More than 400 new students are set to arrive on Wittenberg's campus for the University’s annual Welcome Week, Aug. 24-27. Participants will have a chance to mingle with peers, meet with faculty and staff, and learn about college life before the 2023-24 academic year officially begins on Aug. 28.
Focused on belonging, engagement, and home away from home, Welcome Week brings first-year and transfer students to campus ahead of the start of classes to participate in a variety of programs designed to assist them in acclimating to life at Wittenberg. 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 the values and mission of Wittenberg, 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 (pictured above).
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 room 105 of the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning, a transfer student welcome and orientation from 1-2 p.m. in room 201 of the Shouvlin Center, and a commuter student welcome and orientation from 2-3 p.m. in room 105 of the Shouvlin Center.
A new student and family welcome reception will take place from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Pam Evans Smith Arena, part of the Health, Wellness & Athletics (HWA) Complex. The event will feature welcoming remarks from President Michael L. Frandsen, Provost and Professor of Education Brian Yontz, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Casey Gill, and Director of Student Involvement and Sorority and Fraternity Life Jade Jones.
Families are then encouraged to depart from campus after the reception. Residence hall meetings will then take place from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. Other special events on Thursday include a Meet-Your-Community Playfair from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Steemer, also part of the HWA Complex, followed by a special presentation with hypnotist Victor LeYon at the HWA’s Pam Evans Smith Arena from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Residence halls will have late night programming after 9:30 p.m.
Wittenberg’s annual Opening Convocation, the traditional beginning of the new academic year and part of the 2023-24 Wittenberg Series, highlight Friday’s events. Beginning at 10 a.m. in historic Weaver Chapel, this event will feature Wittenberg’s newly named Provost Brian Yontz, professor of education, as the keynote speaker. His address is titled “Belonging and Progress.”
A faculty member in Wittenberg’s department of education since 2006, Yontz was named the University’s highest ranking academic officer in 2023 following a national search and after serving as interim provost for one year. He received the Alumni Association’s Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2020, the Excellence in Community Service Award in 2019, and the Edith B. and Frank C. Matthies Award in 2018. In 2015, he won the National Scholar Award from the Association of Independent Liberal Arts Colleges for Teacher Education for research focused on alternative pathways of teacher credentialing. He earned his B.A. from Asbury College, his M.S. from Wright State University, and his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.
The Rev. Tracy Paschke-Johannes, David and Carol Matevia Endowed University Pastor, will deliver the invocation. Other speakers include President Frandsen and Vice President Gill. Music will be provided by chapel organist David Weimer.
Following Opening Convocation, students will gather on the steps of Myers Hall for a first-year class photo. Other Friday events include FYS meetings, the president’s reception featuring Wittenberg’s favorite ‘W’ cookies from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Benjamin Prince House, and the Witt Olympics from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. at The Steemer.
Saturday’s events include educational programming sponsored by the Tiger Counseling Center from 9 a.m. to noon in the Pam Evans Smith Arena and room 152A of the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center. A downtown Springfield takeover will take place from 1-3 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 from 2-4 p.m. in the Pam Evans Smith Arena. Later in the evening, there will be a theatre and dance showcase at Chakeres Memorial Theatre on campus from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. followed by the Witt Late Night: Welcome Back Bash from 8 to 11:30 p.m. along Alumni Way, which will feature glow-in-the-dark lawn games, a DJ, food, and more (1929 Gym is the rain site).
On Sunday, students can begin the day with donuts and fellowship from 10:30 to 11 a.m. at Weaver Chapel, take trips to Walmart through the rotation shuttles that will run from noon to 3 p.m. followed by a cookout hosted by Concerned Black Students (CBS) at the William A. McClain Center for Diversity from 6-9 p.m., before heading into residence hall meetings.
For additional information and the Welcome Week schedule, click here.
