Welcome Weekend makes campus feel like home
Back-to-school means catching up with friends, settling into campus and getting excited about new classes. This year Ģý is welcoming new and returning Bears to campus with a flurry of festivities and informational sessions to celebrate the new year.
We are incredibly excited to greet our newest members of the Ģý community this Welcome Weekend, and our returning students are looking forward to reconnecting with their peers. This really is a weekend to build community and have every student feel the sense of belonging that makes Ģý such a special place, shared Carla Fowler 97, director of student support and outreach.
A full slate of fun and engaging events and programming will provide plenty of opportunities for students to connect and engage with faculty, staff and one another. Welcome home, Bears!
Welcome Weekend Schedule of Events
Friday, August 18th
- 8 a.m. 1 p.m. First-Year Residential Move-in*
- 1 4 p.m. Welcome Kickback+ (Shaw Plaza and Cromer Center Lobby) Food trucks, giant yard games, music and an informational fair
- 3:30 4:30 p.m. Commuter Pop-in* (Joe Coffee) Commuter students connect with other commuters, get to know Student Government commuter representative and recap requirements for the weekend
- 4:30 p.m. FSL Block Show (Shaw Plaza) Special introduction from Fraternity and Sorority Life organizations
- 5:30 p.m. City Walk Tour and Scavenger Hunt (Rhyne Building Front Steps)
- 8 p.m. Mandatory Hall Meetings* for Residential Students
- 9 p.m. Ice Cream Social (Residence Halls)
Saturday, August 19th
- 9:30 a.m Ģý Incoming Class Photo* (Football Field)
- 11 a.m. 2 p.m. BEAR Zone (Football Practice Field) Tailgate experience with food trucks, inflatables, axe throwing and a caricature artist
- 12 p.m. Football Scrimmage (Moretz Stadium)
- 2 9 p.m. Ģý Men's & Women's Soccer Scrimmages (Moretz Sports Complex) Women's from 2 3:45 p.m. / Men's from 7:30 9 p.m
- 9 11 p.m. Casino Night (Cromer Lobby)
Sunday, August 20th
- 10 11 a.m. Pastries and Praises (Grace Chapel)
- 11 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Rotation Sessions* (Meet at Shaw Plaza)
- 1:30 4:15 p.m. Greenway Bus Rides to Walmart & Target
- 5:30 p.m. Opening Celebration: BEGINNING THE JOURNEY*
- 6 p.m. President's Cookout* (Shaw Plaza)
- 8 p.m. Burn Your Burdens: Bonfire with S'mores (Grace Chapel fire pit)
*Asterisk denotes mandatory attendance for students.
News & Events
Across ceremonies held in Hickory, Asheville and Columbia on May 7-9, Ģý celebrated 578 undergraduate and graduate students earning their degrees and stepping into their next chapters as alumni.
View More
SOURCE 2026 highlighted student excellence across a range of disciplines, featuring Honors Thesis Competition winners and the inaugural Bears Engage awards.
View More