Opening Weekend welcomes new, returning students

It seems as though students just left campus for the summer. But they will be back in droves, starting today, to gear up for the new academic year.

UB welcomes new and returning students this weekend with a variety of fun-filled and informative activities before classes begin on Monday.

Opening Weekend provides students the chance to learn about UB resources and campus services, as well as attend social events and meet and reconnect with classmates.

These events should be well-attended, as undergraduate enrollment has increased across the board this fall compared to this time last year, according to Scott Weber, senior vice provost for academic affairs.

Weber notes that more than 3,400 freshmen are beginning their careers at UB — and the numbers of transfer students and continuing students have risen as well — for an overall undergraduate enrollment of 19,000 students.

These freshmen officially begin life at UB today and tomorrow when they move into their residence halls, assisted by faculty, staff and student volunteers. Those volunteers also are staffing the Welcome Tents — located at the Capen bus loop and in front of the Student Union on the North Campus and at the Main bus loop on the South Campus — providing campus maps and vital information to help students familiarize themselves with their new home away from home.

Once students are moved in, they can take part in the University Resources and Jobs Fair to learn about student services, campus jobs and set up bank and cell phone accounts. They also can attend open houses for such key student services as the Office of Student Engagement, Intercultural and Diversity Center, the UB Academies and Career Services.

The weekend’s marquee events begin at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, at the Student Union Field — rain site is Alumni Arena —with the Opening Weekend Welcome and Interlocking UB photo. More than 2,000 students wearing UB T-shirts will come together to form the university’s logo. President Satish K. Tripathi and other UB administrators will be on hand to welcome students to the university.

The New Student Picnic will take place from 5-7 p.m. at Baird Point —rain site is the Student Union. Students can enjoy a free chicken barbecue dinner at iconic Baird Point while mingling with faculty, staff and other new students. Buffalo Aerial Dance will provide the entertainment, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Other Friday evening activities include the kickoff of “Hall Wars” featuring the Governors Complex residence halls; Club Ellicott, a dance party in the Ellicott Complex; an outdoor screening of “San Andreas,” courtesy of the undergraduate Student Association; and “Main Street in the Dark, free food and a DJ outside Goodyear Hall for South Campus residents.

Opening Weekend continues on Saturday, Aug. 29, with UB Pride and Service Day, during which students spend the morning participating in community service projects in Buffalo neighborhoods. After spending the morning volunteering, students can take walking tours of the North and South campuses, as well as board a bus to Niagara Falls, the Elmwood Arts Festival or Canalside Buffalo.

Saturday’s activities wrap up with the Welcome Back Bash from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. outside on the Student Union Field and inside in the Student Union. The event will feature music, a paint war dance party, game shows, crafts, food and prizes.

On Sunday, Aug. 30, students can attend the Welcome Home Festival on the Greiner Lawn, play some bingo in the Student Union Lobby or see a movie — “Jurassic World” will be screened on the Student Union Field, while “Aloha” will be shown in the Student Union Theater.

The full schedule of Opening Weekend events can be found on the Opening Weekend website.

Opening Weekend kicks off “Fall into UB,” a month-long, campus-wide series of special events designed to celebrate the start of the academic year.