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!
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) |
|
| 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) |
|
| 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Matriculation Celebration | North Campus Auditorium | Celebrate your official welcome to the Saint Francis family! |
| 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dinner Buffet | North Campus Gym | |
| 7:30 to 7:45 p.m. Class Picture | In front of Brookside, by the St. Francis statue |
|
| 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) |
|
|
| 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) |
|
|
| 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Matriculation Celebration | North Campus Auditorium |
| Celebrate your official welcome to the Saint Francis family! | |
| 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dinner Buffet | North Campus Gym |
| 7:30 to 7:45 p.m. Class Picture | In front of Brookside, by the St. Francis statue |
|
|
| 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 | North Campus Gym and North Campus West Foyer | |
| 10 to 10:45 a.m. Academic Expectations Panel | 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 | 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 | North Campus Auditorium | |
| 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dinner | North Campus Gym | Bring your student ID. |
| 7 to 7:45 p.m. All Residents Meeting | 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 | North Campus Gym and North Campus West Foyer |
| 10 to 10:45 a.m. Academic Expectations Panel | 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 | 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 | North Campus Auditorium |
| 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dinner | North Campus Gym |
| Bring your student ID. | |
| 7 to 7:45 p.m. All Residents Meeting | 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 | 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 | 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 | North Campus Gym | |
| 1 to 2 p.m. Welcome Party | 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 | 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 | 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 | North Campus Gym |
| 1 to 2 p.m. Welcome Party | 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. | |
“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
