Student-athletes help carry belongings into residence halls during Move-In Day on Aug. 21.

The doors officially open on Bemidji State University’s 2016-17 academic year with Orientation Weekend, Aug. 19-21. Orientation welcomes all students who are new to the university, including both first-time college students and students transferring to BSU from other institutions. More than 800 students are expected to participate.

The schedule of activities begins with the BSU residence halls’ annual Move-In Day on Aug. 19 and continues with a series of activities for new students and their families throughout the weekend. BSU’s traditional Convocation ceremony will take place on Friday night at 5 p.m.

Residence hall move-in and orientation check-in will take place from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Other activities scheduled include:

• An official welcome ceremony and group photo of all incoming freshmen at Chet Anderson Stadium at 2:30 p.m.
• A Parent Expo featuring information and activities for parents of new college students in the Gillett Recreation-Fitness Center beginning at 3:15 p.m.
• Convocation begins at 5 p.m. in the BSU Gymnasium at the Gillett Recreation-Fitness Center. Convocation officially marks the beginning of a student’s academic journey as a member of the BSU student community, and includes an induction ceremony and a gift to new students.
• A send-off picnic on the Hobson Memorial Union Lakeside Lawn from 6-8 p.m.
• Gathering for off-campus students at the Hobson Memorial Union’s Crying Wolf Room, beginning at 8 p.m.
• Bonfire and a live DJ at the campus fireplace behind the Hobson Memorial Union beginning at 9 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 20

The second day of Orientation features an Orientation Leader Time, meeting at the Walnut Hall Lawn at 10 a.m. This meeting is followed by a presentation, “Life On Campus: What You Need to Know,” covering student health, campus conduct policies and staying safe and healthy throughout freshman year. This presentation will tae place in Hagg-Sauer 100.

After lunch, students will be split by their orientation groups for presentations at 1:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. The Best You @ BSU is an introduction to the Wellness Model, taking place in the PE Gym. “Meet the Class of 2020,” is an interactive session for students to meet their classmates, held in the Gillett Rec Center.

The day wraps up with inflatable games, life-size board games, carnival treats and more presented by the Campus Activities Board at 8 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 21

Ropes Course
New students can participate in the ropes course at BSU’s Hobson Memorial Forest from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Community advisors will direct their students about when and where to load the bus for transportation to the ropes courses.

Other activities scheduled include:

• Walking Tours will be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by orientation leaders.
• Transfer student orientation starts at 11 a.m. in the Crying Wolf Room.
• Pontoon rides on Lake Bemidji, offered by BSU’s Outdoor Program Center, at the OPC boat house in Diamond Point Park from 1-5 p.m.

Campfires and s’mores at the residence halls will begin at 9 p.m.

A complete schedule of Orientation and Welcome Week activities is available online

Contact
• Nina Johnson, associate director, Hobson Memorial Union; (218) 755-3760
Links

Links
• Orientation and Welcome Week Schedule

Bemidji State University, located in northern Minnesota’s lake district, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling nearly 5,000 students, Bemidji State offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the colleges and universities of Minnesota State and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. University signature themes include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and global and multi-cultural understanding.

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