Welcome Week

7 a.m.-noon: Residence hall check-in at the assigned residence hall.

8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: The Augustana Bookstore is open in the Brunner Theatre Center, lower level. Textbooks, apparel and supplies are available. The bookstore will also be open Saturday, Sept. 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 3, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. It will be closed on Monday for Labor Day.

9 a.m.-noon: Welcome Week check-in at the Gerber Center, Gävle rooms 1 and 2. All students new to the college should pick up their Welcome Week folder, which outlines important program information. (Required)

10 a.m.-noon: Open houses for students and family members who have not toured campus. The following buildings will be open: Thomas Tredway Library, Gerber Center, Hanson Hall of Science, Brunner Theatre Center, Carlsson-Evald Hall, Lindberg Center, Old Main and Fryxell Geology Museum in the Swenson Hall of Geosciences. Check the campus map in your folder for locations or use the online map.

11-11:30 a.m.: Transfer student welcome, Olin Auditorium, lower level. This is the official beginning of our transfer students' experience as an Augustana Viking, designed specifically for those transferring from other institutions. The four-day program will provide opportunities to connect with other incoming students and returning students, and learn about opportunities and resources at Augustana.

11 a.m.-12:45 p.m.: Complimentary lunch at the Gerber Center Dining Room. Students and their families are invited to dine as guests of the college.

1-1:30 p.m.: Opening convocation, lower Quad. Students and their families will join President Andrea Talentino as she addresses the incoming students for the first time and welcomes them to the college. (Required)

1:30-1:45 p.m.: "The Short Goodbye," lower Quad. Students say farewell to their parents and families and begin to meet up with their peer groups.

2-3:25 p.m.: Welcome Week kick-off (students only), Carver Center. Students meet their first-year or transfer mentor and get acquainted with their peer groups. (Required) 

2-2:45 p.m.: Parent advising meetings  (parents only), various classrooms. Parents meet with their student’s faculty advisor. See back of student’s name tag for correct classroom location.  (Required)

Parent and family participation in Welcome Week concludes after the parent advising meetings. We hope to see families back on campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend, Friday, Oct. 6, to Sunday, Oct. 8.

3:30-3:45 p.m.: Your First A at Augie Photo, Charles D. Lindberg Stadium. New students will gather on the football field to take their first photo together in the shape of the Augustana A.  (Required)

4-4:30 p.m.: You Matter at Augustana, Centennial Hall. Dr. Monica Smith, Augustana's vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, will share an overview of diversity, equity and inclusion and how to find your place at Augustana. (Required)

4:30- 5:45 p.m.: "Getting the Most Out of College," Centennial Hall. This program features Michael Miller, a nationally recognized speaker on college success. The presentation will focus on our first Community Principle, Purpose, and highlight important ways new students can get started on the right foot by taking action early. (Required)

6-7:30 p.m.: Dinner with peer group at the Gerber Center Dining Hall. (Required)

7:30-8:30 p.m.: Residence hall student meetings at assigned residence hall floor. Students return to their residence hall for meetings with Residential Life staff. Please be at your residence hall lounge or designated area by 7:30 p.m. (Required)

7:30-8:30 p.m.: Commuter student meeting at the Gerber Center, Gävle room 3. Commuter students will continue orientation with a panel of current Augustana commuter students. (Required)

8:45 p.m.: "Welcome to College Extravaganza," Centennial Hall. Rejoin your peer group outside Centennial Hall. Public Safety officers share practical advice about social life in college, followed by the Student Life Programming Board’s annual performance, featuring Hypnotist Dale K. This is a must-see event! (Required)

7:30-9 a.m.: Breakfast at the Gerber Center Dining Room.

8-10 a.m.: Proctored math assessment, Olin 307. For students who need to take a proctored assessment for an official math placement. Check your email to see if this applies to you. See full instructions at www.augustana.edu/aleks. Assessment begins promptly at 8 am and requires two hours.

