Welcome UGA achieves record-breaking success

With an undergraduate body of more than 30,000 students, the University of Georgia community takes pride in welcoming its newest members with open arms. This is the goal of Welcome UGA, a six-week program helping new students transition smoothly while providing resources for both new and returning students to connect to UGA, create a sense of belonging with each other, and thrive academically.

Each semester, University Transitions helps facilitate 60+ events with partners across campus to welcome the newest members of the UGA student body. These events are diverse, ranging from free fitness classes to engaging with small businesses downtown to individual college open houses. These programs ensure that every student can find an event tailored to their interests.

Welcome UGA provides students with the ability to “meet each other, engage with
helpful resources, and grow their UGA pride,” according to Director of University Transitions Nicole McConnell.

Undergraduate William Donaldson takes a photo with Hairy Dawg at the Transfer Student Welcome at the West End Zone Recruiting Lounge on the first day of class.

Three events that attract thousands of students each are First Night, BeWell Fest, and the Engagement Fair.

Offered during the Fall semester, First Night gives new students the perfect opportunity to meet peers and kick off the semester with fun. In previous years, the event has featured free food from Kona Ice, Nothing Bundt Cakes, and Bojangles; activities like riding a mechanical bulldog, rock climbing, foam dance party, and mini golf; and giveaways such as custom UGA jerseys. From 2023 to 2024, First Night grew so much that the University Transition team had to implement Disney World-style ‘Fast Passes’ to manage the long lines of students waiting to enter Tate Student Center.

Students attend the First Night event, with free food from Bojangles.

At the Engagement Fair, students can explore more than 400 campus clubs and organizations, helping students find a sense of belonging among like-minded peers. Thousands of students attend each semester to connect with new friends and discover engagement opportunities for the year ahead.

BeWell Fest connects students to well-being offerings across campus. These programs include connections to Recreational Sports classes, student groups, and Well-Being Resources.

However, student engagement with Welcome UGA extended beyond these events. On average, students attended between three to four of the 60+ events hosted all over campus, including those in their academic colleges.

Welcome UGA achieved notable success during this academic year, with a 16% increase in the total number of events. The introduction of new events led to record attendance, reflecting a 29% increase from the year prior. Total attendance surged from 24,508 students in Fall of 2023 to 31,660 students in Fall of 2024.

89% of students surveyed felt as though Welcome UGA gave them the tools to better interact with fellow students and feel like part of the UGA community, while 83% agreed that the program helped them with their transition to UGA.

McConnell expressed gratitude for the persistent participation throughout the six weeks of Welcome UGA.

“The unwavering enthusiasm of our students was truly inspiring, and it was meaningful to see them engage so eagerly in various events,” says McConnell. “This incredible success was only possible because of the continuous support from our amazing campus partners. The enthusiastic involvement of students highlights just how important Welcome UGA is in fostering a sense of community and belonging.”