West Virginia University will soon be rolling out the gold-and-blue welcome mat to new and returning Mountaineers during Welcome Week Aug. 17-24.
Students can take part in an array of fun and informative Welcome Week activitiesWelcome Picnic, New Student Convocation, Student Organization Fair, FallFest and moredesigned to get them acquainted with their new home away from home.
Welcome Week is the Universitys way of saying �€~Welcome to WVU by showing that we are here to assist new students,said Robin Jones, associate dean of the First-Year Experience.
While Welcome Week is targeted toward incoming freshmen, all students are invited to get involved.
During this week, all students are invited to participate in a variety of activities that introduce them to WVU s campus, resources and the Morgantown area,said Rhonda Hall, program specialist with WVU s First-Year Experience.We really want to get the word out to all students across campus and see more upperclassmen take part in Welcome Week activities.
Everything kicks off on move-in dayor Trading Spaces Day Friday, Aug. 17. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. at the residence halls, and WVU police officers will be directing traffic around campus and providing directions for parking.
After students get settled into their rooms and meet their roommates, they can pay tuition and fees, check on financial aid and much more at Student Service Days from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Mountainlair ballrooms. (Student Service Days continue Monday, Aug. 20.)
The Help Center in Elizabeth Moore Hall, just across the street from theLair, will be open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Here students can obtain a copy of their schedules, receive assistance in locating a building and get help registering for classes once they have met with their advisers. (The Help Center is also offered Saturday, Aug. 18, and Monday, Aug. 20, through Friday, Aug. 24, for studentsconvenience.)
On Friday evening, new students will attend a welcome picnic and learn about some of WVU s 350 clubs and organizations at an information fair. Both will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center.
Residence hall check-in continues Saturday, Aug. 19, Taking Care of Business Day . An honors retreat, campus tours, WVU Department of Public Safety presentations, residence hall meetings, New Student Convocation for off-campus students and a Mountaineer shopping extravaganza are also on tap.
Sunday, Aug. 19, is Be a Mountaineer Day . All incoming students will attend New Student Convocation at the Creative Arts Center, where they will have an opportunity to hear from President-elect Mike Garrison and meet Student Government Association leaders.
Activities pick up again on FallFest Day Monday, Aug. 20, the first day of classeswith the Welcome Week information table, class ring sales and WVU s back-to-school FallFest concert at theLair (details to be announced).
Tuesday, Aug. 21, or Wellness Day , will feature activities around campus aimed at increasing awareness of fitness and other wellness options on campus. A blood drive, fresh food samples, cholesterol screenings and chair massages will all be part of theRec Center Free Zonebeginning at 5 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center.
For students interested in joining a campus club, Wednesday, Aug. 22, is a perfect opportunity to gain valuable information. Community and Student Organizations Day will include student organization information tables from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in theLair Vandalia Lounge.
WVU is home to students and research scholars from more than 90 countries around the world, and Thursday, Aug. 23, or Multicultural Day , will showcase the Universitys diversity. The Center for Black Culture will host an open house from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; many international organizations will have information available and items for sale from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at theLair; and Hatfields is organizing a Food Showcase with various items for sampling and purchasing from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Welcome Week activities wrap up Friday, Aug. 24, or Gold and Blue Day . Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to show their Mountaineer spirit by wearing their favorite WVU apparel. During WVUp All Night, students will be treated to a preview of WVU s annual Mountaineer Idol contest at 7:15 p.m. in theLair commons.
Students interested in auditioning for Mountaineer Idol can register by e-mailing Sonja.Wilson@mail.wvu.edu or calling theLair administrative offices at 304-293-2702. The deadline to sign up is Aug. 24.
A complete Welcome Week schedule is available online athttp://firstyear.experience.wvu.edu/welcome_week.