First-year students have no shortage of opportunities for social interaction and introduction to Clemson University’s 2022-23 academic year, thanks to a busy Welcome Week schedule that has been established by the Center for Student Leadership and Engagement.
Building on last year’s successful return to campus operations, Welcome Week consists of activities and programs during a student’s first week on campus and is designed to aid in the transition to life at Clemson.
“We’re expecting to see great attendance at Welcome Week events this year,” said Matthew Boudreaux, assistant director of Orientation programs. “We have done our due diligence in communicating about it throughout the summer during our Ready, Set, Roar! in-person Orientation sessions and in correspondence with new students and families.”
Student-to-student interaction will be facilitated by Welcome Week Leaders, whose roles are similar to that of Orientation Ambassadors. These student volunteers serve in peer mentorship capacities and help facilitate various events.
Welcome Week begins in earnest on Thursday, August 18 — the first day of move-in for most first-year students — and concludes the first day of classes on Wednesday, August 24.
View the full schedule of events online or download the Clemson University Events app and search “Welcome Week 2022.”
HIGHLIGHTING THE SCHEDULE
Students will find many of the traditional elements that make up Welcome Week have returned. New in 2021, Clemson Leader Day is a mandatory initiative designed to build leadership capacity within each student. This year, it takes place on Sunday, Aug. 21 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in various time blocks and throughout different classrooms on campus. Additionally, several of the evening programming opportunities through the Barnes Center, Hendrix Student Center and Union Underground are also scheduled.
The busiest day is Monday, Aug. 22. New students are required to attend Convocation, which will feature welcome remarks from President Jim Clements, Provost Bob Jones and a host of student leaders between 9-9:45 a.m. in Littlejohn Coliseum. Convocation will be followed by an introduction to the varsity athletics coaches.
Following the welcome, first-year students will proceed to Memorial Stadium for the traditional class photo at midfield. The busy morning ends with lunch provided by President Clements on the east lawn at Littlejohn. In the afternoon, the Alumni Association will host the Welcome Back Festival downtown on College Avenue from 6-8 p.m.
Tiger Prowl is Clemson’s annual involvement fair, and it will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 23 due to ongoing construction during regular work hours at Memorial Stadium. Students are encouraged to attend to meet representatives from hundreds of campus organizations between 5-8 p.m.
Welcome Week concludes on Wednesday, Aug. 24. In the morning, volunteers will coordinate “Ask Me” Tables at multiple locations on campus to assist students with wayfinding. Glowga, a popular event among students, is scheduled for dusk at the Lower Intramural Fields.
“Welcome Week is a student’s experience and we hope that they make the best of it,” said Glenn Spurlin, director of transition programs. “We are providing a wide amount of offerings so that they can come to anything and everything.”