Welcome Weekend

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!

Register Now
Welcome Weekend Schedule (PDF)
Meet Your OWL

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 Residence halls (Start at Trinity Hall)
  • Register for one of the two time slots with Residence Life.
  • Start at the main drive of Trinity Hall.
  • Note: Enter from the eastbound lane of Spring Street.
Register Here
11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass Oratory of St. Francis
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cookout Lunch Trinity lawn
1 to 4 p.m. Check-in/Move-in Residence halls (Start at Trinity Hall)
  • Register for one of the two time slots with Residence Life.
  • Start at the main drive of Trinity Hall.
  • Note: Enter from the eastbound lane of Spring Street.
Register Here
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
  • All incoming students should gather for a group photo.
  • Parents and families say their goodbyes after the photo.
  • Remaining events of the weekend are intended for students only.
7:45 to 10 p.m. Social with Residential 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.
Schedule
8:30 to 10:45 a.m. Check-in/Move-in Residence halls (Start at Trinity Hall)
  • Register for one of the two time slots with Residence Life.
  • Start at the main drive of Trinity Hall.
  • Note: Enter from the eastbound lane of Spring Street.
Register Here
11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass Oratory of St. Francis
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cookout Lunch Trinity lawn
1 to 4 p.m. Check-in/Move-in Residence halls (Start at Trinity Hall)
  • Register for one of the two time slots with Residence Life.
  • Start at the main drive of Trinity Hall.
  • Note: Enter from the eastbound lane of Spring Street.
Register Here
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
  • All incoming students should gather for a group photo.
  • Parents and families say their goodbyes after the photo.
  • Remaining events of the weekend are intended for students only.
7:45 to 10 p.m. Social with Residential 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.

Friday, August 21

Time | Event Location Details
8:30 to 10 a.m. Commuter Check-in and Waffle Breakfast San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Gym and West Foyer
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 to 5:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium
5:30 to 7 p.m. Dinner San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Gym Bring your student ID.
7 to 7:45 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 10 a.m. Commuter Check-in and Waffle Breakfast San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Gym and West Foyer
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 to 5:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium
5:30 to 7 p.m. Dinner San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Gym
Bring your student ID.
7 to 7:45 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 More information coming soon.
11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass Oratory of St. Francis
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Gym
1 to 2 p.m. Welcome Party San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Auditorium This will also be an opportunity for students to pick up their swag bags.
2 to 4 p.m. Men’s Soccer Bishop D’Arcy Stadium Bring your school spirit and support our athletes: Cougars vs Cornerstone (MI).
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. Women’s Soccer Bishop D’Arcy Stadium Bring your school spirit and support our athletes: Cougars vs Cleary (MI).
9 to 11:30 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
More information coming soon.
11 to 11:30 a.m. Mass Oratory of St. Francis
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch San Damiano Hall (North Campus) Gym
1 to 2 p.m. Welcome Party San Damiano (North Campus) Auditorium
This will also be an opportunity for students to pick up their swag bags.
2 to 4 p.m. Men’s Soccer Bishop D’Arcy Stadium
Bring your school spirit and support our athletes: Cougars vs Cornerstone (MI).
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. Women’s Soccer Bishop D’Arcy Stadium
Bring your school spirit and support our athletes: Cougars vs Cleary (MI).
9 to 11:30 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
10 to 11 a.m. Mass The Junction Don’t miss out on our first outdoor Mass of the year.
12 to 1 p.m. Brunch Trinity Dining Hall Bring your student ID.
1 to 3 p.m. Service Sunday Campus Ministry Start your school year in the community, serving those in need.
3 to 4:30 p.m. Franny Relay Pope John Paul II Center lawn/Oratory 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 to 8 p.m. Semester Kickoff Party/Carnival Hutzell lawn Enjoy carnival games and food and win fun prizes.
Schedule
10 to 11 a.m. Mass The Junction
Don’t miss out on our first outdoor Mass of the year.
12 to 1 p.m. Brunch Trinity Dining Hall
Bring your student ID.
1 to 3 p.m. Service Sunday Campus Ministry
Start your school year in the community, serving those in need.
3 to 4:30 p.m. Franny Relay Pope John Paul II Center lawn/Oratory 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 to 8 p.m. Semester Kickoff Party/Carnival Hutzell lawn
Enjoy carnival games and food and win fun prizes.
Register for Welcome Weekend
Ashley Childress ’25

“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