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Welcome Week

Fall 2024 Welcome Week will be from Thursday, August 22 to Friday, August 30. Required sessions occur on Friday, August 23. The Fall 2024 schedule will go live in May with updates being added throughout the summer. Check back in with us soon!

Orientation group overhead fisheye picture

Welcome Week is required for all new on-campus, degree-seeking students registered for 12 or more credits. New students living in On-Campus Housing are required to attend regardless of credit amounts. New students who are registered for less than 12 credits are highly encouraged to attend Welcome Weekend. There are required activities on Friday, January 12, with highly recommended activities through the first week of classes. A $135 fee will be charged to students who are required to attend and any other students that choose to join.

The schedule has changed! Review our latest new offerings and a schedule change.

Spring 2024 Schedule

  • Housing Move-In

    Housing Move-In

    Thursday, January 11
    9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
    John Pugh Hall and Student Housing Lodge

    Housing move-in begins at 9:00 AM on Thursday, January 11. For more information about Housing Move-In, visit the UAS Student Housing Website.

  • New Student Convocation

    New Student Orientation Check In & Breakfast

    Friday, January 12
    8:00 AM
    Egan Building - Near Spikes Cafe

    Check in for Orientation, get your name badge, and grab some breakfast and caffeine to fuel you through the day. Families are more than welcome to join!

  • New Student Convocation

    New Student Convocation

    Friday, January 12
    9:00 AM
    Glacier View Room - Egan 221

    Join us at the Egan Library for an official welcome to your university. You'll get the opportunity to meet your peers, hear from the UAS Chancellor and our student speaker, and learn more about your community!

  • Our Community

    Our Community - Breakouts

    Friday, January 12
    9:30 AM 
    Egan Library

     

    This is the chance to choose your own Orientation adventure! Over the course of three sessions, each session will host up to two breakouts where you will get to choose one for each session. All breakouts will have important information to share along with offering engagement opportunities. We recognize that each student will have a unique student experience here at UAS and this is the chance for you to tailor your breakout experience in a way that ensures that you receive the information that matters to you the most. The following sessions are currently tentative and are subject to change.

    • Session 1: Title IX & You (50 minutes)
      • Student Rights & Campus Safety - Office of Equity & Compliance
    • Session 2: Campus Connections (40 minutes)
      • Campus Tour - Admissions
      • Promoting Physical Wellness at UAS - Recreation Center
    • Session 3: Skill Building (30 minutes)
      • Budget Skills for University Students - Financial Aid
      • Essential Skills in College: Healthy Relationships - Counseling
  • Food with Faculty

    Community Luncheon

    Friday, January 12
    12:00 PM
    Mourant - Lakeside Grill

    Join us at the Lakeside Grill for a chance to eat and build community, along with meeting some of the on-campus faculty, staff, and campus community resources. This is a great opportunity to meet potential professors, make some new connections, and sign up for appointments with Health and Wellness, Student Accounts, and your Advisors.

  • Our Community

    Student Panel

    Friday, January 12
    2:30 PM 
    Glacier View Room - Egan 221

     

    Hear from your peers! With other UAS resources available, you will get to hear about students' firsthand experience utilizing some common UAS services and resources. This is a chance for you to ask your questions about the UAS experience from a student's perspective.

  • Completion Opportunities

    Completion Opportunities

    Friday, January 12
    3:30 PM
    Campus Wide

    This is the perfect time to ensure you're all set for classes to start! We'll help you to ensure you're registered, finished with financial aid requirements, and more. We'll also be taking a group photo of all Orientation attendees!

  • Walk In Movie

    Glacier View Hike

    Saturday, January 13

    8:45 AM
    John Pugh Hall (8:45 a.m pickup) and Student Housing Lodge (8:50 a.m pickup)

    There are many ways to get up close to Mendenhall Glacier, including a moderately easy and well-marked trail to Nugget Falls. Winding along Mendenhall Lake, the closest trail to the glacier itself, you’ll find a stunning 377-foot waterfall cascading into an iceberg lake with a magnificent glacier in the background. You might even get lucky and see some wildlife up close!