8:30-9:30 a.m.: Academic open houses. Students may attend information sessions for special interests. Look for peer mentors directing students to these events, or ask your own peer mentor in advance about event locations.

Music department open house: Students interested in learning about music lessons or music ensembles may come to Larson Hall in Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts (west side of Centennial Hall) for a short information session followed by the opportunity to set up auditions and lesson times, and talk with music faculty.

Theatre department open house: Students interested in theatre are invited to the Brunner Theatre Center to meet faculty and learn about opportunities for participation onstage and behind the scenes during the 2023-2024 season.

10-11:15 a.m.: Diversity awareness program, Centennial Hall. Join Justin Brown, author of "Ugh Not Another Diversity Book," for an interactive, upbeat program focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion. (Required)

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Box lunch with first-year/transfer advisor. Check with your first-year/transfer mentor for picnic location. Pick up a box lunch at the Gerber Center Gävle rooms. Each peer group will join its faculty advisor for a get-acquainted lunch and an introduction to the advising process. Individual appointments with your faculty advisor will be scheduled at this time. (Required)

12:45-5:00 p.m.: One-on-one advising meetings. Check with your peer mentor for location. Meet with your first-year/transfer advisor at your scheduled time. (Required)

1-4:30 p.m.: Student Activities Fair, lower Quad. (Rain location: PepsiCo Rec Center). Meet your peer group at the location designated by your first-year or transfer mentor no later than 12:45 p.m. Your mentor will then accompany your group to the Student Activities Fair, where you can learn about the nearly 200 student groups and organizations on campus. (Required)

1-4:30 p.m.: On-campus job fair, Olin, first floor. Interested in an on-campus job? Check out the on-campus job fair.

2-4 p.m.: Proctored world language assessment, location TBD.

3-4 p.m.: Post ISO Reunion and PACE Reunion, the Gerber Center, Brew by the Slough. Students participating in PACE and International Student Orientation will have an opportunity to stop in and reconnect with their PACE and Global Ambassadors. Feel free to use this time to finish unpacking, organize your room or rest. The Augustana Bookstore (Brunner Theatre Center, lower level) is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

4-5 p.m.: Choir auditions for tenor and bass voice parts, Bergendoff Hall, 104A.

5-7 p.m.: Picnic with the President, in between Olin, Denkmann, and Hanson Science Buildings. Join President Andrea Talentino and local alumni for a picnic dinner in the Quad. Hosted by the Augustana College Alumni Board of Directors. (Required)

7:30 p.m.: Catholic Mass, Steve and Jane Bahls Leadership Center, Ascension Chapel.

8:30-10 p.m.: OSL Concert in the Quad. Join us for food, fun and live music in the lower Quad.

7:30-9 a.m.: Breakfast at the Gerber Center Dining Room.

9-10 a.m.: Residential Life 101, Centennial Hall. Augustana’s Residential Life will present on how they contribute to and can enrich your college experience. (Required for students living on campus.)

10 a.m.-noon: Augie Life 101, the Geber Center, various locations. Choose informational sessions that will help you find your place as an Augustana student! See the schedule in your folder for session names, descriptions and locations. (Required)

11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Lunch at the Gerber Center Dining Room.

1:30 -3:15 p.m.: "Speak About It," Centennial Hall. Meet your peer group outside Centennial Hall at 1:15 p.m.  (Required)

2:45 p.m.: Chapel Singers' rehearsal, Steve and Jane Bahls Leadership Center, Ascension Chapel. Anyone who loves to sing is encouraged to come to this rehearsal of the Chapel Singers, which will perform just once, at the 3:30 p.m. service.

3:30 p.m.: Ecumenical Worship Service, Ascension Chapel. This lively service is thoroughly ecumenical and open to everyone. Included are special music, Holy Communion and a sermon by Campus Chaplain Melinda Pupillo.

