Your help is needed to support orientation week
Next week, Saint Leo University will welcome its largest incoming class. More than 1,000 new students will officially call University Campus home when they arrive as early as Tuesday, August 13. Several events and activities have been planned to prepare for the new year and welcome students and their families. This email shares some of the highlights.
Your help is critical to ensuring our students feel welcomed and are positioned to achieve success. Several volunteers are needed to help with orientation and move-in events from August 15 – 20. All Saint Leo employees are strongly encouraged to volunteer. Contact Tiffany Nelson with the dates and times you are available to help. You can learn more on the Community website.
Orientation Week Events:
Opening School Year Mass │ August 12, 10 a.m.
It is a tradition each year for faculty and staff to gather, pray, and ask for the Lord’s blessing as we embark on a new academic year. Mass will be presided by Abbot Isaac Camacho, OSB, in the Saint Leo Abbey Church.
Community Day │ August 13, 2:30 p.m.
All faculty and staff are invited to participate in the fall Community Day in the Marion Bowman Activities Center or watch it live online. As is custom, President Senese will present a State of the University address.
International Student Early Arrival Orientation │ August 13 – 14
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Saint Leo will begin to welcome international students to campus for early arrival. Several orientation events have been planned for both days. Courtesy shuttles will pick up students from the airport, and informational events will help them adjust to life in the United States.
New Student and Family Orientation │ August 15 – 19
New students will officially move in to the residence halls the morning of Thursday, August 15. Orientation check-in will begin 11 a.m. Parents and families join students for the first two days of orientation and have a number of events especially planned for them. Friday’s focus is academic success, and students will be invited to spend time with faculty and attend Convocation. The next three days of orientation will feature engaging events and activities designed to help students learn about their university and meet others in the community.
Convocation │ August 16, 2:30 p.m.
Saint Leo will hold a formal Convocation ceremony to kick off the academic year, featuring a faculty processional in academic regalia (faculty should report to the Bowman Activities Center coaches’ offices hallway at 1:45 p.m.) and the distribution of Saint Leo pins to students as a symbol of joining our community of scholars. Each student will be allowed to invite two guests who must have tickets to enter. Remote viewing rooms will be available on campus as space in the Marion Bowman Activities Center will be limited.
Returning Student Move-in Day │ August 18
Returning students come back to campus and move into the residence halls just in time for the start of classes. Volunteer helpers are welcome!
First Day of Classes │ August 20
Tents and water stations will be staffed with volunteers wearing “I’m here to help” T-shirts or buttons to help direct students to classroom buildings and resource offices.
This new academic year will be an exciting one for Saint Leo University. As faculty and staff, let’s do our best to represent the university well and ensure our students have an amazing start to their academic journey.