Welcome Weekend
August 20-23, 2026
Find your people. Find your place.
Welcome Weekend is where your great adventure begins. Over the course of four days, you’ll become fully acclimated to life at the University of Saint Francis. In addition to learning the nuts and bolts of campus, you’ll meet people, make friends and have fun!
Registration is required. Priority registration closes on August 1, 2026. Secure your spot by registering early to ensure your t-shirt size and other materials are available.
Thursday, August 20
| Time | Event | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. Check-in/Move-in Group 1 | Residence halls (Start at Trinity Hall) |
|
| 11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass | Oratory of St. Francis | |
| 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cookout Lunch | Trinity lawn | Sponsored by the Athletic Department. |
| 1 to 4 p.m. Check-in/Move-in Group 2 | Residence halls (Start at Trinity Hall) |
|
| 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Matriculation Celebration | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium | Celebrate your official welcome to the Saint Francis family! |
| 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dinner Buffet | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Gym | |
| 7:30 to 7:45 p.m. Class Picture | In front of Brookside, by the St. Francis statue |
|
| 8 to 10 p.m. Women’s Soccer | Bishop D’Arcy Stadium | Bring your school spirit and support our athletes: Saint Francis Cougars vs. Defiance College Yellowjackets. |
| Schedule | |
|---|---|
| 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. Check-in/Move-in Group 1 | Residence halls (Start at Trinity Hall) |
|
|
| 11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass | Oratory of St. Francis |
| 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cookout Lunch | Trinity lawn |
| Sponsored by the Athletic Department. | |
| 1 to 4 p.m. Check-in/Move-in Group 2 | Residence halls (Start at Trinity Hall) |
|
|
| 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Matriculation Celebration | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium |
| Celebrate your official welcome to the Saint Francis family! | |
| 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dinner Buffet | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Gym |
| 7:30 to 7:45 p.m. Class Picture | In front of Brookside, by the St. Francis statue |
|
|
| 8 to 10 p.m. Women’s Soccer | Bishop D’Arcy Stadium |
| Bring your school spirit and support our athletes: Saint Francis Cougars vs. Defiance College Yellowjackets. | |
Friday, August 21
| Time | Event | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Commuter Check-in and Waffle Breakfast | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Gym and West Foyer | |
| 9:30 to 10 a.m. Keynote Address | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium | Hear from the Cupertino Student Success Center. |
| 10 to 10:45 a.m. Academic Expectations Panel | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium | Meet and learn from your professors in an informational setting. |
| 11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass | Oratory of St. Francis | |
| 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch—Meet Your Pathway | Various locations | Gather with your Orientation and Welcome Leader (OWL) and meet your academic pathway. |
| 1 to 3 p.m. Academic Onboarding | Various locations | Following lunch, learn more about your academic area. |
| 3 to 4:30 p.m. Welcome Rally | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium | Meet and engage with your OWL and start creating lifelong memories. Claim your university swag bag. | 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dinner | Trinity Dining Hall | Bring your student ID. |
| 7 to 8 p.m. All Residents Meeting | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium | Meet your Resident Assistant (RA). Go over community standards. Learn important calendar dates. |
| 8 to 9 p.m. Praise and Worship | The Junction | Student-led prayer service through music and worship. |
| 9 to 10:30 p.m. Bonfire | The Cove | Enjoy community, lawn games, and s’mores. This activity is sponsored by Campus Ministry. |
| Schedule | |
|---|---|
| 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Commuter Check-in and Waffle Breakfast | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Gym and West Foyer |
| 9:30 to 10 a.m. Keynote Address | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium |
| Hear from the Cupertino Student Success Center. | |
| 10 to 10:45 a.m. Academic Expectations Panel | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium |
| Meet and learn from your professors in an informational setting. | |
| 11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass | Oratory of St. Francis |
| 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch—Meet Your Pathway | Various locations |
| Gather with your Orientation and Welcome Leader (OWL) and meet your academic pathway. | |
| 1 to 3 p.m. Academic Onboarding | Various locations |
| Following lunch, learn more about your academic area. | |
| 3 to 4:30 p.m. Welcome Rally | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium |
