An expanded day of convocation events will welcome new students to campus

Incoming freshmen and transfer students will be introduced to the traditions of campus this year with an expanded day of events surrounding the Chancellor’s Convocation.

New activities include a lunch and an ice cream social.

“We’re excited to see how new students respond to these additional features,” says Carren Martin, assistant dean and director of the Center for the First-Year Experience. “Our focus is on helping everyone build connections as they get to know campus and each other.”

The Chancellor’s Convocation is UW–Madison’s formal welcome for all new students. It serves as the beginning of the academic experience and is the only time until graduation that students will be in an academic assembly with so many of their classmates. About 6,000 to 7,000 students are expected to attend.

Convocation is set for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Kohl Center. Classes begin the next day.

Speakers will include Chancellor Rebecca Blank, Provost Karl Scholz, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor, and Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer Patrick Sims. Assistant Professor Kasey Keeler will provide remarks on behalf of Native Nations. This year’s student speaker, junior Izzy Boudnik, says she’ll encourage students to think of their time at UW–Madison as more than the pursuit of a degree.

“That end goal is important, of course, but the college experience is so much more,” says Boudnik, a political science major from Milwaukee. “Students deserve to find fulfillment beyond what happens at the end. I hope to encourage that sense of belonging.”

As is tradition, students will head to the exits after their inaugural rendition of “Varsity” and receive a free copy of the book for Go Big Read, the common reading program. This year’s book is “The Poison Squad” by Deborah Blum, the dramatic true story of the fight for food safety in the United States at the turn of the 20th century.

Additional activities will unfold before and after convocation. The day begins with academic programming and an orientation organized by a student’s school, college or academic unit. Students will network within their school or college during a lunch provided by the Chancellor’s Office.

Doors to the Kohl Center will open at 12:45 p.m. Immediately following convocation, students are invited to an ice cream social and lawn games from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Union Terrace sponsored by the Wisconsin Alumni Association and Memorial Union.

Starting at 5 p.m. University Housing hosts the Badger Welcome Barbeque at Gordon Dining Center and Four Lakes Dining Market. Cost is $5 for housing residents and $7.15 for non-housing residents.

Convocation is part of Wisconsin Welcome, a series of programs and events that introduce new students to campus and to the UW–Madison community.