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2024 New Student Orientation Schedule

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22 

 

Some activities may be listed as optional for Commuter students.  Please note that some events and activities are subject to change.

 

1828 Café will be available from 8:00am until 1:00 pm for water, coffee and Bogey Bucks account additions and updates.                              

7:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M.             

  1. RESIDENT STUDENTS: New Student Orientation (NSO) Check-In
          •  Outside of Piper Academic Center 

The New Student Orientation staff welcomes all new residential students to McKendree!  Meet us outside of the Piper Academic Center first to confirm your NSO registration and receive necessary information.

  1. RESIDENT STUDENTS: FAST Forward (Facilitating, Arrival, Support, and Transition): 
          •  Piper Academic Center

To ensure that our students are fully registered and ready to start the year, we have arranged several touchpoints to ensure a smooth transition. Each student, and any family they have present, shall visit classrooms in the Piper Academic Center where they will have the opportunity to meet with a representative from the student support departments from across campus.

  1. RESIDENT STUDENTS: Residence Hall Check-In and Key Pick-Up: 
          •   Piper Academic Center

*Please see the Office of Residence Life web page (https://www.mckendree.edu/reslife) for further information.

 

12:00 P.M. – 1:30 P.M.           LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

        •   Various Areas

Students and families are welcome to dine on campus at Ames Dining Hall or 1828 Café.  Students with a meal plan should bring their Student ID to swipe in.  Commuter students and students without meal plans may purchase dinner with cash, credit/debit or Bogey Bucks.  Additional dining destinations are available in Lebanon and the local area.

 

1:30 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.            

  1. COMMUTER STUDENTS: New Student Orientation (NSO) Check-In
          • Outside of Piper Academic Center 

The New Student Orientation staff welcomes all new COMMUTER students to McKendree!  Meet us outside of the Piper Academic Center confirm your NSO registration and receive necessary information.

  1. COMMUTER STUDENTS: FAST Forward (Facilitating, Arrival, Support, and Transition):  
          •  Piper Academic Center

To ensure that our students are fully registered and ready to start the year, we have arranged several touchpoints to ensure a smooth transition. Each student, and any family they have present, shall visit classrooms in the Piper Academic Center where they will have the opportunity to meet with a representative from the student support departments from across campus.

 

2:30 P.M. – 3:10 P.M              Safety at McKendree University:  FAMILY MEMBER SESSION

        •   Hettenhausen Center for the Arts

2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. STUDENT GROUP MEETING  (REQUIRED)

This is a brief get together to meet your Group Leader and Group Members prior to Convocation.

 

3:00 P.M. – 3:25 P.M.             CONVOCATION LINE-UP:  ALL STUDENTS

        • Stevenson House Lawn – on the corner of Alton St. and College Rd., directly across from the campus front lawn

All new students will meet in this location prior to Convocation

 

3:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.             OPENING CONVOCATION

        • Front Lawn – South Side of Campus

*Student attendance requested for this event.  Ceremony will be available via live stream.

The opening of the academic year is of great significance, not only to students, but to staff and faculty, as well.  Here you will take part in the signing of the Matricula, an important tradition for all McKendree students.  The Matricula is an official University document that signifies the beginning of your academic career and marks your journey as part of a community of students and alums connected by their experiences and education at McKendree.  Casual attire is adequate for this event.  McKendree gear is a plus!  We'd like to see a sea of purple!  Rain location:  Melvin Price Convocation Center (MPCC).

 

5:00 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.             COMMUTER STUDENT MEET AND GREET (REQUIRED)

        • (Location Update):  1828 Cafe

Meet new first year and current commuter students!  Find out what activities and resources are available for commuter students.

                                                TRANSFER STUDENT MEET AND GREET (REQUIRED)

        • Residence Hall East – Fireplace Lounge

Meet new first year and current transfer students!  Find out what activities and resources are available for transfer students.

 

5:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.             STUDENT DINNER AND PARENT GOOD-BYES

Students with a meal plan should bring their Student ID to swipe in.  Commuter students and students without meal plans may purchase dinner with cash, credit/debit, or Bogey Bucks.

 

6:45 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.             STUDENT GROUP MEETING  (REQUIRED)

 

7:00 P.M. – 8:15 P.M.             PLAYFAIR (REQUIRED)

        • (Location Update):  Intramural Gym

Take part in this team-building event!  It’s fun!  It’s entertainment!  It’s the perfect way to meet your classmates and to make new campus friendships!

 

8:30 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.         EVENING PROGRAMMING (OPTIONAL)

Various evening events and opportunities for students to socialize.  Commuter and transfer student participation is optional.

 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23

Please note that some events and activities are subject to change.

 

8:30 A.M. – 9:00 A.M.            CLASS PHOTO:  CLASS OF 2028 (REQUIRED)

        • (Location Update):  Quad Area

 

9:15 A.M. – 9:25 A.M.            BOGEY’S BIG EVENTS 2024-25 (REQUIRED)

        • Hettenhausen Center for the Arts

Get a quick overview of a variety of on campus and local events and activities planned for the academic year!

 

9:25 A.M. – 10:45 A.M.          THE BEARCAT WAY - STUDENT EXPECTATIONS (REQUIRED)

        • Hettenhausen Center for the Arts

What expectations do your advisor and other professors have of you as advisees and as students in class?  What are various campus policies and community standards that you need to know?  Find out here!

 

10:45 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.        BE SMART, BE SAFE, BE A BEARCAT (REQUIRED)

        • Hettenhausen Center for the Arts

Hear from McKendree University’s Public Safety officers and local law enforcement, with insights on personal safety in the community, college life and relationships   Learn about the campus email and text alert systems, and how to safeguard your own well-being and that of others.

