Opening Day

When you get here in the fall and are all moved in, it's time to meet new people and get active on campus. This is where Academic Opening Day comes in. You'll gather in small groups with your fellow incoming Blugolds and learn a little more about the academic side of being in college. Academic Opening Day is required of all new first year students.

Opening Day programs for the fall 2024 semester will take place on Tuesday, September 3.

Details on the full Opening Day schedule, including your assigned locations, will be emailed to you prior to the event, and a general rundown of the day is included below. Be sure to check your UWEC email account for more information as we get closer to the fall!

There is no formal Opening Day for spring admits, but the information is included in orientation programs during their spring Blugold Experience Day held in January. 

Academic Opening Day Schedule 

• 8:35 am - Join the New Student Parade and walk with your classmates to the Campus Mall for your welcome speaker series - and make sure to grab some breakfast along the way! Light breakfast items include apples, muffins (w/ GF options), granola bars, and water.**
• 9:15 am - Academic Opening Day begins with speakers and music on the Campus Mall.
• 9:45 am - Students are dismissed from the Campus Mall to go to Meet & Greet locations.
• 10-11 am - Academic Meet & Greet Program happens in various buildings across campus (your UWEC email will have your specific details).
• 11-1 pm - Lunch + Activities - we'll have a picnic lunch, outdoor games, class t-shirt pickup, and a class-wide scavenger hunt! Picnic lunch items include burgers, hotdogs (with veggie option) + the fixings, chips, watermelon/oranges, and water.
• 1:30 pm - Blugold Marching Band performs on the Campus Mall.
• 2:00 pm - Stay on the Campus Mall to take the Class of 2028 photo!

**In the event of inclement weather, students will be notified of any changes to the program via UWEC email.