Fall Welcome Week

Our Fall Welcome and Welcome Week program is designed to make the start of your college experience a positive one inside and outside the classroom. New students will arrive the Friday before the start of fall classes and participate in many activities and events to get to know each other and the campus before classes begin. You will not want to miss what this important program has to offer.

All new students are assigned to a Welcome Group for the weekend’s activities based upon your Becoming A Scholar class section. Make sure you know your BAS section number (1-10)!  It’s listed on your class schedule. Transfer students not enrolled in this class will be assigned to a Welcome Group. Check with your admissions counselor.

Please note that Fall Welcome Week 2024 will be a week earlier, Aug. 16-25. Fall semester classes will begin Aug. 19, 2024.

Here’s the schedule from 2023

Friday, Aug. 25, 2023

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8 - 10 a.m. Residential student check-in Sommer Center
8 a.m.-1 p.m. One Stop Center Sommer Center
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Campus Bookstore open Marbeck Center
11:30 a.m. -1 p.m. Welcome Picnic
The Commons, Marbeck Center
12:30 p.m. Transfer student reception Kreider Room, Marbeck Center
1:30-2 p.m. Farewell to families  
2 p.m. Residence hall floor meetings Check signes posted on hall floors for location
2 p.m. Commuter student meeting Stutzman Lecture Hall, Centennial Hall
3 p.m. Welcome Group Session #1: Bluffton 101: Welcome! Yoder Recital Hall
3:30-5 p.m. Welcome Group Session #2 See daily schedule for times/places
5:30 p.m. Dinner  The Commons, Marbeck Center
8-10 p.m. Beaver Block Party Bren-DellLawn
SATURDAY, AUG. 26, 2023

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7:30-8:15 a.m. Breakfast The Commons, Marbeck Center
8:30 a.m. to noon
Welcome Group Session #3 See daily schedule for times/places
11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.  Lunch The Commons, Marbeck Center 
1:30-3:35 p.m. Welcome Group Session #4 See daily schedule for times/places
4:30 p.m.
Bluffton Olympic Team preparation
See daily schedule for times/places or on signs posted in Marbeck Center and residence hall floors and lobbies
5-6:30 p.m. Dinner The Commons, Marbeck Center
7 p.m. Bluffton Olympics Salzman Stadium
9:30 p.m.  Residence life activities Residence Halls (Check with your RA on where to meet)
SunDAY, AUG. 27, 2023

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10 a.m. Sunday Morning Yoga Sauder Visual Arts Lawn
10:30 a.m. Meet Your Ministry Team Prayer Labyrinth
11 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship Prayer Labyrinth 
Noon-1 p.m. Lunch The Commons, Marbeck Center
Noon-6 p.m. Bookstore open Marbeck Center
1-3  p.m. Bluffton Athletics Day of Service TBA
3:30 p.m. Hazing prevention training Designated Time to Complete Online Education Module
3:30 p.m. Learn & Earn: orientation to campus work The Commons, Marbeck Center
4 p.m. Campus & classroom tours Check with your RA
5-7 p.m. Party at the Preserve Bluffton University Nature Preserve
7:30 p.m. Welcome Group Session #5 See daily schedule for times/places or signs posted in Marbeck Center and residence hall floors and lobbies
8:15 p.m. Knowlton Science Center grand opening Knowlton Science Center
Welcome Week

Check out last year’s schedule for an idea of what to expect.

MONDAY, AUG. 28, 2023

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8 a.m. Classes begin  
8:30-10 a.m. Donut and Coffee Cart  Outside Centennial Hall
6:30 p.m. Walk to Dari Freeze! Free Ice Cream Meet at Mail Room Desk
7 p.m. Purple vs. White Intersquad Volleyball Scrimmage Founders Gym
9:30 p.m. Residence hall floor meetings Check signs for locations
10:30 p.m. All hall meeting Residence hall lobbies
TUESDAY, AUG. 29, 2023

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10:45 a.m - noon Opening Convocation Yoder Recital Hall
9:30 p.m. Intramural Drop-in Sand Volleyball Sand Volleyball Courts
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 30, 2023

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8 p.m. Hypnotist David Anthony LIVE!
Sponsored by the Office of Student Engagement
and Marbeck Arctivities Council.
The Commons, Marbeck Center
THURSDAY, aug. 31, 2023

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11 a.m. Chapel Bob's Place
9:30 p.m. Intramural Drop-in Sand Volleyball Sand volleyball courts
FRIDAY, SEPT. 1, 2023

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12 noon Commons Takeover  The Commons, Marbeck Center
6 p.m. Cross Country: Beaver Dam Invite Nature Preserve
8 p.m. Marbeck After Dark: Movie on the Football Field
Salzman Stadium
Saturday, SEPT. 2, 2023

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10 a.m.-2 p.m. Disc Golf  
3:30 p.m. Beaver Tailgate Salzman Stadium Parking Lot
7 p.m. Football vs. Kenyon Salzman Stadium
Sunday, SEPT. 3, 2023

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1 p.m. Women's Soccer vs Berea Soccer Field, Emery Sears Athletic Complex
3 p.m. Mud Volleyball Location TBD
6 p.m. Rollin' Beav Shuttle to Findlay Meet at Sommer Center
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