Welcome Week

8:30am-12:00pm – Residential Student Check-In & Move-In
Location: Center for the Arts Lobby, Various Residence Halls
Students and guests will come to the CFA to check in. Residence Life, Financial Aid, Student Care, and Admissions will have tables set up in the Blackbox Theatre. Students will receive a ticket with their residence hall information and will then follow signs placed around campus to their residence hall for move-in.

11:00am-2:00pm – Lunch
Location: Bailey Dining Commons
Students, and up to 2 guests, will receive tickets for complimentary lunch in the Dining Commons.

2:00-4:00pm – Commuter Check-In
Location: Center for the Arts Lobby
This check-in process will be identical to the early Residential Student Check-In. Following Commuter Check-In, students can go directly to the Welcome Week Kickoff.

4:00-4:30pm – Welcome Week Kickoff
Location: Center for the Arts Auditorium
Students and guests will be greeted by Belhaven student leaders and staff and will hear the song of the year from Doug Eltzroth followed by a message from Dr. Roger Parrott. Concluding the message, students will be dismissed to their first BU Session.

4:30-5:00pm – Parent and Guest Session
Location: Center for the Arts Auditorium
Guests will remain seated in the auditorium and will receive a message from Belhaven faculty and staff (Dr. Shelley Smith and Dr. Vicki Wolfe).

4:45-5:30pm – BU Session
Location: Rugg Arena
Students will receive a warm welcome from Student Development staff and student leaders and hear about the Welcome Week schedule. Then, students will be dismissed to Peer Group meetings.

5:45-6:30pm – Peer Group Meetings
Location: Irby Classrooms
Students will meet their Peer Group and Peer Leaders in this get-to-know-you session.

6:30-7:30pm – Peer Group Dinner
Location: Bailey Dining Commons
New students will enjoy dinner with their Peer Group.

7:00-9:00pm – Belhaven Block Party
Location: Student Center
Desserts will be provided for new students. Attendees will be encouraged to participate in activities such as speed-friending, board games, etc.

7:30-9:00am – Breakfast
Location: Bailey Dining Commons

9:00-9:30am – Morning Workouts
Location: The Track
Students can participate in a fun workout led by a local personal trainer. Please bring a yoga mat or towel.

9:30-11:30am – Prep for Success
Location: Library, Helen White Lawn
This event will be hosted by the Student Care and Career and Calling offices. New students can get a free Belhaven planner and create first-year vision boards. Staff will be present to provide advice regarding time management, academic success, and other tips and tricks.

11:30am-1:00pm – Lunch
Location: Bailey Dining Commons
Tickets provided for commuter students.

3:30-4:30pm – Majors Meet & Greet
Location: Billy Kim International Center 200 & 202
Students will have an opportunity to meet professors from their majors.

4:30-5:30pm - BU Seminar: What It Means to be a Blazer
Location: Student Center Theatre

5:30-6:30pm – Peer Group Dinner
Location: Bailey Dining Commons  

7:00-9:30pm – Movie Night
Location: Billy Kim 202

9:00am, 10:30am – Discover Jackson Tours
Location: Meet outside of the Student Center
The Discover Jackson tour will introduce students to their new, beautiful, and historic home of Jackson, Mississippi. Buses allow 40 students per tour.

11:30am-1:30pm – Lunch
Location: Bailey Dining Commons

3:30-4:30pm – BU Seminar #2: To Serve, Not to be Served
Location: BKIC 200
The Belhaven University motto is “To Serve, Not to be Served.” Football coach, CJ Nightingale will speak to students about what this means and how they can make a difference during their time at Belhaven.

5:00pm – Blazer Kickback
Location: Blazer Plaza (by Belhaven Bowl)
At this tailgate-inspired event, students can come by for free snow cones and food from food trucks, participate in lawn games, and meet fellow Blazers.

8:00-9:00pm – Belhaven Trivia Night
Location: Bailey Dining Commons
New students will learn more about their school and will have the opportunity to win prizes.

Various Times – Worship at the Church of your Choice
Location: Various Locations

11:30am-1:30pm – Lunch
Location: Bailey Dining Commons

3:00pm – Ultimate Frisbee
Location: Belhaven Bowl

4:30-5:30pm – Classroom Tours
Location: Various locations around campus
New students will have the opportunity to take a classroom tour led by members of student leadership.

5:00-6:30pm – Peer Group Dinner
Location: Bailey Dining Commons

7:00-9:00pm – Residence Hall Crawl
Location: All Belhaven Residence Halls
Students can go to each Residence Hall lobby to experience a variety of activities, drinks, and food.

9:00am-2:00pm – Welcome Back Coffee and Tea  
Location: Student Center Lawn
Students, faculty, and staff can come get a free cup of Shoebird Cafe coffee or tea to celebrate the beginning of a new school year.

6:00pm – Welcome Back BBQ
Location: Pinehurst & Peachtree Lawn
This campus-wide event will have barbeque, music, lawn games, food-eating contests, and other competitions for students, faculty, and staff.

9:35am, 11:00am – Chapel
Location: Center for the Arts, Concert Hall

7:00-8:30pm – Painting the Culture
Location: Dining Commons
Open to all students, this event will celebrate the diverse, unique backgrounds and cultures represented by our student body. All students will have the opportunity to paint something that represents their culture.

9:00pm – Mandatory Residence Hall Meeting
Location: Various Locations

11:30am-1:00pm – Welcome Week Scavenger Hunt
Location: Student Center Booth
Students will be invited to participate in a campus-wide scavenger hunt. Winners will receive a prize.

8:00-9:30pm – Campus-Wide Worship  
Location: Billy Kim International Center 200
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to a night of worship led by Word of Life Fondren followed by a short message by Fondren Church College Pastor, Alex Foust.

7:00-9:00pm – Kickin’ It with Campus Rec
Location: Rugg Arena and Auxiliary Gym
Students will have the chance to participate in various intramural samplers (basketball, indoor soccer, and volleyball).

8:00-10:00pm – Blazer Beach Bash  
Location: Billy Kim Entergy Pavilion (backside of BKIC)
This is the most popular tradition of Welcome Week, and there will be music, snow cones, a photo booth, and multiple competitions in which students can participate (best tropical outfit, hula hoop contest, limbo).

9:00am-12:00pm – Blazer Community Connect  
Location: Meet at Billy Kim International Center
New students will be invited to serve in the community with their peer groups. Debrief and pizza party to follow this service project.

7:00pm – 24-Hour Theatre
Location: Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Doors open at 6:30pm, performances start at 7:00pm. An informational meeting will take place on Friday, August 23rd at 6:00pm in the CFA Concert Hall for students who wish to participate in 24-hour theatre. Please email apo@belhaven.edu for more information about how to sign up for a team.