Expanded Weeks of Welcome build community at William & Mary

As students returned to campus this fall, Student Affairs launched Weeks of Welcome, a six-week event series designed to help both new and returning students connect, get engaged, and feel at home at William & Mary.  

Weeks of Welcome kicked off on August 25 and will run through October 8. The event series builds upon Student Transition Engagement Programs' "My First W&M Weekend" and offers students dozens of opportunities to explore their interests and discover new friendships as they begin the semester.

“Weeks of Welcome grew out of a recognition that new students needed a central place to find opportunities and events on campus,” said Jenna Venable, assistant director of programming for Student Unions & Engagement. “Research consistently shows that students who connect in their first weeks are more likely to thrive academically and persist through graduation. We want Weeks of Welcome to be both an invitation and an incentive for students to make those meaningful connections.” 

Each week offers a starting list of activities aimed at helping students find belonging through themes that reflect William & Mary’s core values. The university encourages students to seek out new experiences by attending numerous events. Students can ‘Self Check-In’ with TribeLink or use the event-provided QR Code to earn fun prizes, such as frisbees, shirts, or water bottles, as they explore. The Weeks of Welcome website highlights challenge levels and outlines upcoming events. 

A few weeks in, and the semester is off to a strong start. The First Day of Class (FDOC) featured over 1,000 first-day photos. Students captured memories for their families and future selves with signs commemorating a new academic year, whether it was their first or their last. Other students contributed to the university’s legacy by adding pieces to the Lego Brick model of the historic campus, which will be displayed in the Wren Building Welcome Center.  

Sarah Callahan ’26, a student in William & Mary’s St Andrews Joint Degree Programme said, “It’s so nice to be back from Scotland and to feel so appreciated by the rest of the student body - it feels like I never left!”  

That same week, all new-to-William & Mary students were invited to take part in Opening Convocation, officially marking their transition into the W&M community.  "Convocation was great because it felt like an official start to the year after all the buildup of orientation,” said Dylan Gibson ‘29. 

As students settled into their classes and routines, they explored various Student Affairs resources at the annual Student Life Neighborhood Block Party. The event included inflatables, a climbing wall, t-shirts, giveaways, music, hands-on activities, and, of course, free food. While meeting with friends and completing activities, students saw the breadth of support William & Mary has to offer, everywhere from the Sadler Center to the McLeod Tyler Wellness Center. 

 “The community W&M strives to build cannot be achieved without all of our values being put into practice,” said Lauren Garrett, director of Student Transition Engagement Programs. "It’s important that students can participate in activities and events that embody those values, whether it’s their first semester or their last.” 

The opportunities for exploration are not over yet. Students can look out for upcoming concerts, screenings, trivia, and more during the remaining Weeks of Welcome. By Family Weekend, October 3-5, students will be ready to showcase campus life to their families and loved ones.  

By expanding William & Mary’s nationally recognized welcome into weeks of festivities, students have ample opportunity to discover their place in the community and proudly wear their green and gold.