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New Student Orientation | 2025 Schedule

Welcome to Williams! New Student Orientation helps launch you into a great university experience! 

Fall 2025 New Student Orientation Schedule

Saturday 8/16/2025

8:00 AM – 1:30 PM– Offices Open

  • Admissions
  • Student Success Center (Freshman Schedule Changes)
  • Registrar (Blackbaud Troubleshooting Only)
  • Financial Aid
  • Business Office

8:00 – 11:00 AM – Move-In – Park after unloading – Shuttle provided back to residence halls.

Anytime between 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM – Go to the Mabee Student Center 

  • Get your WBU parking decal – you must have a parking decal before the first day of classes or your ID will be deactivated and you will have a $250 fine added to your account. (You will need to know your license plate number)
  • Student ID Made – this is your key to the dorms and lunch card.

9:00 AM- 1:30 PM- Williams Corner Store Open

9:00 AM-3:30 PM- Spirit Store & Mailroom Open

10:00 AM- 1:00 PM- 870Snow Food Truck Open

11:00 AM – 1:30 PM – Lunch Time!

  • Lunch in Mabee-Gwinup Cafeteria
  • Ice Cream- Outside the Cafeteria
  • Continue room setup
  • Move In Day Photo Op


11:00 AM – 1:30 PM – Commuter Check-In & Lunch – Cafeteria Moody Room

1:50-2:45 PM- Parent Panel/Parents Say Good-Bye-Manley Chapel (Parents and Students)

 

2:50 – 3:45 PM – NSO Small Group Session #1- Campus Scavenger Hunt

4:00 – 4:45 PM – Women’s Residence Hall Meeting – Manley Chapel
Commuter Mingle – Eagle Grill 

4:00 PM- 6:00 PM – iPad Distribution & Setup- Sloan 101

4:30 – 6:30 PM – Dinner in Mabee-Gwinup Cafeteria / Live Music
iPad Distribution & Setup – Cafeteria Moody Room

6:30 – 8:30 PM – Student Life Evening Events 

Singo Bingo- Eagle Grill

Dodge Ball-Carter Field House

DIY Door Hangers- Southerland Hall Lobby

8:45 – 9:30 PM – Men’s Residence Hall Meeting – Manley Chapel

9:00 – 10:30 PM – Late Night Mixer– Eagle Grill

Move-In Day Maps

Sunday 8/17/2025

8:30 – 9:30 AM – Continental Breakfast 

9:30 – 10:00 AM – NSO Small Group Session #2: First Year Mentorship Program Overview

10:15 – 10:55 AM – Individual Photos, NSO Group Photos –  Manley Chapel

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Worship Service in Manley Chapel

Noon – 2:00 PM – Lunch 

1:00 – 2:00 PM –Pop Up Events around campus:

  • Sticker Bar and DIY Buttons – Cafeteria Moody Room
  • Dirty Soda Bar & Acoustic Jam Session (Bring your own instruments) – Maddox Center lobby
  • Speed Friending – Library


2:05 – 3:20 PM – Mandatory Rotating Sessions – 15 minutes each, 5 minute rotation – BRING IPAD with you.

  • Academic Integrity – Dr. Ruth Provost – SC 101
  • Computer Training – Steve Ring – Magee Choral Room MC 100
  • Mental & Physical Health – Dr. Shannon Cooper – SC 104
  • Spiritual Life & Chapel – LB Robinson- Bandroom MC 103


15 MINUTE BREAK! – Snacks & Drinks in Maddox Lobby!

3:40 – 4:45 PM – Mandatory Rotating Sessions – 30 minutes each, 5 minute rotation – BRING IPAD with you. 

  • Campus Policies (Handbook basics, parking, student complaint process, active shooter, hazing, phones) – Laquietta Stewart – Startup Chapel
  • How to use Blackbaud – Tracy Henderson – Magee Choral Room MC 100


4:50 – 5:15 PM – Enjoy Your WBU Experience! – Startup Chapel

  • Wings Up for the Eagles – Coach Mitch Mathis
  • Welcome to Walnut Ridge – Dr. Brett Cooper/Bill Jeffery/Taylor Hoskins


5:15 – 6:30 PM – Get ready for “True Blue Dinner”

6:30 – 8:30 PM – True Blue Dinner with Guest Speaker Arlis Dickerson – Southerland Mabee Center

8:30 PM –  Late night events in the Residence Halls!

Monday 8/18/2025

7:00 – 8:00 AM – Breakfast


Williams Works Students Only:
8:00 AM – 1:45 PM – Williams Works Orientation – Startup Chapel. Includes an orientation into the work program, meeting your work supervisor, a classroom tour, and lunch. 


All Other New Students:
8:00 – 9:00 AM – Classroom Tour and Library Tour 

9:00 – 10:00 AM – Student Involvement Panel – Manley Chapel

10:00 – 11:00 AM – NSO Small Group Session #3: Time Management 

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Lawn Games @ Midkiff Meadow

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Commuter Textbook Pick-up – Student Success Center 

12:00 – 1:45 PM – Lunch/Break


All New Students:
1:45 – 2:00 PM – Meet in Manley Chapel -Laquietta Stewart

2:00 – 3:00 PM – Academic Department Meetings

  • Business/Agri Business: SC 101 – Heather Parson, Janna Himschoot & Dr. Melissa Davis
  • Christian Ministries: MC 104 – Dr. Robert Foster & Dr. Michael Fox
  • Political Science and History: SC 105 – Dr. Rodney Harris & Dr. Colton Babbitt
  • Education: SC 108 – Dr. Charlotte Wheeless, Jana Hoffpauir & Keena Crenshaw
  • English/Communication: MC 201 (English Ed. majors go here) – Dr. Chris Hair & Dr. Trevor Babcock
  • Fine Arts: MC 202 – Dr. Trent Broussard, Rod Plunkett & Dr. Chris Thompson
  • Natural Science/Biology: SC 113 – Dr. Ann Paterson, Dr. Steve McMann, Dr. Melissa Hobbs & Dr. Chris Polachic
  • Psychology: SC 103 – Dr. Dennis Vowell & Dr. Ruth Provost
  • Physical Ed. & Sports Management: SMC Rose Room – Caleb Garner & Michele Lawson
  • Liberal Arts – Startup Chapel – Melinda Williams
  • Undecided: MC 200 – Kristy Miller


3:00-5:00 PM– Take a Moment to Relax and change into your New Student Orientation Shirt

5:00 PM – Eagle Walk (Meet in Startup Chapel)- Wear your WBU Orientation T-shirts!!

5:45 PM – Group Picture in front of Manley Chapel (Following Eagle Walk) 

6:00 – 7:30 PM – Dinner

6:30 – 8:00 PM – Church Dessert Social – SMC 

8:00 – 8:30 PM – Williams Works Launch (All New & Returning Williams Works Students) – Mabee-Gwinup Cafeteria 


GET SOME REST!

CLASSES START TOMORROW!

GO EAGLES!

WBU LIFE

New Student Orientation

The program is an enjoyable and informative experience that combines large and small group sessions, class registration, recreation and entertainment. So get ready to meet and mingle with administrators, faculty and staff and begin your ascent as an Eagle!

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