Welcome Week brings thousands of new students to University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus

Thousands of new students are making their way to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus this week as the University hosts official ‘Welcome Week’ festivities leading up to the official start of the fall semester on September 3rd.

Students arrived on-campus, ready to move-into their dorms over the weekend ahead of welcome week activities that begin on Wednesday.

“It’s very organized, our colleagues in housing and residential life have quite the game plan,” said Beth Lingern Clark, Associate Vice Provost for Retention and Transition at the University of Minnesota. “Associate Vice Provost for Retention and Transition Beth Lingren Clark.

The University of Minnesota is hoping to incoming class of more than 7,300 first-year students and over 1,700 transfer students will be its largest, and most diverse, incoming classes in campus history.

Welcome Week focuses on four words: Plan, Community, Navigate, and Tradition.

“What we’re really trying to do is help students be prepared for their first year at the University of Minnesota,” Lingren Clark said. “We have elements of programming that address all of those things.”

Whether it’s making the giant “M” on the Huntington Bank Stadium field, learning Gopher game day cheers and traditions, or the taking part new student convocation there several opportunities for new students at the University of Minnesota to get connected to campus.

“All the way to getting connected to the Explore U event at Huntington Bank Stadium where students can connect with student groups and organizations.”

Lingren Clark added that there are quite a few questions asked throughout the week as thousands of students making their way to campus for the first time.

“Everybody should be patient and give each other grace. Students sometimes think it’s going to be awesome, amazing, and easy. It can be different, you’re entering a different campus, and it’s different from your high school or the place you transferred from.”

And new students, shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help.

“Give yourself grace and take care of yourself. I tell students they need to ask for help if they need support,” added Lingren Clark. “Often times we don’t know students need support and they need to up their help-seeking behaviors. Don’t wait until the last minute. Know our resources on campus, so when you need them, you know where they are.”