Welcome Week and Orientation
Welcome Week 2026: Thursday, August 27 – Sunday, August 30
Welcome Week is for all new students at 51±¬ÁÏ. We kick it all off with Move-in Day! Then you will connect in a small group throughout the weekend for:
- Evening outings
- Meals
- StreetFest: service-learning in the city
- Fall Orientation
- And so much more!
You'll meet fellow students, discover ways to find and build community, and learn how to thrive as you begin your 51±¬ÁÏ journey.
International students and some fall athletes have earlier move-in dates and special programming. Find information below, and we'll share details with you via email and your .
Welcome Week Schedule
Here's a schedule overview (subject to change). Some sessions and activities are required, while others are optional. We'll share the specifics as we get closer to Welcome Week.
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Move-in | Residence halls |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Lunch | Commons dining hall |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Impact Welcome lunch | Chapel undercroft |
| 12:00 Noon - 2:50 p.m. | Campus expo (optional as needed) | Spoelhof University Center Atrium (level 1) and hallway (level 2) |
| 1:00 - 1:50 p.m. | Opening worship service | Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium |
| 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. | First-Gen college student meet-up | Covenant Fine Arts Center east lobby |
| 3:00 - 3:45 p.m. | Family root beer float reception | Spoelhof Fieldhouse lobby |
| 3:00 - 3:45 p.m. | First meet up (students) | Commons lawn |
| 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Convocation | Van Noord Arena |
| 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | Family cookout | Commons lawn (rain location: dining hall) |
| 6:30 - 6:45 p.m. | Goodbyes to families | Campus |
| 6:45 - 7:30 p.m. | Homeroom chats | Homerooms |
| 7:45 - 8:45 p.m. | Opening session | Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium |
| 9:00 - 10:30 p.m. | Residence Life programming | Residence halls |
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:45 - 9 a.m. | Breakfast | Commons dining hall |
| 9:00 - 10:15 a.m. | "Behind the Blackboard" and core overview | Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium |
| 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Connect: Meet Your Major | Across campus |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Group lunch | Commons dining hall |
| 1:15 - 1:45 p.m. | Streetfest kickoff | Van Noord Arena |
| 1:45 - 5:15 p.m. | Streetfest | Community locations |
| 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. | Floor dinners | Commons dining hall |
| 8:00 - 11 p.m. | "Create Your Own Adventure" | Off-Campus |
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast | Commons dining hall |
| 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. | Transfer Panel | Meeter Center lecture hall |
| 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. | Tech and tools | Homerooms |
| 11:15 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Group Lunch | Commons dining hall |
| 12:30 - 1:00 p.m. | Love your Neighbor Kickoff | Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium |
| 1:15 - 2:00 p.m. | Rotation one | Breakout Rooms |
| 2:15 - 3:00 p.m. | Rotation two | Breakout Rooms |
| 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. | Debrief | Homerooms |
| 4:30 - 4:45 p.m. | Closing | Covenant Fine Arts Center Auditorium |
| 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Residence hall dinner | Commons dining hall |
| 8:30 - 11:00 p.m. | Knights Night Out | Johnny's (patio, cave, commuter space) (rain location: Commons Annex) |
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Brunch | Commons dining hall |
| 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. | Faith Dialogues | Homerooms |
| 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Group dinner | Commons dining hall |
| 6:15 - 7:00 p.m. | Worship | Chapel |
| 7:15 - 8:15 p.m. | Sem Pond Reflections | Seminary Pond |
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Welcome Week Events
Snapshots of Welcome Week and Orientation
