OSU-Cascades kicks off new school year with events

New students at Oregon State University – Cascades will kick off the academic year with Move In Day, Convocation and a slate of helpful workshops, opportunities to meet faculty, social events, outings and team challenges.

The activities are all part of Welcome Week, a program that connects new students to the campus community and to services that can help them succeed, particularly during the sometimes stressful first year of college.

Welcome Week takes place Sept. 16 to Sept. 20. Highlights of the week include:

Move In Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 16, Residence Hall — Faculty and administrators continue a tradition, volunteering to help families move students into the residence hall. Housing staff anticipate 130 residential students, including nearly 70 first-year students. Convocation, 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Sept. 17, Tykeson Lawn — The 2018 Convocation speaker is Capt.Trish Connolly of the City of Bend Fire & EMS Department. Connolly was the first female firefighter hired by the department and the first female to be promoted to fire captain. She is one of only three department employees to have completed the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program. Afternoon Outings – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 17, various locations — Students will choose from rafting on Big Eddie, a walk on the Deschutes River trail, an outing to Sun Mountain Fun Center and rock climbing. Beavers on the Town: Bend Scavenger Hunt, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 18 — New students will explore downtown Bend as they search for scavenger hunt clues. Majors Mixer & Brunch, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Sept. 19, Tykeson Hall, first floor — Faculty from various degree programs will share information about academic majors and opportunities in their fields.

Fall term classes begin on Sept. 20. To learn about OSU-Cascades, visit OSUcascades.edu.