 

11:15 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.            LUNCH AND FREE TIME

        • Ames Dining Hall

Students with a meal plan should bring their Student IDs to swipe in.  Commuter students and students without meal plans may purchase dinner with cash, credit/debit, or Bogey Bucks..

 

1:15 PM. – 3:30 P.M.             SEX SIGNALS:  DATING, RELATIONSHIPS, AND CHOICES (REQUIRED)

        • Hettenhausen Center for the Arts

Through the use of humor, the show explores how mixed messages, gender role stereotypes, and unrealistic fantasies contribute to misunderstandings between the sexes.  Although the message is a serious one, the show uses humor throughout to engage audiences in candid discussions about interpersonal relationships.  Seasoned actors and educators, the performers strike a balance between laughing about the differences between men and women, and clearly communicating some serious messages about how we treat one another.

Adult language and content will be used in this program.  Content may be sensitive for some viewers.  Group meetings and Policy Discussion will immediately follow Sex Signals.  

 

4:00 P.M. – 5:30 P.M.             MENTAL HEALTH INFO AND THERAPY DOG SOCIAL (OPTIONAL)

        • Quad Area

Receive resources from Counseling and Health Services!  Need a relaxing moment? Interact with one of the visiting therapy dogs from Got Your Six Support Dogs!  *Rain location TBA.

 

5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.           DINNER AND FREE TIME

        • Ames Dining Hall

Students with a meal plan should bring their Student IDs to swipe in.  Commuter students and students without meal plans may purchase dinner with cash, credit/debit, or Bogey Bucks.

 

 

7:00 P.M. – 7:15 P.M.             STUDENT GROUP MEETING (REQUIRED)

This is a brief get together to meet your Group Leader and Group Members.

 

7:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.             MENTALIST, CHRISTOPHER CARTER (REQUIRED)

        • Hettenhausen Center for the Arts

Christopher Carter's show Theater of Thoughts proves to audiences why he is recognized as one of the world's most skilled, creative, and original thought readers.  Amazing? Yes.

Commuter and transfer student participation is optional.

 

 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24

Please note that some events and activities are subject to change.

 

8:45 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.             COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT:  INTO THE STREETS (REQUIRED)

        • (Various Locations)
        • Students will meet at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts at 8:45am and depart following.
        • This annual highlight of Orientation affords students an opportunity to serve our neighbors in our local community.  In this experience, you will learn about the diverse populations in the area, deepen new college friendships, and have a lot of fun in the process.  This event is sponsored by the Lyn Huxford Center for Community Service.
        • Clothing:  Due to the nature of the work, participants should wear an old t-shirt without holes, old blue jeans or shorts, and athletic or hiking shoes.  Please do not wear sandals, tank tops, or cut-off shorts.

12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.             LUNCH AND FREE TIME

        • Ames Dining Hall

Students with a meal plan should bring their Student IDs to swipe in.  Commuter students and students without meal plans may purchase dinner with cash, credit/debit, or Bogey Bucks.

 

2:00 P.M. – 3:45 P.M.              GTC DRAMATIC DIALOGUES: YOU. ME. WE.  (REQUIRED)

        • Hettenhausen Center for the Arts

You. Me. We. begins with a monologue that exposes the often-unintentional ugliness of prejudice, setting the stage for a lively discussion of diversity. Then, in two scenes, we follow students as they attempt to navigate the sometimes-difficult terrain of multicultural campus relationships.  During talk-backs, students can confront the characters and voice their own opinions on issues of race, sex, sexual orientation, and gender.

 

3:45 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.                STUDENT GROUP MEETING (REQUIRED)

 

4:30 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.              THERAPY DOG SOCIAL (OPTIONAL)

        • Quad Area

Interact with one of the visiting therapy dogs from Got Your Six Support Dogs!  *Rain location TBA.

 

5:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.               DINNER AND FREE TIME

        • Ames Dining Hall

Students with a meal plan should bring their Student IDs to swipe in.  Commuter students and students without meal plans may purchase dinner with cash, credit/debit, or Bogey Bucks.

 

7:00 P.M. – 8:30PM   McKendree Scrimmage:  Football (OPTIONAL)

        • Leemon Field

Come watch a pre-season scrimmage of the McKendree Bearcat Football team!  Get insights on their upcoming seasons and cheer on the ‘Cats!

 

9:00 P.M. – 10:30 P.M.         EVENING PROGRAMMING:  TBA

        • Quad or Lair Pit

 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25

Please note that some events and activities are subject to change.

 

10 A.M. – TBA            WELCOME CHAPEL SERVICE (OPTIONAL)

        • Bothwell Chapel

Join us for a special NSO Welcome Chapel service.

 

11:30 A.M. – 1:30 P.M.            BRUNCH

        • Ames Dining Hall

Students with a meal plan should bring their Student IDs to swipe in. 

 

12:30 P.M. – 1:30 P.M.             CLASSROOM TOURS (OPTIONAL)

        • Various locations

Meet an Orientation Group Leader for a walking tour around campus to find various class locations.  

 

2:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.           Supplies and Shopping Event  (OPTIONAL)

        • Target – O’Fallon/Shiloh, IL
        • Bus will leave Circle Drive at The Hett at 2:00pm
        • Bus will leave Target at 4:00pm

5:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.               DINNER

        • Ames Dining Hall

Students with a meal plan should bring their Student IDs to swipe in. 

 

6:45 P.M. –                 OPENING HOUSING MEETINGS  (REQUIRED FOR RESIDENT STUDENTS)

        • Residence Hall Students - Various locations