with the arrival of the class of 2023 for a time of special programming designed to acclimate the University鈥檚 newest Tigers prior to the start of classes on Aug. 19.
New students are expected to arrive on campus Thursday, Aug. 15, where they will first enjoy an all-campus move-in experience between 8 to 11 a.m., in which faculty and staff assist student Orientation Assistants (OAs) in helping students move into their assigned residence halls.
鈥淲ittenberg always goes all in for students, and this coming together as a community to help our incoming students feel a part of our family naturally reflects our commitment to them from their very first moments on campus,鈥� said Jon Duraj, senior associate dean of students for student success and retention.
Following the official move-in, students will attend various programs and participate in several activities including:
- Meeting 1:1 with faculty advisors
- Meeting their resident advisors (RAs)
- Participating in residence hall community building
- Learning about the values and mission of Wittenberg
- Attending social events to connect with fellow classmates
Parents and family members will also have the chance to learn more about life on campus through special programming.
After students have settled into their new living-learning environments, the Myers Bell will ring, signaling students and their families to meet their OAs and faculty advisors in the 1929 Gymnasium in the Health, Wellness, and Athletics Center (HWA) at 2 p.m. Shortly thereafter, the campus will come together at 3 p.m., Aug. 15, for the traditional Welcome Ceremony in Pam Evans Smith Arena at the HWA. The event features presentations from several campus divisions, including welcome remarks from President Michael L. Frandsen and Casey Gill, vice president for student development and dean of students. The day鈥檚 programming will conclude with a show by hypnotist Jim Wand at 9:30 p.m.
On Friday, the popular annual Witt Olympics will take place from 7-8 p.m. in Myers Hollow, followed by a Witt Late Night event, Jeopardy-style trivia, from 8:30 p.m. to midnight in the Center Dining Room at the Benham-Pence Student Center. Saturday鈥檚 highlights include the 12th annual New Student Service Plunge, Casino Night and theater performances. The Casino Night will begin at 9 p.m. in Geil Lounge.
Service beyond one鈥檚 self has also been a core component of the Wittenberg experience since the University鈥檚 founding in 1845, and the New Student Service Plunge extends this tradition of giving back. The annual event introduces new students to the possibilities and opportunities of Wittenberg鈥檚 unique community service graduation requirement, as well as to the significance of service as part of a well-rounded liberal arts education and to the work of the Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Civic and Urban Engagement, which Ohio鈥檚 former Lieutenant Governor called a model for how universities and communities should work together. The plunge will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17. Service experiences will include a variety of outdoor and behind-the-scenes tasks that help local non-profit organizations. Students can register for the service plunge by visiting this website.
For the full Welcome Week schedule, click or download the Sched app from your mobile device's app store and search for the "Wittenberg Welcome Week" event for the most up-to-date information about Welcome Week.
