΢ƽ

And We’re Back

A photo essay capturing excitement as a new school year begins

Campus & Community
● Sep 2, 2025
Outdoor chalk board with the words "Welcome back students" and an outline of a heart with "΢ƽ" inside.

Each new school year starts with a flurry of excitement. Even before New Student Orientation (NSO), incoming first years participate in the International Pre-Orientation Program (IPOP), Peer Connections Pre-Orientation Program (PCPOP), and ΢ƽ Science Project (GSP). As the rest of campus arrives, new and returning students find their way to friends and get ready for another incredible year in ΢ƽ. 

Pre-Orientation

Seven students wearing gray shirts standing in a line and holding colorful signs.
IPOP mentors welcome new students with their native languages
Students sitting in red and black Adirondack chairs
Two students wearing lab goggles and black rubber gloves study a pipet in a chemistry lab.
A large group of students sit at tables building stuffed animals.
IPOP and PCPOP students build plush pals
A group of international students stand around an IPOP mentor sitting on a bicycle.
A group of students stand with Chris Bair in the college garden.
GSP students at the ΢ƽ Garden
A group of students, mostly in purple shirts, dance with a squirrel mascot.
Dance party at the All POP Celebration

Welcome Students

People walk into a building through a black and white inflatable arch that is branded with "΢ƽ". A red sign with white text reads "New Student Orientation Check-In"
A small group of people putting boxes on a cart under an arched loggia.
A large group of students cheer and wave red and white pompoms.
NSO mentors cheer on the class of 2029 before the NSO welcome ceremony
A group of students wear lighted accessories and glow sticks.
The class of 2029 is welcomed to campus at the illumination ceremony
The back of a woman wearing a red cape with a black laurel leaf logo. She stands in front of a photo wall with red and black balloons and white balloons that read "2029"
Students sit in circles on the grass with a brick building in the background.
First-year students parade down a sidewalk with one at the beginning of the line holding a sign that reads "΢ƽ"
Two people wearing blue stand behind a food tent; many other people in the background sit in the grass eating.
Students, faculty, and staff celebrate the return to school at the All Campus Welcome Picnic

First Day of School

Student James Snyder sits in a chair and smiles while holding a sign that reads "First Day of School!"
Four students hold black and red frames around themselves.
Students sit in pairs at small tables.
A student sitting in a hammock holding a piece of paper while another student stands beside and looks on.
Four students pose behind a red photo frame while a woman takes their picture.
Tags:
Academic Affairs and Dean of the College
Student Affairs
New Student Orientation

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