  • Downtown Trip

    Downtown Trip

    Saturday, January 13
    11:45 AM

    John Pugh Hall (11:45 AM pickup) and Student Housing Lodge (11:50 AM pickup)

    Juneau is many things: a mountain town, a coastal community and the most scenic capital city in the U.S. A natural wonder, wildlife hotspot and cultural jewel, Juneau is rich in history, art, music and Native heritage. We will begin our downtown trip at the Sealaska Heritage Institute to explore a replica Clan House and other Native Alaskan works of art. From there, we will have lunch as a group and then you will have the opportunity to break off into smaller groups to explore downtown, do some shopping, and try the local cuisine. Busses will be available at both 3:30 PM for return trips to UAS. 

  • Completion Opportunities

    Watch For The Aurora

    Auke Lake Dock

    What better way to wrap up a day of adventure than heading out with some friends and hunting for the aurora! Check the Aurora Forecast and make a plan to go see them. Active auroral displays tend to be more active later in the night, which means that 10:00 PM - 3:00 AM is typically the time period with the highest probability of seeing spectacular auroral displays.

  • Welcome Week

    Experience the Juneau Outdoors! West Glacier Trail

    Sunday, January 14 - Cancelled
    Watch closely for reschedule date and time announcement!

    This adventure takes the Glacier Hike up a notch for a more in depth view of the glacier! The West Glacier Trail is 3.5 miles long. It begins at end of Skater's Cabin Road and ends at the junction of the Mt. McGinnis Route. The trail begins on the north side of the parking lot. Most of this walk is below the glacier trimline amid many willow, cottonwood, and alder trees. The trim line is a distinct change in vegetation type from mature forest to newly established vegetation. You might even get lucky and see some wildlife up close! This provides a touch more of a challenge as a part two to the general Mendenhall Glacier visit.

    Transportation is provided. Returning to campus at 11:45 AM.

  • Welcome Week

    Juneau Bowling

    Sunday, January 14 - Cancelled
    Watch closely for reschedule date and time announcement!

    All experience levels are welcome. Challenge fellow new and returning students to a game of bowling. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and take a break from the cold weather. Transportation will be provided.

  • BonFire

    Bonfire & Smores

    Sunday, January 14
    8:00 PM
    Noyes Pavilion (next to John Pugh Hall)

    Hang out, eat smores, and tell your favorite ghost stories. This is your last chance to make some great connections before heading into your first day of classes!

  • Bus image

    Shop Hop Shuttle

    John Pugh Hall & Upper Housing

    Sign-up for a 90 minute block of shopping at one of of our Juneau shopping destinations. Juneau businesses have a variety of items that any incoming college student may need at reasonable prices! Stock up on groceries or other last minute items you may need to be successful this semester. Sign-up link is here!

    Monday, January 15 at 2:00 PM

    Wednesday, January 17 at 7:00 PM

    Thursday, January 18 at 5:00 PM

  • Welcome Barbeque

    Welcome (Back) Barbeque

    Wednesday, January 17
    5:00 PM

    Student Recreation Center

    Join us at the UAS Student Recreation Center for a BBQ! We'll have food, music, and an opportunity to explore the REC Center. This is a great opportunity to get some food, introduce yourself to other new and returning students, and learn more about the Recreation Center!

  • Welcome Week logo

    Orientation Lunch - Cultural Welcome

    Friday, January 19
    1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

    Glacier View Room (Egan 221)

    Celebrate your first week of class and cap off the Orientation experience! Learn more about your community, meet some of our community's highly regarded elders, enjoy salmon soup and local dishes, and participate in an introduction to making your own frybread. 

What if I cannot attend every session?

We understand that some incoming students may have scheduling conflicts. Your goal should be to attend as much of Welcome Weekend as possible. There are no separate fees or fee reductions if you can only attend part of the event.

What should I bring?

Orientation is active, so be sure to dress comfortably for winter weather and wear shoes that are comfortable to walk in. In Southeast Alaska, layers are always recommended.