“So while we expect there is going to be some traffic, we don’t think it will actually impact move-in day operations at all,” Luke said.
Commuter and transfer students also have their own Welcome Bash from 3–5 p.m. on Sept. 15 which, if it’s the only Welcome Week they can attend, provides as much need-to-know information as possible.
“It’s a mega-session that’s quick and jam-packed,” Delengowski said. “If this is the only thing you’re coming to, here is what you need to know from a variety of different offices where you can also ask questions.”
On Sunday evening, all incoming students and their loved ones are invited to the Family BBQ to enjoy a final meal together before the student-centric Welcome Week events really kick off. The biggest one of these, the Welcome Week 2019 Kick-Off at The Franklin Institute — will immediately follow the BBQ.
Delengowski said that, in addition to the vendors and events that were a hit last year — most notably the student DJ battle in The Franklin Institute’s planetarium — they are also switching it up by getting more student organizations involved with the Kick-Off event this year.
“So not in a tabling aspect, but providing some interactive activities,” Delengowski said.
Sam Hubner, a fourth-year studying marketing and management information systems who is the student body vice president through the Undergraduate Student Government Association (USGA), said she’s glad her organization will be present at the event to answer new student questions and host a prize wheel, as well as participating in the Student Leader Panel from 12–2 p.m. on Sept.19.
Hubner said she’s glad new Drexel students get a long Welcome Week, as the start of the academic term is usually a tough transition for new students.
“I think it’s just kind of nice to be on Drexel’s campus and not have to worry about classes, and just kind of get acclimated before you’re thrown into the class structure,” she said.
Christian Maxey, a third-year studying operations and supply chain management and the vice president of the Campus Activities Board (CAB), said Welcome Week programming is also a good opportunity for new students to be exposed to different campus groups early on — if not to join them, then to at least get to know what they’re all about.
“This is a perfect opportunity to get to know them and show them some cool things to do on campus, some cool things to get involved in from our end, to promote what we do and hopefully increase involvement,” he said.
CAB has also partnered with The Good Idea Fund to put on this year’s First Bash which will take place after the Kick-Off. Maxey said the late-night event will be four times bigger than it was last year, taking over the whole central part of campus around Lancaster Walk where organizations will host events, games, free food and prizes. CAB will sponsor an origami and craft table.
“It’s essentially a giant party,” Delengowski added.
Following these large-scale events, there are plenty of other happenings throughout the week to continue to keep students busy. To keep their schedule straight, students should utilize the DrexelOne mobile app to create their personalized Welcome Week schedule — a resource that Luke said was underutilized by students last year.
Most notably, College Day is on Sept. 17, and students will spend the day getting to know their respective colleges and schools. College Day starts with the Breakfast with the Provost, which this year will be held in the Main Building’s Great Court. Executive Vice President and Nina Henderson Provost M. Brian Blake, PhD, will welcome new students to campus and kick off the day filled with both academics and fun.
While College Day is aimed at introducing new students to their fellow classmates and future professors, each activity hosted by the colleges and schools should also send students off campus to introduce them to the city that surrounds them — the city of Philadelphia.
“I think this is so critical because it’s such a huge part of what Drexel is as an institution,” Luke said. “Getting students away from campus is one of the biggest things a college can do during College Day.”
Hubner would encourage new students to go explore the city all throughout Welcome Week to help them start understanding the city from the get-go. She remembers her own College Day activity — a scavenger hunt where she and her classmates walked to and from Center City.
“I was sweating, it was like 110 degrees and I almost got run over by a car,” she said with a laugh, adding that exploring the city early on helps also since Drexel’s campus is so woven into the fabric of surrounding University City.
“It’s going to make it feel like home,” she said. “It also brings everyone together.”
Another outlet for students to come together for a common goal during Welcome Week is through the first-ever Welcome Week Cup hosted by Recreational Athletics. New students are encouraged to make a team with their residence hall, their fellow commuter or transfer students, etc., and compete throughout the week by participating in or attending events like rock climbing, dodgeball and a dive-in movie at the Rec Center pool. The winning team will lay claim to the physical Welcome Week Cup for the remainder of the school year.
“We want to bring some healthy competition to this exciting week,” said Shawn Riley, intramural coordinator for the Department of Athletics. “The goal is to get students to come to the Rec and Rec events so we can showcase everything we have to offer.”
Additionally, students can individually enter the First 100 Days Dragon Contest on Instagram starting on Sept. 16 for the chance to win $50 in DragonDollars. Just create a post with three pictures featuring all the fun things you’ll be doing on campus and in the city by Oct. 7, also tagging @DrexelOne and using #dragoncontest19 in your post.
