Elon’s newest students will arrive on campus a matter of days. Here’s what they have to look forward to, along with resources to help ensure a smooth transition.
With summer nearing an end, Elon is counting down the days until the newest members of the university family arrive at campus to begin their college careers.
Friday, Aug. 25, marks the arrival of Elon’s largest class so far. Beginning at 8 a.m., the campus will welcome 1,583 members of the Class of 2021 and 75 transfer students as they move into the residence halls that will be their homes during the next year.
These newest members of the Elon family will arrive for an intense and exciting introduction to the university and to college life at the start of a busy Fall Orientation Weekend. The Class of 2021 boasts an average SAT score of 1,230, an ACT score of 27 and an average GPA of 3.9. They’ll be arriving from 41 states across the country and from 25 countries around the world, with 8 percent of the incoming class having an international background. The class is made up of 61 percent women and 39 percent men, with nearly 20 percent from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Each brings with them their own personal experiences as they launch their university careers.
The slower summer months on Elon’s campus are coming to an end, with Aug. 25 offering a first jolt of energy and activity as the university prepares for a new academic year. The campus will come alive as these new students are joined by family members and scores of faculty, staff and current students eager to help them settle in and start their academic journey at Elon.
Click here for a complete list of activities during the weekend and to keep track on your smartphone, be sure to download the Elon University Guides app on Apple or Android, and select “Elon Orientation ’17-’18” once the app launches.
On Friday morning, students and their families will be greeted by teams of Elon students there to help them find their way to their residence halls, unload their vehicles and get them settled in their rooms. Along with 120 Elon orientation leaders, dozens with student groups on campus are chipping in to help Move-In Day run smoothly.
Orientation leaders play an important role in the lives of first-year students during the four days before classes start on Aug. 29, said Matthew Olmsted, assistant director of new student and transition programs. They will help these new students become acclimated to the campus community and navigate the orientation schedule.
“We want to make sure these new students have a familiar face on campus that they can go to as their time at Elon begins,” Olmsted said.
Students have staggered move-in times depending upon which floor they will live on, with those on the first or fourth floors to begin moving in at 8 a.m., those on the second floor to follow at 9:30 a.m., and those on the third floor to start at 10:30 a.m. Staggering the move-in times helps handle the high volume of students and their families who will be coming to Elon’s campus during move-in day and help reduce congestions, particularly on roads and parking lots around campus, as well as in the residence hall hallways and stairwells.
Friday morning’s move-in activities will give way to information sessions for families and students alike later in the day. For the students, NSO 100: Intro to Elon University kicks off a series of classes that help them get settled, learn how to become part of an academic community and offer insight into Elon’s culture and values.
Orientation weekend doesn’t just play out in classrooms around campus. First Night Elon! on the night of Move-In day celebrates the first of many nights for these new students on campus as they get to know the fellow residents in their neighborhoods. Each neighborhood will have a unique activity, and this year, the university is sponsoring late night programs including movies, laser tag and other activities to give new students a taste of the types of events they can expect during the coming year, Olmsted said.
New Student Convocation on the morning of Saturday, Aug. 26, will help officially launch these new students’ careers at the university, with Elon President Leo M. Lambert welcoming students and their families to campus and sharing his thoughts about the experience they are beginning. As they depart from Under the Oaks, new students will receive the traditional gift of an acorn to mark their start at Elon. They then go to meet with their Academic Advisors and Elon 101 groups.
On midday Saturday, members of the Class of 2021 will say goodbye to their families during the Farewell Lunch on the West Moseley Lawn, with that farewell giving way to a pep rally and Phoenix Extravaganza that night at Alumni Gym and Iconic Plaza outside Lakeside Dining Hall.
Fall semester classes begin on Tuesday, Aug. 29. First-year students should also put the Sept. 8 Organization Fair on Young Commons on their calendars. This is an opportunity to learn about Elon’s many student groups and make plans to get further involved in the life of the university.