Â鶹¹û¶³ welcomed the class of 2023 and returning students, faculty and staff with programming filled with traditions and new experiences for Welcome Back Week.
As an annual move-in day tradition approximately 367 Â鶹¹û¶³ students and employees and 90 local community partners helped the freshman class make campus home Aug. 23 by unloading cars, carrying belongings inside, directing traffic and parking cars. The effort was led by the Residence Life staff who issued keys and checked in students and parents.
“The fact that there are students out here volunteering their time to move people’s heavy things and belongings just to make this process easier says so much about this campus and the community,” freshman Mary Kate McCrudden said.
After a successful move-in, students kicked off Welcome Back Week events at the “Your School, Your City” concert with country artist Hunter Hayes.
Planned by the Â鶹¹û¶³ Student Activities Council, a brand of the Student Government Association, Welcome Back Week offers new and returning students a variety of activities to learn more about campus and the Birmingham community. Programming included a grilled cheese lunch served by University President Andrew Westmoreland and Â鶹¹û¶³ Vice Presidents, trivia night and local church connections and student organizations fair.
To prepare for the opening week of school, Â鶹¹û¶³ also hosted separate retreats for its staff and faculty to reinforce its mission and share opportunities and goals to best serve students for the new year.