4-5 p.m.: New dining employee orientation, Gerber Center faculty dining area. Looking for a job on campus that has a flexible schedule and can get you started right away? If you would like to start out on the schedule right away, contact the dining office at brianstone@augustana.edu. If you did not fill out your tax forms at orientation, please bring your original passport, birth certificate or social security card, along with a picture ID.

5:30-7:30 p.m.: Dinner with peer group at the Gerber Center Dining Room. (Required)

8 p.m.: Load buses for evening activities, Gerber Center. First-year and transfer students board buses for the Celebration Belle riverboat cruise for an evening out on the Mississippi River. (Required)

8:30-11 p.m.: Celebration Belle riverboat cruise for first-year and transfer students. Join your new classmates for music, dancing, comedy and complimentary refreshments on the Mississippi River. Buses transport students to the 800-passenger Celebration Belle riverboat in Moline starting at 8:00 p.m. Buses return to campus at 10:45-11 p.m. (Required)

9-10 a.m.: Breakfast at the Gerber Center Dining Room.

9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Choir auditions for all voice parts, Bergendoff Hall, 104A.

10-10:45 a.m.: First-year/transfer student athletes meet & greet, Gerber Center, Gävle rooms. New first-year/transfer students will chat with their coaches and faculty mentors to learn about resources available to athletes attending Augustana College.

12-1:30 p.m.: Lunch at the Gerber Center Dining Room.

1:30-2:30 p.m.: Campus tour: Locating classrooms and important resources. Meet with your peer group at the location designated by your first-year or transfer mentor. (Required)

2:45-3:30 p.m.: "Academic Integrity/First Year Survey," Centennial Hall. (Required)

3:45-4:30 p.m.: "Our Campus: Our Community Principles," Centennial Hall. This session will serve as the culmination of the Welcome Week program. Join Vice President and Dean of Students Dr. Wes Brooks and Augustana's new Provost as they highlight the importance of our student-written Community Principles. In what has become a tradition, students will receive an Augustana pin as a symbol of joining the Augustana community. (Required)

5-7 p.m.: Dinner at the Gerber Center Dining Room.

5:30-7 p.m.: Theatre pizza mixer, Brunner Theatre Center. If you are interested in being involved in theatre productions, either onstage or behind the scenes, you are invited to this informational meeting and pizza party. This is a time for new theatre students to meet returning theatre students and faculty and to learn more about upcoming production opportunities.
 

8:30 a.m.: Classes begin

9 p.m.: SLPB Late Night: Capture the Flag. Lower Quad, near the Tredway Library.
The annual Capture the Flag game, organized by the Student Life Programming Board (SLPB), has half of the participants playing for Team Blue and the other half playing for Team Gold. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet new friends while competing for great prizes. Food, beverages and free T-shirts will be provided.

8 p.m.: SLPB Movie: TBD. Lower Quad, near the Slough. (Rain location: Gerber Center, Gävle room 3)

8 p.m.: SLPB Live on Campus: TBD. Gerber Center, Brew by the Slough and patio
The Student Life Programming Board’s Live on Campus Committee will host a performing artist. Food and beverage will be served.

7 p.m.: SLPB Movie: TBD. Olin Center auditorium.

9 p.m.: SLPB Games: Bingo. Gerber Center, Gävle rooms.
This is not your grandparents' bingo. SLPB's bingo is one of the most popular events at Augustana, and it promises to be even better this year. Don't miss your chance to win $500!

1-4 p.m.: Multicultural Programming Board (MPB) Culture Fest. Lower Quad. (Rain location: Gerber Center, Gävle rooms)
Celebrate cultures from around the world through food, music and dance! Meet the Augustana Culture Groups, complete fun activities, enjoy delicious dishes from local restaurants and enjoy the QC Baile Folklorico.

6 p.m.: Emerge kick-off. Location TBD.
Join us in celebrating the beginning of the Emerge program! We look forward to meeting everyone and hearing about your first week as a Viking. During this session we will introduce the amazing leaders of our organization, go over the details of the program and get to know each other.