ETSU to treat students to two Weeks of Welcome

New and returning students invited to enjoy free food, games, giveaways, prizes, entertainment, more

JOHNSON CITY – East Tennessee State University is glad to open its doors to in-person learning and activities this fall, and has planned two weeks of new and traditional happenings to welcome students back to campus.

image for Bucky's Back-to-School Bash

Bucky's Back-to-School Bash

Bucky's Back-to-School Bash, along with the Scoop on Faith and Service, Campus Roundup and other Weeks of Welcome events, give students an opportunity to meet members and learn more about the many student organizations available at ETSU.

From Aug. 22-Sept. 4, these Weeks of Welcome will provide new and returning ETSU students with opportunities to enjoy entertainment, engage with fellow students, learn about campus services and student organizations, and win prizes.

In the past, this back-to-school period has been one Welcome Week, but the university extended the observance to two Weeks of Welcome this year.

“We knew we would have more events than we could fit into one week since we would all be so excited to welcome two classes of students to campus for possibly the first time, due to online classes during the pandemic,” said Carter Warden, director of Student Activities and Organizations (SAO). “We also tried to plan as many outdoor events as we could in case some students might be concerned about being in large crowds indoors, which turned out to be a good decision with the current COVID-19 resurgence. With safety in mind, we also have created rain location plans for our events that will encourage social distancing.”

In anticipation of students’ return, many offices and departments are decorating their doors for ETSU PRIDE Week, and faculty and staff are signing up to volunteer at Welcome Tables that will be stationed across campus Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 23-24 – the first two days of the fall semester – to provide directions and information to students not yet familiar with campus.

And once they’re on campus, students are invited to take part in fun Weeks of Welcome activities, many of which include games, free food, giveaways, prizes and more. Among these events are:

  • A Block Party on Sunday, Aug. 22, from 6-8 p.m. at Tri-Hall Field
  • Bucky’s Back-to-School Bash on Tuesday, Aug. 24, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at University Commons, showcasing such student organizations as fraternities and sororities, Residence Hall Association, Buctainment, Student Government Association, Volunteer ETSU and more
  • The ETSU PRIDE Community Showcase, co-sponsored by the ETSU National Alumni Association and Johnson City-Jonesborough-Washington County Chamber of Commerce, introducing students to area businesses on Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at University Commons
  • Recfest, featuring fun recreational activities and an opportunity to learn about ETSU’s sport clubs, on Aug. 25 from 6-8 p.m. at the Basler Center for Physical Activity (CPA)
  • A Cultural Remix on Thursday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at University Commons, providing exposure to different cultures and promoting upcoming programming offered by ETSU and the Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center
  • A Tradition Keepers Adventure Night on Aug. 26 from 5-8:30 p.m. at the Basler Challenge Course
  • Culparoo, showcasing the recently renovated D.P. Culp Student Center, on Friday, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
  • The SGA Weeks of Welcome Outdoor Concert featuring country artist Kip Moore and opening acts Kylie Morgan and Saul Brooks on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m. at the CPA Backyard
  • The Scoop on Faith and Service on Monday, Aug. 30, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Warf-Pickel Plaza, featuring ice cream with campus ministries and campus/community service organizations
  • The Campus Roundup on Tuesday, Aug. 31, showcasing offices providing student support services, academic departments, and academic student organizations and honor societies
  • A naming and ribbon-cutting event on Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 1 p.m. at The Cave in the Culp Student Center to name the Cave Stage, the Career Center, and the Center for Student Success and Engagement for generous donors who helped make renovation of the Culp Center possible
  • A Media Center Open House in the Culp Center on Tuesday, Sept. 2, from 2-4 p.m.
  • The ETSU Athletics BucWild Back-to-School Bash on Saturday, Sept. 4, from 6-9 p.m. at Summers-Taylor Stadium in conjunction with the Buccaneer men’s soccer match against Radford University
image for Community Showcase

Community Showcase

Students can enjoy great giveaways, food, games and more while meeting representatives of local businesses that serve and employ students from ETSU at the Community Showcase, sponsored by the National Alumni Association and Johnson City-Jonesborough-Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

Other activities include a student employment fair, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, an overnight campout, an outdoor game night, a bloodmobile, a women’s soccer match, residence hall convocations and more. For the complete Weeks of Welcome schedule, visit etsu.edu/welcomeweek.

ETSU is in Modified Stage 4 of its COVID-19 response plan, in which a majority of classes will be taught on-ground, and students, faculty and staff are required to wear face coverings indoors. Special cleaning and disinfection protocols are in place throughout ETSU facilities. Visit the ETSU Bucs Are Back website (etsu.edu/coronavirus) for complete guidelines.

For more information on Weeks of Welcome, contact ETSU’s Office of Student Activities and Organizations at 423-439-6633 or sao@etsu.edu. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.

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