Academic Opening Day 2026 Schedule (subject to change)
- 8:30 AM | New Student Meet up + Breakfast: Meet outside on upper campus and grab breakfast items from various table locations, while you wait for the New Student Parade to begin at 8:45 am.
- Non-traditional, transfer, and commuter students: Please feel free to join us at the Welcome Center (room 206) for a focused welcome breakfast to build community beginning at 8:30 am. You'll then join the rest of the group for the speaker series on the campus mall beginning at 9:15 am.
- 8:45 AM | New Student Parade! (*Part of the Traditions Keeper Program): Walk with your classmates and be cheered on by staff and faculty as you approach the Campus Mall for your welcome speaker series.
- 9:15 AM | Academic Opening Day Speaker Series: Enjoy music and our series of Welcome Speakers on the Campus Mall, including messages from our Chancellor and our student body president, and a performance of our Fight Song by the Blugold Marching Band.
- 9:45 AM | Students are dismissed from the Campus Mall to go to their Academic Meet & Greet locations.
- 10:00 AM | Academic Meet & Greet Programs: Connect in major cohorts to discuss your academic journey at UW-Eau Claire. This session will happen in various buildings across campus (your UWEC email will have your specific location and other details).
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Campus Mall Activities! Take time checking out all of the activities available to you on and around the Campus Mall.
- Picnic Lunch - Davies Marketplace
- Non-traditional and transfer students: Grab your lunch from Marketplace and then join us in the Dulany Inn (Davies Center, 1st floor) from 11am-12pm for our Transfer and Non-Traditional Student Group Lunch! There will be information from various departments including Blugold Central parking and Financial Aid, Veteran Services, Counseling Services, Blugold Learning Center (tutoring, study sessions, academic coaching, academic success courses), and Disability Services. The Dulany will offer a quiet, intentional space for you to get questions answered and to meet other transfer and non-traditional students. If you have questions, please reach out to Kallie Friede (FRIEDEKA@uwec.edu).
- T-Shirt Pick up (*Part of the Traditions Keeper Program) - Campus Mall
- "SpotiPhish!" Game sponsored by LTS - Campus Mall | Fish in our pool to catch origami fish, and then solve a phishing email question to leave with a free treat!
- Take a photo with Blu!
- Play Kubb! (*Part of the Traditions Keeper Program) - Campus Mall
- Traditions Scavenger Hunt! - Campus Mall
- And our SPECIAL Traditions Activity - Academic Opening Day Duck Race begins at 11:45am! - Campus Mall
- Capture your #UWECFirstDay photo by the arch as part of the scavenger hunt!
- 1:00 PM | Blugold Marching Band Performance: Hang out on the mall while we pump up the noise with Blugold Marching Band!
- 1:30 PM | Class Photo: Wrap up your day by taking our class photo on the campus mall in your new student t-shirt!
In the event of inclement weather, students will be notified of any changes to the program via UWEC email.
*Traditions Keepers Program
We are excited to help kick off the Traditions Keepers program as part of Academic Opening Day! The Traditions Keeper program reflects the wide variety of meaningful opportunities available to students and staff, and you can learn more about how you can get involved here. By participating in the scavenger hunt, you'll be able to knock SIX traditions off your list before you even begin classes!
By participating in these traditions, you will make new relationships, memories, and help keep our traditions alive for years to come.
