2008 Welcome Week Schedule

Commuters

If you are living off-campus, you need to plan your transit to and from Welcome Week events.  You may park, bus or walk.  If you are purchasing a U-Pass for the semester it will be very useful during Welcome Week.  For those who choose to drive, parking is free in designated lots.  Commuters are asked to park in the 4th St. ramp on 8/27 and the East River Road Garage 8/28 - 9/1.  Parking vouchers will be handed out by your Welcome Week Leader (WWL) each day.  Meals for commuter students will be taken care of using University Dining Services catering as well as flex dine throughout Welcome Week, beginning with dinner on Wednesday, August 27th.

Residential Students

If you are living on-campus in University-sponsored housing, you will receive a letter by the end of July informing you of your full housing assignment, move in date, and time. You will be pre-assigned to move in on Tuesday, August 26 (between 4-8pm) or Wednesday, August 27 between 9am-2pm.  All meals will be provided during Welcome Week, beginning with lunch on Aug. 27th.  University Dining Services contracts begin with brunch on Saturday, August 30th. You can find more information on Housing & Residential Life's web site.

Wednesday, August 27:  Welcome to the U of M!

• 9:00 am: Residence Hall Move-In Begins
• 3:00-4:00 pm: Commuter Student Check-In at Williams Arena
  First-year students living off-campus will check in for Welcome Week, receive their Welcome Week materials and be able to connect with Metro Transit, University Dining Services, Commuter Connection, and meet their Welcome Week Leader.
• 4:00-5:00 pm: Commuter Student Small Group Meeting
  First-year students living off campus will meet their small group with whom they will be attending Welcome Week events.
• 5:30 pm: New Student Convocation at Mariucci Arena
  This is the official welcome to the University of Minnesota. This program includes a welcome from President Bruininks and current students, dinner, music, and an introduction 
to U of M’s history and traditions.
• 8:30 pm: Residential Student Small Group Meeting
  First-year students living on campus will meet their small group with whom they will be attending Welcome Week events.

Thursday, August 28:  College Day!

• 8:30 am: Small Group Meeting
  All first-year students with meet with their small groups to get prepared for College Day.
• 10:00 am: College Day Activities
  Each freshman admitting college has created activities unique to their college. Students will meet faculty, meet other students in their college, attend sessions that focus on resources and opportunities available to them.
• 7:30 & 9:15 pm: Keynote Speaker Jermaine Davis
  Jermaine will share how to create an intentional first year of college and make it your own. For more information on Jermaine, visit www.jermainedavis.com. 
• 10:00 pm-1:00 am: Fun Zone Entertainment
  Participate in air volleyball games, inflatable Twister, play foosball or darts, sing karaoke, show off your Rock Band skills, and much more!

Friday, August 29:  Explore the Twin Cities campus!

• 8:30 am: Small Group Meeting
  Start your day early with your group to learn about your specific rotation schedule for this day.
• 9:00-5:30 pm: Campus Exploration
  Visit the entire Twin Cities campus, East Bank, West Bank, and St. Paul, and attend a variety of presentations and activities on money management, health & wellness, career, diversity and community topics.  All of these areas are important to your transition to the University. Click the title to see a list of the different sessions.
• 6:00 pm: University Honors Dinner
  Students in the University Honors Program will attend a dinner specifically for Honors students.
• 9:00 pm-1:00 am: Gophers After Dark
  A U of M tradition that provides free/low-cost events for students throughout the entire semester will kick off this evening.  You can be hypnotized by Hypnotist Jim Wand, meet Gopher Sport coaches and athletes, learn how to get involved in Greek Life, enjoy free food and much more!

Saturday, August 30:  Check out the Twin Cities Community!

• 8:30 am: Small Group Meeting
  Connect with your small group and get ready for side trips to explore the city.
• 9:30-2:30 pm: Side Trips
  Explore the Twin Cities community by participating in a variety of side trip options. At the end of July students will receive information on how to select the side trip they would like to attend. There are over 10 trips to choose from. Here is a sneak peak at some of the options: Downtown Minneapolis, Uptown & Calhoun Square, Mall of America, Beginners Rock Climbing, or a tour of the Minnesota Daily and Radio K.
• 1:00-4:00 pm: Explore U-Involvement & Opportunity
  Check out this event that will showcase campus student organizations you can get involved with as well as local businesses that will have free giveaways, sampling of food items and prizes!
• 6:00 pm: Gopher Football Game - U of M vs. NIU
  Attend the first home Gopher Football Game and cheer on your Golden Gophers!
• 9:30 pm-1:00 am: Late Night at Mall of America or State Fair
  Welcome Week has rented out Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America for students to ride rides all night long. If an amusement park is not their style, check out a Minnesota Tradition-the State Fair! At the end of July students will receive information on how to select the entertainment option they would like to attend.

Sunday, August 31:  Day of Service and Engagement

• 9:00-5:00 pm: Service Project Options
  On Sunday, August 31st you, as part of the Class of 2012, will have the opportunity to give back to the broader Twin Cities community.  You have three options to select from when you confirm your Welcome Week activities at www.myu.umn.edu by August 15.
  
  1. Option #1:  Off-campus service project (8AM – 5PM).
     There are a number of off-campus service projects that have been arranged for new students to participate on.  Organizations vary as well as the educational component that will be addressed with each one.  The time of each project will vary between the time period of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  Click the title for a list of projects to select from.
      
  2. Option #2: U-Topia (Service & Engagement) (NOON – 5PM)
     This conference style event allows students to choose from a number of opportunities.  During the first part of this event new students will be attending sessions pertinent to be an engaged citizen in the Twin Cities.  Following these sessions students will take part in an engagement fair where they can take part in a number of easy engagement activities. Click the title for a list of activities to select.
      
  3. Option #3: The Darfur Symposium (12:30PM – 4:00PM)
     Sponsored by the Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies, is an opportunity for students to learn about current human rights violations specific to Darfur.  Students attending this option will view the documentary “The Devil Came on Horseback,” participate in a panel discussion of national experts, and take part in an easy form of lobbying.
• 7:00 pm-1:00 am: Evening Entertainment
  • 7:00 pm & 8:30 pm   Breaking the Ice – by Pillsbury House
    Breaking Ice is a stimulating and entertaining performance program that gets to the heart of difficult issues. Each performance is created for the specific circumstances of its presentation, an original theatre piece using poetry, music, movement and structured improvisation to bring difficult issues to life.
     
  • TBD       Comedy Sportz Jam
     
  • 9:00 pm-1:00 am            Movie Night and Game Night at Walter Library
     
  • 9:30pm-12:00 am     Target Run
    Spend a late night shopping at Target.  Get last minute school supplies, participate in U of M trivia and karaoke.

Monday, September 1:  Relax and Prepare for Classes

• This is the last day of Welcome Week. Students can attend some sessions that will be repeated from the week, explore campus on their own and prepare for the first day of classes which is on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.