Welcome Weekend

2024 Welcome Weekend Schedule

Saturday, August 17

• New Student Move-In - 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  New students move into their Residence Halls with the help of the Capital community!
• All Student Check-In and Capital Kick Off - 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
  Learn about local businesses, restaurants, and campus resources after checking in and receiving orientation materials.
• CapFam BBQ - 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
  We are excited to welcome you and your whole family to the Capital community! Join us at the annual CapFam BBQ for lunch, music, and more. Faculty, staff, and current students will be available to answer questions and share about the Capital experience!
• Opening Welcome – 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
  President Dave Kaufman, Provost Jody Fournier, faculty, and staff formally welcome new students to the CapFam.
• Gate Ceremony – 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM
  New students will take the traditional walk through the Memorial Gateway to signify joining the Capital family. We invite parents, families, and guests alongside faculty and staff to line up along the main walking path from the Capital gate to cheer on and celebrate new students.
• New CapFam Picture - 4:05 PM - 4:15 PM
  Capture this special moment with a group photo of all new students, symbolizing the beginning of your journey at Capital.
• “See you soon!”- 4:15 PM - 4:30 PM
  At Capital, we like to say, “see you soon!” instead of goodbye because we know an invite back to campus is just a phone call away. Following the New CapFam Picture, we ask that all parents, families, and guests say their ‘see you soons!’ to their students so that students can attend their first residence hall or commuter meetings.
• Residence Hall and Commuter Student Meeting – 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
  New students living on campus will meet hall Resident Assistants to go over community standards and other important information. Students who are commuting from home will have the chance to meet members of the Residential and Commuter Life team, check out the Commuter Lounge, and receive all the important information they need for Welcome Weekend and the fall semester!
• Dinner with Welcome Weekend Small Groups - 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  After Residence Hall and Commuter student meetings, new students will meet their Welcome Weekend Orientation Leaders on Schaaf Lawn! Welcome Weekend Orientation Leaders will be your guides during your transition to Capital and are there to ensure you have the best experience possible!
• Cap-a-palooza - 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
  Join your fellow peers and the Orientation Team for Cap-a-palooza after your first day on campus! Come to hang out, meet new people, and jump into your Capital experience!

Sunday, August 18

• Breakfast in the Main Dining Room - 7:00 AM - 9:30 AM
  Grab some breakfast in the Main Dining Room before heading out to your first small group session of the day. You can find your orientation leaders at breakfast to get the scoop on what is planned for the day!
• Combined Welcome Weekend Small Groups - 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
  Join your Orientation Leaders in a combined small group session to review the schedule for the day, get updates on excursions, meet more members of the CapFam, learn about the different weekly programs and opportunities on campus, and ask all the questions!
• Sex Signals: Consent and Bystander Education - 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  Sex Signals has become one of the most popular sexual assault prevention programs on college campuses through its unorthodox, humor-facilitated and inclusive approach to examining our culture, sex, and prevention strategies like bystander intervention. A two-person team of highly-trained educators takes the audience on an interactive, relevant, and often-hilarious exploration of the cultural messaging we receive about gender, sexuality, sexual health and intimate relationships. It examines what roles culture and privilege play in justifying unhealthy and dangerous beliefs about what is acceptable social and sexual behavior. This session is mandatory for all new students. Should a student not be able to attend, they will be required to make up the session at the start of the semester.
• Lunch in the Main Dining Room - 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
  Enjoy lunch in the Main Dining Room while socializing with new friends and Welcome Weekend Orientation Leaders. Make sure you grab lunch before heading off campus for your excursion!
• Explore Columbus Excursions - 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  Don't forget to sign up for an excursion in Cap 101! This is a great opportunity to check out different experiences in Columbus and the Bexley community! Better yet, it's FREE!
• Dinner in the Main Dining Room - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  Enjoy another meal in the Main Dining Room and recharge for the evening activities.
• Welcome Weekend Small Group - 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  Meet up with your small group and debrief the day and get the schedule for Monday!
• Late Night Movie on the Lawn - 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM
  Enjoy popcorn and a movie on the big screen!
• Silent Disco - 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM
  Dance the night away with roommates, new friends, and Welcome Weekend Orientation Leaders at a silent disco!

Monday, August 19

• Breakfast in the Main Dining Room - 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  Grab some breakfast in the Main Dining Room before heading out to meet your small group before the DEI session. You can find your orientation leaders at breakfast to get the scoop on what is planned for the day!
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging on Campus - 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  Join us for our annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion presentation before the semester starts! This session is mandatory for all new students. Should a student not be able to attend, they will be required to make up the session at the start of the semester.
• Campus Resource Scavenger Hunt with Welcome Weekend Small Groups - 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  Check out all the campus resources available to students! Each campus resource is prepared to help you on your way from Orientation to Graduation!
• Lunch in the Main Dining Room - 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
  Eat lunch with your OL small group and debrief your morning experiences. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions before Academic Afternoon later in the day.
• Academic Afternoon - 2:30 PM - 5:00 PM
  Join Provost Fournier and the Capital faculty for your official welcome to the academic community at Capital University! Learn more about your chosen field of study and academics at Capital from the faculty in your department.
• Dinner with Welcome Weekend Small Groups - 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
  Enjoy dinner in the Main Dining Room with your small group while discussing the day's events and making plans for the evening.
• Luau Night Extravaganza - 8:30 PM - 11:00 PM
  Escape to the tropics at our Luau Night Extravaganza! Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of the Hawaiian Islands with an evening full of fun, food, and festivities.

Tuesday, August 20

• Breakfast in the Main Dining Room - 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  Grab some breakfast in the Main Dining Room before checking out the open campus. You can find your orientation leaders at breakfast to get the scoop on what is planned for the day!
• Welcome Weekend Small Group Meet-Up - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
  Meet with your OL Small Group to review the schedule for the day and get answers to any lingering questions.
• Open Campus - 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  Buildings are open so you can find your class locations. Offices across campus will also be open to get any questions answered before classes begin.
• Fraternity and Sorority Life Information Session - 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
  Interested in joining a fraternity or sorority, or simply want to learn more? Join the SCE for an FSL information session to learn all about fraternity and sorority life here at Capital!
• Lunch in the Main Dining Room - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  Enjoy lunch and prepare for the afternoon activities.
• Treats with Fraternity and Sorority Life - 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
  Meet members of the Greek community and enjoy some sweet treats while learning about fraternity and sorority life.
• Campus Involvement Information Sessions - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  Want to learn more about campus involvement and ways to stay engaged? Join campus offices and departments to learn about ways to get involved and jumpstart your Capital experience.
• Capital Student Affinity Group Meet-Ups - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  Meet up with students just like yourself! Hear from current Capital students on their experiences, ways to get involved, and so much more!
• Welcome Weekend Small Group Meet-Up - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  Meet with your Welcome Weekend Small Group one more time before the first day of classes!
• Dinner in the Main Dining Room - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  Grab dinner in the Main Dining Room between 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
• Campus Block Party - 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  Hang out at the Campus Block Party! Enjoy music, games, and more!
• Sailesh the Hypnotist - 9:00 PM
  An experienced performer with more than 20 years under his belt, SAILESH, The Hypnotist has performed a staggering 5000+ shows at Colleges, Universities, and clubs, many with repeated bookings. Dubbed "The World’s Best Hypnotist," MTV Europe, his live show has been described as a cross between a concert and the best party ever! Sailesh makes audience members the stars of the show, taking the entire audience on a journey using hypnosis, improv, music, and interactivity to create a whole lot of laughter and a ton of fun!