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 on Tuesday, Aug. 13, and participate in many activities and events to get to know the campus before classes begin on Aug. 19. You will not want to miss what this important program has to offer so you can be Day One Ready!
All new students are assigned to a Welcome Group for the week’s activities based upon your Becoming a Scholar (BaS) class section. Transfer students not enrolled in this class will be assigned to a Welcome Group. Check with your admissions counselor.
dates for fall 2024
- New student move-in - Tuesday, Aug. 13
- Fall Welcome Week - Tuesday, Aug. 13-Sunday, Aug. 18
- Fall semester classes begin - Monday, Aug. 19
Fall orientation at a glance
Activities are subject to change
Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024
|
| 7-9 a.m. | Breakfast | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 10 a.m.-noon | Student Success Session #1 Community Living |
Yoder Recital Hall |
| Noon a.m.-1 p.m. | Lunch | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 1-1:30 p.m. | Learn & Earn: Orientation to Campus Work | Stutzman Lecture Hall, Centennial Hall |
| 5:30-7 p.m. | Dinner | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 7 p.m. | Welcome Week Activity (sponsored by residence life) |
Residence halls (Check with your RA for location) |
Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024
| 7-9 a.m. | Breakfast | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Lunch | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 1-4 p.m. | Student Success Sessions #2 | See below |
| Achieving Academic Success Location TBD |
Supporting Your Well-Being Stutzman Lecture Hall, Centennial |
Course Materials: Being Day One Ready The Commons, Marbeck Center |
|
| 1-1:50 p.m. | Groups 1, 2, 3 | Groups 7, 8, 9, 10 | Groups 4, 5, 6 |
| 2-2:50 p.m. | Groups 4, 5, 6 | Groups 1, 2, 3 | Groups 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| 3-3"50 p.m. | Groups 7, 8, 9, 10 | Groups 4, 5, 6 | Groups 1, 2, 3 |
| 5:30-7 p.m. | Dinner | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 8:30-10:30 p.m. | Welcome Week Activity Bluffton Dive-In Bring your swimming suit! Enjoy popcorn, movies, games and more! |
Bluffton Commuity Swimming Pool, 205 Snider Road |
Friday, Aug. 16, 2024
| 7-9 a.m. | Breakfast | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Lunch | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 1-4 p.m. | Student Success Sessions #3 | See below |
| Honor Code and Library Support Services Musselman Library |
Bluffton Cares: Consent Stutzman Lecture Hall, Centennial Required for all new students |
Starting Strong Yoder Recital Hall |
|
| 1-1:50 p.m. | Groups 1, 2, 3 | Groups 7, 8, 9, 10 | Groups 4, 5, 6 |
| 2-2:50 p.m. | Groups 4, 5, 6 | Groups 1, 2, 3 | Groups 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| 3-3"50 p.m. | Groups 7, 8, 9, 10 | Groups 4, 5, 6 | Groups 1, 2, 3 |
| 4 p.m. | Bluffton Olympic team preparation |
Welcome Group meeting locations |
| 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Dinner | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 7 p.m. | Bluffton Olympics | Alumni Field, Sears Athletic Complex |
Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024
| 9:30-11 a.m. | Continental breakfast | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Lunch | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 1-4 p.m. | Student Success Sessions #4 | See below |
| Supporting DEIB Yoder Recital Hall |
Community Living #2 Welcome group meeting locations |
How to Moodle & More Stutzman Lecture Hall, Centennial |
|
| 1-1:50 p.m. | Groups 1, 2, 3 | Groups 7, 8, 9, 10 | Groups 4, 5, 6 |
| 2-2:50 p.m. | Groups 4, 5, 6 | Groups 1, 2, 3 | Groups 7, 8, 9, 10 |
| 3-3"50 p.m. | Groups 7, 8, 9, 10 | Groups 4, 5, 6 | Groups 1, 2, 3 |
| 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Dinner | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 7-9 p.m. | Beaver Block Party | Bren-Dell Lawn |
Sunday, August 18, 2024
| 11 a.m. | Sunday Morning Worship | Prayer Labyrinth (near Sauder Visual Arts Lawn) Rain location: Yoder Recital Hall |
| Noon-1 p.m. | Lunch | The Commons, Marbeck Center |
| 6-7 p.m. | Picnic | Library Field |
| 7 p.m. | Welcome Group Session #5 | College Hall Green |
Monday, Aug. 19, 2024
| 8 a.m. | Classes begin | |
| 9:30 p.m. | Residence hall floor meetings | Check signs for locations |
| 10:30 p.m. | All hall meeting | Residence hall lobbies |
TUESDAY, AUG. 20, 2024
| 10:45 a.m - noon | Opening Convocation |
Copeland Court, Sommer Center |
Stay involved
Marbeck Activities Council (MAC), intramurals, spiritual life and other campus organizations collectively plan at least 60 campus events in the first six weeks of each academic year.