With the start of the fall semester two weeks away, look for large amounts of bedding, clothes, office supplies, stereos and anything microwaveable to start popping up on North High Street.
Welcome Week kicks off with move-in dayFriday, Aug. 18at the residence halls.
Some 5,500 students will be living in University housing, the largest in the schools history, according to Corey Farris, director of Housing and University Apartments. That includes more than 300 in Lincoln Hall, WVU s newest residence hall on the Evansdale Campus.
To keep everything running smoothly, the University has again assembled a team of nearly 200 student volunteers, orhotshots,who will be on hand at the residence halls to help with the heavy lifting.
When a car pulls up to a residence hall, the hotshots and other staff will surround the vehicle, help unload everything and then direct people to a parking lot,Farris said.
Check-in is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Students are assigned to different move-in periods to prevent any back-ups in the elevators, he added, and WVU police officers will be directing traffic around campus and providing directions for parking.
Keep in mind: Several thousand people are going to be moving in Friday,he said.We always say bring lots of patience and a good sense of humor.
He also suggests bringing a dolly or hand truck to help roll things across the street and following the parking information that was mailed to families.
With temperatures expected to be in the high 70s or 80s, WVU is stocking up on soft drinks and water to keep everyone cool and comfortable at check-in points.
Welcome Week filled with activities to keep students busy
Move-in day is just the beginning of Welcome Week activities Aug. 18-25, designed to help students get acclimated to college and feel more at home.
While many programs are targeted toward first-year students, all students are encouraged to participate.
Welcome Week is filled with fun activities, ranging from a welcome picnic and student organization fair to the FallFest concert and New Student Convocation,said Rhonda Hall a program specialist with WVU s First-Year Experience.
On Friday, Aug. 18, Trading Spaces Day , students are welcomed into their new home.
After students get settled into their room and meet their roommate, they can pay tuition and fees, check on financial aid and much more at Student Service Days from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. in the Mountainlair ballrooms.
The Help Center in Elizabeth Moore Hall, across the street from theLair, will be open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Here students can obtain a copy of their schedules, receive assistance in locating a building and get help registering for classes once they have met with their advisers.
That evening, students will have an opportunity to mingle with classmates at the welcome picnic and learn about hundreds of WVU clubs and organizations at an information fair. Both are being held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Student Recreation Center.
Student Service Days resume Saturday, Aug. 19, Taking Care of Business Day, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in theLair ballrooms, and friendly WVU staff will again be offering assistance at the Help Center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in E. Moore Hall.
There will be special programming throughout the day, as well as a New Student Convocation session for commuters and transfer students at 4:30 p.m. in the Creative Arts Center.
Evening offerings include a preview of Mountaineer Idol, WVU s version of the popular singing contest, at 7:15 p.m. in theLair commons; and a Mountaineer shopping extravaganza from 8:30 p.m.-midnight (a University bus will pick up students at theLair, Summit Hall, Evansdale Residential Complex and Fieldcrest Hall).
Sunday, Aug. 20, is Be a Mountaineer Day . Freshmen will attend one of four New Student Convocation sessions (11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.) at the Creative Arts Center, where they will be welcomed by WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr., student body President Jason Gross and members of the Student Government Association and Campus Crusade for Christ.
New Student Convocation is a great way to kick off your college career by meeting other students and participating in a WVU tradition,said Stephanie Ballard Conrad, senior special events coordinator.
Students will watch a short video featuring student testimonials and academic and athletic accomplishments and receive a gold T-shirt.
Attendance is required for University 101 orientation classes. Buses will provide transportation to and from the residence halls and Creative Arts Center.
Other Sunday activities include floor meetings andAsk an Academic Advisersessions at 6:30 p.m. in the residence halls.
Classes begin Monday, Aug. 21, FallFest Day . This is the last day for Student Service Days, where students can check on student account and financial aid information from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in theLair ballrooms.
If students cannot attend Student Service Days and have billing questions, they are encouraged to call the Student Accounts call center at 304-293-4006. Hours are 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m. weekdays except for University holidays.
Additionally, the Help Center will be open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in E. Moore Hall and will remain open the rest of the week (9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday).
Many activities are planned at theLair. WVU s campus radio station, U92 , will broadcast live in front of the student union, and there will be class ring and poster sales inside.
The day concludes with WVU s FallFest celebration at a time to be announced on theLair plaza. A national headliner is expected for the welcome-back outdoor concert, which has featured popular acts such as Kanye West and the Black Eyed Peas.
On Tuesday, Aug. 22, the Student Recreation Center will hold several activities as part of Wellness Day : free cholesterol and blood pressure screenings, Student Health Service orientation, Flick-n-Float (watch a movie while floating in a pool), Discover Scuba lessons, Red Cross blood drive,Freshman 15wellness talk and aerobics class.
Wednesday, Aug. 23, is Community and Student Organizations Day , when students can learn about Department of Public Safety programs from 9-11 a.m. in theLair and browse student organization and community information tables from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in theLair Vandalia Lounge.
Poster and class ring sales will again be offered in theLair, and commuting students are invited to stop by the Commuter Lounge in the Purinton Housefrom 9 a.m.-noon to find out about special services to meet their needs.
An information table about the Mountaineer Information Xpress, or MIX e-mail system for students, will be set up from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in theLair, and free tutoring will be offered from 7-11 p.m. in Arnold Hall and Brooke Tower.
Students will celebrate WVU s diversity (there are students from all 55 counties in West Virginia, all 50 states andabout 90countries) and learn about other cultures Thursday, Aug. 24, Multicultural Day .
From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in theLair, WVU Dining Services will have a food sampling event (with items for sampling and purchasing) in Hatfields, and student international organizations will have tables with information and items for sale.
Other events planned for Thursday include an open house at the Center for Black Culture from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. with videos and refreshments; the Universitys nationally acclaimed WVUp All Night weekend entertainment program from 7 p.m.-midnight in theLair, offering half-price pool and bowling, free tutoring and more; andThe Ultimate Road Trip: Campus 2 Careerpresentation at 7:30 p.m. in theLair ballrooms.
On the final day of Welcome Week, Gold and Blue Day Friday, Aug. 25faculty, staff and students are encouraged to show their Mountaineer spirit by wearing their favorite WVU clothes.
Class ring and poster sales continue, and WVUp All Night activities are from 7 p.m.-midnight in theLair.
For a complete Welcome Week schedule, go tohttp://www.wvu.edu/~fye/WelcomeWeek200608.pdf.
First-Year Experience on the Net:http://www.wvu.edu/~fye/