Bulldog Welcome Week

Students taking group photo.

A BIG BULLDOG WELCOME

Your first week as a college student starts here. We have a whole lineup of events that will prepare you for your arrival on campus and beyond!

How to Prepare:

  • Come into all phases of Welcome Week with open eyes. Try new things or be willing to attend events you want to attend without your roommate or friend from high school. 
  • Find all Welcome Week/Welcome Back Events on Bulldog Connect
  • Download the Bulldog Mobile App.
  • Follow us on Instagram @KirbyUMD
  • Have questions? Ask them! [email protected] 

FALL WELCOME WEEK 2023

Click on the day to see what's up!

Expand all

Wednesday, August 23rd

Move In for On Campus Students
9:00 - 3:00 
Residence Halls

Bulldog Bash - Get introduced to campus life at this carnival-style event!
1:00 - 4:00 PM
Kirby Terrace 

Volleyball
4:00 6:00 PM
Field 8 

Concert on the Pier - Meet at the Maroon Lot B (behind HCAMS) at 6:00 for a ride to Glensheen to enjoy a concert by local Duluth bond, New Salty Dog!
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Glensheen (transportation provided)

DIY Terrariums - First come, first serve KPB signature event!
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Kirby Commons

Kickball
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Softball Field 1 & 2

Movie - Legally Blonde
8:00 - 10:00 PM
Bohannon Hall 90

Mocktails & Mario Kart - Have a fresh mocktail and play a couple rounds of Mario Kart!
9:00 - 10:00 PM
Kirby Ballroom

Thursday, August 24th

Move In for On Campus Students
9:00-3:00
Residence Halls

College Learning Hacks - Hear about UMD's best resources
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Solon Campus Center 21

"This is A Lot... Are You Ok?" - Learn about mental health resources on campus.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Garden Room

Study Abroad 101 - Get your study abroad questions answered.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
LSBE 118

College Learning Hacks - Hear about UMD's best resources
11:00 - 11:30 AM
Solon Campus Center 21

"Survivin, Vibin, Thrivin" - See how you can ground yourself in times of transition.
11:00 - 12:00 PM
Bagley Classroom

Lotion Compounds - Compound your own lotion and learn about Pharmacy!
11:00 - 12:00 PM
Pharmacy Building

ChatGBT and LSBE - Leveraging the advantages of ChatGPT and analytics to maximize your growth in LSBE.
12:00 - 1:00 PM
LSBE 125

University Honors 101 - Learn about UMD Honors program. 
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Griggs Center

Study Abroad Panel - Get your study abroad questions answered! (Snacks provided!)
12:00 - 1:00 PM
LSBE 118

Community Outreach in STEM - Get introduced to SCSE Outreach Program.
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Cina 102

Bulldog Bash - Get introduced to campus life at this carnival-style event!  Featuring local food trucks!
1:00 - 4:00 PM
Kirby Terrace

Commuter Student Welcome - Get to know other commuter students and get useful information about campus.
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Kirby Garden Room

Transfer Student Welcome - Meet other transfer students and get insider info for your UMD experience.
4:30 - 5:30 PM
Kirby Garden Room

Build a Bulldog - Build your own stuffed Bulldog! 
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Kirby Rafters

Planetarium Show - Student Show, Free
8:00 - 9:00 PM
Planetarium (MWAH)

Movie - Monsters University
8:00 - 10:00 PM
Chemistry 200

Improv Pre-Party - Come enjoy pizza and games with UMD's Stage 2 student theatre org!
7:00 - 8:45 PM
MPAC

Renegade Improv - Wildly popular improv comedy show. First come, first seated.
9:00 - 10:00 PM
Kirby Ballroom

Friday, August 25th

Mental "Happy Hour"  
8:30 - 9:30 AM
Griggs Center

Coffee and Breakfast Bar - Free coffee, muffins, and fruit!  First come, first serve.
9:00 - 11:00 AM
Kirby Garage 

Maroon Group Meeting 
10:00 - 10:50 AM
Various Campus Spaces

Gold Group Meeting 
11:00 - 11:50 AM
Various Campus Spaces

Chancellor's Welcome - Join Faculty, Staff, and Student Leaders of UMD as they officially open the academic year! RSVP encouraged: https://z.umn.edu/welcome-rsvp
12:00 - 12:45 PM
Romano Gym 

College Welcome - Connect with collegiate Faculty and Staff in your college over a meal. 
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Various Campus Spaces

Know the Potential of Electrical Engineering  - Learn the potential of UMD's electrical engineering.
4:00 - 6:00 PM
MWAH 291

Traffic Safety with the Troopers  - Meet State Patrol Troopers to learn about a career in the MN State Patrol while trying out beer goggles and traffic safety pedal carts.
4:00 - 6:00 PM
Kirby Terrace

