Syracuse Welcome 2011 to receive new first-year and transfer students beginning Aug. 24

Very soon, some 3,700 first-year and transfer students will arrive at Syracuse University ready to kick off the new academic year. When they do, SU’s student orientation program, Syracuse Welcome, will help them get acclimated and ready to start the new semester.

In its ninth year, Syracuse Welcome begins Wednesday, Aug. 24, as new students are greeted by nearly 1,000 student and staff volunteers. These volunteers will assist students with move-in and help them get familiar with campus. Once settled, new students will participate in events and experiences designed to get them acquainted with each other, the campus, its resources and the greater Syracuse community.

“What is amazing about Syracuse Welcome is the energy of our volunteers and their desire and commitment to make our new students and their families feel welcome.  Their Orange pride is almost palpable as they share their time and expertise, and love of SU with the newest members of the SU family,” says Greg Victory, director of the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs. “What rings loud and clear during Syracuse Welcome is that we care about all of our students and are dedicated to making sure they flourish at SU. ”

Signature features of Syracuse Welcome include:

• Assistance from the Goon Squad, 700 student volunteers who help unload cars and move new students into their residence hall rooms;
• Home to the Dome, a pep rally hosted by SU football legend Floyd Little,  designed to introduce new students to SU athletics and the “Loud House;”
• Orange After Dark, an evening of fun and games and an outdoor dance party on SU’s Kenneth A. Shaw Quad; and
• Parents Convocation, an official welcome and informational session for parents.

As always, intellectual engagement will play a central role in Syracuse Welcome. The Chancellor’s Convocation for New Students opens the academic year Friday, Aug. 26, in the Carrier Dome. SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor will greet students and their families and introduce the first-year experience, and the educational theme of “disability.” The convocation begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends with SU’s traditional “Lunch on the Turf” for attendees, after which families will be encouraged to depart campus.

Students will also attend academic advising sessions, new student receptions and convocations for their home school or college.

Engaging in Syracuse

Once again, Syracuse Welcome will introduce students to the wealth of opportunities for engagement and entertainment off campus. On Saturday, Aug. 27, SU hosts “Feel the Pulse of Syracuse,” where students will visit the heart of the downtown area to sample the cultural and social offerings of Armory Square and venues along the Connective Corridor. The evening will feature a taste of Armory Square, restaurant offerings in a street festival atmosphere; a chance to shop in the historic Armory Square district; and a sampling of eclectic showcases of live music and dance. As the evening unfolds, giant puppets from the Open Hand Theater, along with the SU Marching Band, will move a festive procession along Armory Square. The evening will culminate at the John Mulroy Civic Center with a laugh-out-loud comedic performance. Community partners and local cultural and nonprofit organizations will engage with students and offer ways to get involved in the Syracuse community.

Note:

Traffic volume in and around the University will be heavier than usual, due to the move-in on Aug. 24 and 25. Assisted moves will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on both days. Those traveling in the University area should keep this in mind as they enter and leave the area. On Saturday, Aug. 27, Walton and Franklin streets, between Fayette and Jefferson, will be closed from 2-9 p.m. Free parking for patrons of Armory Square businesses is available all day in the Atrium Garage on Fayette and Franklin streets. In addition the Connective Corridor project has University Avenue in a state of construction. Although no construction will be occurring during the scheduled move-in days, vehicles will not be able to travel on some sections of University Avenue closest to campus, and pedestrian access to Marshall Street and the Marshall Square Mall will be limited to just one side of the street.

For a complete listing of the week’s events, visit the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs. The site also contains answers to frequently asked questions, updated schedules and registration information.

Syracuse Welcome is a University-wide effort coordinated by the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs. For more information on Syracuse Welcome 2011, contact the Office of First-Year and Transfer Programs at (315) 443-1012.