Welcome Week 2024

The class of 2028 is set to arrive on campus for the University's annual Welcome Week, Aug. 22-25. Wittenberg's newest Tigers will have the chance to meet with peers, talk with faculty and staff, and learn about college life before the official start of the 2024-25 academic year.

Committed to helping each class explore, engage, and connect, Welcome Week brings first-year and transfer students to campus ahead of the start of classes on Monday, Aug. 26, to participate in a variety of programs designed to assist them in acclimating to life at Wittenberg, their new home away from home.

"We are excited to welcome the class of 2028 to Wittenberg University! This is the time of year when we get to welcome returning students and especially our new students as we embark on another great year at Wittenberg," said Jade Jones, associate director of sorority and fraternity life. "Faculty, staff, and our Tiger Team (the Welcome Week leaders) are excited to assist the class of 2028 with opportunities to explore what Springfield and Wittenberg have to provide for them, help connect the new students to Wittenberg's values and resources, and, most importantly, engage with their peers and professional staff."

Part two of the Destination Wittenberg: New Student Orientation series, Welcome Week includes having students meet with their First-Year Seminar teams and resident advisors, build relationships with faculty and staff, engage in residence hall community building, learn about the University, attend social events to connect with fellow classmates, and complete final preparations prior to the start of classes. Incoming Tigers will be assisted by current students who make up the Tiger Team.

Welcome Week kicks off with an all-campus move-in experience from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday followed by welcome receptions sponsored by numerous departments throughout the day. Other events on Thursday include a first-generation student and family welcome reception from noon to 1 p.m. in Founder's Pub located on the lower level of the Benham-Pence Student Center. A transfer student welcome and orientation will take place from 1-2 p.m., and a commuter student welcome and orientation from 2-3 p.m., both in room 105 of the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning.

Wittenberg's annual Opening Convocation, the traditional beginning of the new academic year and part of the 2024-25 Wittenberg Series, highlights Thursday's events. Beginning at 3 p.m. at the Pam Evans Smith Arena, part of the Health, Wellness & Athletics Complex, this event will feature Wittenberg's most recent recipient of the Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching Amy McGuffey, associate professor and chair of education, as the keynote speaker. Her address is titled "Resilience of the Rock."

McGuffey is a 1995 graduate of Wittenberg, where she earned her B.A. in elementary education. She then received an M.A. in education from Urbana University and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Dayton. Since joining the faculty ranks of Wittenberg in 2014, she has been involved in many initiatives across campus, including First Year Seminar, and currently serves as a member of Faculty Executive Board. She teaches a range of courses, from Sociological Perspectives in Education to Teaching Social Studies in Secondary Schools. Her research has appeared in a variety of publications, including the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators Update, the NASSP Bulletin, and the Journal of School Public Relations.

The Rev. Tracy Paschke-Johannes, David and Carol Matevia Endowed University Pastor, will deliver the invocation, while welcoming remarks will be shared by President Michael L. Frandsen, Provost and Professor of Education Brian Yontz, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Casey Gill, and Jones.

Families are encouraged to depart from campus after the reception. Residence hall meetings will then take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. followed by the Union Board's mentalist presentation from 9 to 10 p.m. in the Center Dining Room (CDR) at the student center.

Friday events include a Meet-Your-Community Playfair from 9-10 a.m. at the Pam Evans Smith Arena, education programming titled "Building a Respectful Community" from 10:15-11:15 a.m. at various campus classrooms followed by the annual class photo on the Myers Hall steps from 11:30 a.m. to noon. The president's reception and dinner will take place at various locations across campus from 5 to 6:45 p.m. Witt Olympics, a friendly competition among resident halls, will begin at 8:30 p.m. at the HWA. Students can then finish off the night with Witt After Dark, featuring games and food along Alumni Way from 9:30 to 11 p.m.

Saturday events include programming about Title IX and alcohol education, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Pam Evans Smith Arena and in room 152A, Bayley Auditorium, located in the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center. A downtown Springfield takeover will take place from 1:30-3 p.m., allowing students the opportunity to take a walk to familiarize themselves with all the Springfield community has to offer.

Students can then attend the commitment to community event, hosted by the Susan Hirt Hagen Center for Civic and Urban Engagement from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Pam Evans Smith Arena. Later in the evening, a theatre and dance showcase at Chakeres Memorial Theatre on campus kicks off from 8 to 9 p.m. followed by Tigerpalooza, featuring games, crafts, and food, from 9-11 p.m. at the student center and along Alumni Way.

On Sunday, students can begin the day with donuts and fellowship from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at Weaver Chapel and take trips to Walmart using rotation shuttles, which will run from noon to 3 p.m. Students can also attend a cookout hosted by Concerned Black Students (CBS) from 6 to 9 p.m. at the McClain Center for Diversity. They will also have the opportunity to participate in sports and recreation activities, and find out where their classes are located before the first day.

For additional information and the Welcome Week schedule, click here.

In addition to Welcome Week festivities, the William A. McClain Center for Diversity is hosting a pre-Welcome Week experience for incoming first-year students called WITT Connected, Aug.18-22.

A four-day overnight program meant for traditionally marginalized groups, WITT Connected was created to provide a supportive network of friends, faculty, and staff to make the transition into Wittenberg as smooth as possible.

During WITT Connected, students will engage in many activities around self-discovery, relationship and community building, exploring campus resources a little more in depth, and gaining a better understanding of Wittenberg, Springfield, and surrounding areas.

Students participating in WITT Connected are required to attend scheduled activities in both WITT Connected and Welcome Week.

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