Schedule
Welcome weekend is a chance for you to become more familiar with Wells, meet your classmates, and explore the local community. The Student Affairs team has planned a series of events that you can take part in, enjoy, and learn from all weekend long. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact the Student Life team - we're always ready to assist you.
| Time | Event | Location |
| 8:00am - 12:00pm | New Student Check In and Move In | Macmillan Circle |
| All new students (first year and transfer) are expected to arrive during this window to maximize their transition experience to Wells in preparation for their first classes on Monday, August 28, 2023. | ||
| 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Get Settled/Lunch | Main Dining/Ryerson |
| The Main Dining Hall is open to all who wish to stop by and grab a bite before starting their afternoon of activities. | ||
| 1:15pm | Welcome to Wells Walk | Front of Main/Sycamore |
| All new students and families/guests meet wearing the Wells shirt you received at check in. Under the leadership of Wells’ Collegiate President, Liz Purcell all will be greeted by Wells employees and students (athletes, student OL team, RA staff, research interns, etc) on your way to Macmillan Hall. | ||
| 1:30pm | Presidential Welcome and Wells College Honor Code Ceremony | Phipps Auditorium |
| A required campus rite of passage dating back 150 years at Wells College. All new students sign the College’s Honor Code, committing to standards of excellence and values fundamental to the Wells community. | ||
| 2:30pm | Getting Settled | Various |
| Wells will have representatives from our Financial Aid, Business Office, Mail Room, Bookstore, Grind, Apogee (residential wifi and internet), and College ID services available to assist families/guests and students. Additional shuttles will be available for trips to Ithaca and Auburn to get final necessities for room and snack set up. | ||
| 5:00pm | Community Dinner | Main Dining/Ryerson |
| All are welcome to enjoy dinner provided by Wells College’s Hallmark Dining Services. Not a required activity, but complementary to all who wish to join us. | ||
| 5:45pm | Bell Ringing/Family and Guest Send Off | |
| As we signal one more opening to the school year, we also offer families and guests a grateful and heartfelt send-off. | ||
| 7:00pm | Mandatory Floor/Community Meetings | Various (see below) |
| All new students will have a community meeting to review general campus safety and security as well as plans for the remainder of the weekend. Commuter students in Sommer Center Commuter Lounge. Residential students please see your residences for posted locations. | ||
| 8:00pm | Game and Late Night Munchies | The Well |
| Check out the campus’ pub and game room and grab a hearty snack as a Welcome to THE WELL! | ||
| Time | Event | Location |
| 11:00am - 1:00pm | Brunch | Main Dining Hall |
| Bring your ID to use your campus meal plan. Commuter students are welcome to stop in at no charge; complements of Student Orientation. Wear Wells, red, or black gear in celebration of Wells. | ||
| 1:15pm | Village Discovery Hunt | Front of Main/Sycamore |
| 1:30pm - 3:00pm | Discover Aurora/Village Adventures | Village of Aurora |
| Students will work in teams to solve clues and receive points/prizes for participation, teamwork, and quick thinking. | ||
| 3:00pm | AuroraFest Parade | Aurora Firehouse |
| Discover Aurora to conclude at parade start. All students welcomed to join in the community celebration and walk with Wells College’s community of faculty, staff, administrators, and students. | ||
| 4:15pm | AuroraFest 2023 | Wells College Golf Course |
| New students and student leaders to check in at Wells Orientation table and pick up coupons for all food table and food truck items. | ||
| 5:00pm | On Campus Dinner | Main Dining Hall |
| Options for new students include to remain at AuroraFest enjoying entertainment and food, or head back for dinner and/or a late afternoon break. Students will re-convene per arrival schedule at 7:45 pm with student leaders. |
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| 8:00pm | Mentalist: Robert Channing | Phipps Auditorium |
| With appearances on The Ellen Degeneres Show, America’s Got Talent, The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, and Steve Harvey Show, the talents of Robert Channing are well-known and regarded, and we are excited to bring him to you here at Wells! This promises to be one of the most amazing, mind-expanding, fast-paced, entertaining shows you will experience! The event is open to all Wells College students, staff, and faculty as well as the Aurora community for free. | ||
| Time | Event | Location |
| 8:00am - 9:00pm | Breakfast | Main Dining Hall |
| 9:15am - 11:45am | Real Life @Wells | Stratton Hall Lobby |
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These are mandated highly interactive and quick-paced sessions! The College staff will be tracking student attendance. Please attend, as additional time will be expected of students who miss these sessions to make these up at the College’s scheduling. Topics:
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| 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Lunch | Main Dining Hall |
| 1:00pm - 5:00pm | Alternate Orientation | Zabriske 106 |
| Required for all who did not attend summer sessions. Students will be notified and attendance taken. Further time will be required of students who miss this special opportunity Orientation session to ensure appropriate academic placement. This is a requirement. | ||
| 1:00pm - 5:00pm | Get Ready @Wells | Sommer |
| Open to all new students who attended a summer orientation session. Opportunities to tour your student schedule, plan and organize your academic materials, learn about managing your stress, and check in with you Collegiate Cabinet to learn more about first year and transfer student involvement. | ||
| 5:00pm | Dinner | Main Dining Hall |
| 7:00pm | Yard Games and Italian Ice Truck | Sommer Lawn |
| Welcome back to returning students, open to all! A chance to relax before classes begin on Monday, August 28th. | ||
A regular meal and class schedule will run through the day.
| Time | Event | Location |
| 7:00pm | Convocation | Macmillan Circle Rain: Phipps Auditorium |
| The official ceremony marking the start of the academic year. All students, faculty, and campus staff and administrators celebrate Wells and honor our membership in this academic community. | ||
Questions about Welcome Weekend
We are actually referencing the entire weekend as “Welcome Weekend” for all new students, and the 8 am to noon time on Friday, August 25, 2023 is for check-in for all new students. If a student is not living on campus, there will just be one station for housing on campus that you will not need to visit.
All other check-in stations remain important to you. You may not need or want to arrive right at 8 am since you do not need to move items into nor set up a room on campus, but do plan that you will need time to visit and check-in with multiple stops established as part of our arrival process.
The rest of our schedule for the weekend is available to review. We will also be providing meals for all new students whether living on campus or off for the entire Welcome Weekend in the dining hall to make staying on campus during the days more manageable. Sommer Center will be open and staffed through the weekend to provide students who are not living on campus a relaxation space if they have a break between sessions.
The Orientation team and Athletics department work closely to both honor your time in practice, and to ensure all new students are able to attend required and important sessions to assist with your transition. While being part of an athletic team is a tremendous experience and support, being on campus early as part of a team does not focus on the transitional knowledge we are building through Welcome Weekend activities. All are important and student-athletes are asked to attend as much of the Welcome Weekend as is possible.
Wells requires that all students on campus carry health insurance. If you do not currently have insurance you may contact the New York State of Health to determine your qualification for coverage while attending Wells. To contact the NYS of Health office, you may call 855-355-5777 or go to https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/individual.