Relay Races with Cru - Enjoy free hot dogs while competing in relay races to meet other students and win awesome prizes.
4:00-6:00 PM
Varsity Softball Field
 

Karaoke - Come sing your heart out!
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Kirby Garage 

RSOP Late Night Rec
6:30 - 8:30 PM
RSOP

Kickball
7:00 - 9:00 PM
Softball Fields 1 & 2 

Chi Alpha Campus Ministries Bonfire - Free food, fun games, dancing, prizes and a great community!
7:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Chi Alpha House - 1146 Brainerd Ave

Planetarium Show - Public Show, $3 
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Planetarium (MWAH)

Planetarium Show - Student Show, Free
8:00 - 9:00 PM
Planetarium (MWAH)

The Mentalist - A mind-bending show! First come, first seated.
8:30 - 9:30 PM
Kirby Ballroom

Saturday, August 26th

Community Exploration
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Find Details, Locations, and RSVP Here!

Get Crafty! - Enjoy a morning of crafting!
9:00 - 1:00 PM
Library

Nordic Art & Design - Students and staff will talk about the study abroad experience and give a tour of the 60-plus Student works of art created with the "Nordic Art and Design" program.
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Tweed Museum of Art

Morning Hike - Spend some time in nature with a gentle guided hike in Chester Bowl, the closest city park to UMD.  Bring a water bottle!
10:00 - 11:30 AM
Meet outside the Kirby Bus Hub

Intro to Ballroom Dance - Get to know UMD's Ballroom Dance Club in this introductory class!
10:00 - 12:00 PM
Kirby Ballroom

DIY Coffee Cups - Make yourself your own coffee cup! While supplies last.  
11:00 - 1:00 PM
Kirby Rafters

Native American Trivia - Join AILRC in playing Kohoot featuring Native American trivia.
11:30 - 1:00 PM
Solon Campus Center 21

Lounge Extravaganza - Make crafts, color, do a Kahoot and play board games!
11:00-1:00 PM
Kirby Lounge

Snacks & Spikeball with Cru- Come test your spike ball skills while taking on other students in a fun double-elimination spike ball tournament for players of all skill levels! Enjoy snacks, music, and games while you compete for a cash prize!
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Fields 1 & 2

KPB Lawn Games
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Kirby Terrace

Maroon Group Meeting 
2:00 - 2:50 PM
Various Campus Spaces

It's On Us 
3:00 - 4:15 PM OR 4:30 - 5:15 PM
Ward Wells Field House

Content Warning: We are aware that topics of sexual assault can be difficult to discuss. Alternative programming is available in Kirby Student Center 268 from 3-5:30 pm. Confidential Advocacy available in the WRAC office (KSC 266) during the program; 24-hour Online Confidential Advocacy available through the PAVSA 24-hours crisis line by calling 218-726-1931

Gold Group Meeting 
3:30 - 4:20 PM
Various Campus Spaces

Planetarium Show - Student Show, Free
5:30 - 6:30 PM
Planetarium (MWAH)

Pride & Spirit, All Student Photo - Learn cheers, chants, play games, and win prizes! Then get your class photo taken!
8:00 - 9:30 PM
Malosky Stadium  

Bulldog Scramble - Wear shoes that stay on your feet while you meet 2,000 of your new closest friends during this frenzy of fun activity!
9:30 - 11:00 PM
Malosky Stadium 

Sunday, August 27th

RSOP Beginner Yoga 
9:30 - 10:30 AM
Kirby Ballroom

Morning Hike - Spend some time in the forest with a gentle guided hike at UMD's Bagley Nature Area right on the UMD campus.  Bring a water bottle!
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Meet outside the Kathryn A. Martin Library 

Ice Cream Social - Enjoy some ice cream and meet some fellow bulldogs!
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Kirby Terrace

Financial Wellness
11:00 - 12:00 PM
Garden Room

Community Exploration
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Find Details, Locations, and RSVP Here!

ODI Block Party - Join the Office of Diversity & Inclusion to meet new people and enjoy a live DJ!
3:00 - 6:00 PM
Kirby Terrace

Find Your Classrooms - Meet us at the Kirby Garage to find your way around campus to your classrooms!
5:00 - 8:00 PM
Kirby Commons

Planetarium Show - Student Show, Free
7:00 - 8:00 PM
Planetarium (MWAH)

Cru Worship on the Beach - Connect with other students while enjoying live worship music, beach games, and breakout times on Park Point Beach.
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Park Point Beach House

Meet The Greeks - Meet students from our sorority and fraternity organizations on campus, learn more about recruitment events or just Greek Life in general!  Even if you're not interested in joining Greek Life, come hang out and enjoy some games!
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Kirby Terrace