| Meet and engage with your OWL and start creating lifelong memories. Claim your university swag bag. | |
| 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dinner | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Gym |
| Bring your student ID. | |
| 7 to 8 p.m. All Residents Meeting | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium |
| Meet your Resident Assistant (RA). Go over community standards. Learn important calendar dates. | |
| 8 to 9 p.m. Praise and Worship | The Junction |
| Student-led prayer service through music and worship. | |
| 9 to 10:30 p.m. Bonfire | The Cove |
| Enjoy community, lawn games, and s’mores. This activity is sponsored by Campus Ministry. | |
Saturday, August 22
| Time | Event | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet | Trinity Dining Hall | Bring your student ID. |
| 9:30 to 10 a.m. Health and Safety at Saint Francis | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium | Tom Rhoades, our Director of Safety and Security, will present important information about staying safe on campus. |
| 10 to 10:45 a.m. Keynote Address | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium | |
| 11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass | Oratory of St. Francis | |
| 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch | Trinity Dining Hall | Bring your student ID. |
| 1 to 3 p.m. Welcome Party | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium | This will also be an opportunity for students to pick up their swag bags. |
| 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Adoration | Oratory of St. Francis | |
| 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dinner | Trinity Dining Hall | Bring your student ID. |
| 7 to 9 p.m. Social with Residence Life | Cougar Den and The Junction | Join the first social activity of the weekend and meet new friends. Games and a candy buffet will be provided. |
| 9 to 10:30 p.m. Jumbotron Movie Night | Bishop D’Arcy Stadium | Gather your new friends and enjoy popcorn and drinks while watching a movie on the big screen. |
| Schedule | |
|---|---|
| 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet | Trinity Dining Hall |
| Bring your student ID. | |
| 9:30 to 10 a.m. Health and Safety at Saint Francis | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium |
| Tom Rhoades, our Director of Safety and Security, will present important information about staying safe on campus. | |
| 10 to 10:45 a.m. Keynote Address | San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium |
| 11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass | Oratory of St. Francis |
| 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch | Trinity Dining Hall |
| Bring your student ID. | |
| 1 to 3 p.m. Welcome Party | San Damiano (North Campus) Auditorium |
| This will also be an opportunity for students to pick up their swag bags. | |
| 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Adoration | Oratory of St. Francis |
| 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dinner | Trinity Dining Hall |
| Bring your student ID. | |
| 7 to 9 p.m. Social with Residence Life | Cougar Den and The Junction |
| Join the first social activity of the weekend and meet new friends. Games and a candy buffet will be provided. | |
| 9 to 10:30 p.m. Jumbotron Movie Night | Bishop D’Arcy Stadium |
| Gather your new friends and enjoy popcorn and drinks while watching a movie on the big screen. | |
Sunday, August 23
| Time | Event | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass | The Junction | Don’t miss out on our first outdoor Mass of the year. |
| 11:30 to 1 p.m. Brunch | Trinity Dining Hall | Bring your student ID. |
| 1 to 3 p.m. Service Sunday | Various locations | Start your school year in the community, serving those in need. |
| 3 to 4:30 p.m. Franny Relay | Oratory of St. Francis piazza | Lace up your shoes and get ready to play, compete and support your team in an annual tradition. |
| 5 to 6 p.m. All Athletes Meeting | Hutzell Athletic Center | |
| 6:30 to 9 p.m. Kick-Off Carnival | Hutzell lawn | Enjoy carnival games and food and win fun prizes. |
| Schedule | |
|---|---|
| 11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass | The Junction |
| Don’t miss out on our first outdoor Mass of the year. | |
| 11:30 to 1 p.m. Brunch | Trinity Dining Hall |
| Bring your student ID. | |
| 1 to 3 p.m. Service Sunday | Various locations |
| Start your school year in the community, serving those in need. | |
| 3 to 4:30 p.m. Franny Relay | Oratory of St. Francis piazza |
| Lace up your shoes and get ready to play, compete and support your team in an annual tradition. | |
| 5 to 6 p.m. All Athletes Meeting | Hutzell Athletic Center |
| 6:30 to 9 p.m. Kick-Off Carnival | Hutzell lawn |
| Enjoy carnival games and food and win fun prizes. | |
“Welcome Weekend is like a big family event. Everyone is super welcoming and helpful. By the time it’s over, you’ll feel completely at home.”
Ashley Childress ’25 Environmental Science and Biology Pre-Vet major
“The best thing about the University of Saint Francis is the community, without a doubt. The people are so nice. I made friends right away, starting at Welcome Weekend and every day since. It’s a family here.”
Collin Siratei ’28 Criminal Justice major
