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New Off-Campus Students

A page within New Student & Family Programs

  • BOLD events are specific events for new students
  • All other events are open to all UWL students
  • Time and location for events are hall specific
  • Events are subject to change, be sure to check back for the most up to date information.
Sept. 3
Time Event Description Location
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.  Drop-in Academic Advising  Uncertain of your major or your fall classes? Stop by during drop-in hours and chat with an academic advisor.  
  • Sponsored by: Academic Advising Center & Career Services  
 1209 Centennial Hall 
3-4:30 p.m.  Ice SCREAM Welcome  Eat some ice cream, hear the marching band, mingle with other new students, and generally just get ready for the start of a great semester! 
  • Sponsored by: International Education and Engagement 

  		Gazebo outside WINGS Technology Center 
6 p.m.  Fraternity and Sorority Life BINGO  Get to know UWL's fraternities and sororities while trying your luck with BINGO. Win prizes! 
  • Sponsored by Fraternity and Sorority Life 
 Student Union, Entertainment Cafe 
7 p.m.  Theater Thursday  Join us for this week’s free move in the Student Union Theater! Now Showing: Project Hail Mary. 
  • Sponsored by: Campus Activities Board (CAB) 
 Student Union, Movie Theatre 
Sept. 4
Time Event Description Location
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.  Drop-in Academic Advising  Uncertain of your major or your fall classes? Stop by during drop-in hours and chat with an academic advisor.  
  • Sponsored by: Academic Advising Center & Career Services  
 1209 Centennial Hall 
9-11 a.m.  Community Art Project  Join us outside the Student Union to make your mark on campus as creativity and collaboration come to life! All skill levels are welcome to contribute to the chalk art. All materials provided, just show up! 
  • Sponsored by: Eagle Guides 
 Outside Student Union 
12 p.m.  Intramural Sports Registration Opens  Intramurals are your chance to play, compete, and connect—your way. Whether you’re in it to win or just want to have fun with friends, there’s a league for everyone. Register for sand volleyball, flag football, 3v3 basketball, table tennis, 6’s volleyball, badminton, pickleball, and indoor soccer. Options include Men’s, Women’s, Open, and Co-Rec leagues in both competitive and recreational divisions. 
  • Sponsored by Rec Sports 
 Sign up on IMLeagues.  
 
Some leagues fill fast—don’t wait! 
2-4 p.m.  Popsicles with the PHAs  Cool down with a sweet treat and grab a care packages from the Peer Health Advocations. Supplies are limited, so be sure to grab them while supplies last! 
  • Sponsored by Wellness & Health Advocacy 
 Student Union Lawn 
2-4 p.m.  Adventure to Downtown  Join the Eagle Guides as they take you on a walk through downtown La Crosse. Visit Riverside Park, get some Ice Cream at The Pearl, or visit one of the amazing local coffee shops! 
  • Sponsored by Eagle Guides 
 Meet outside on the Student Union Lawn 
3-5 p.m.  LIC Volunteer Project  Join the Leadership and Involvement Center as they help make dog toys for local animal shelters! 
  • Sponsored by: Leadership and Involvement Center 
 Student Union, Entertainment Cafe 
5-7 p.m.  Yard Games with Fraternity and Sorority Life  Get to know UWL's Fraternities and Sororities! Join us on Eagle Field for some yard games!  
  • Sponsored by Fraternity and Sorority Life 
 Eagle Field 
8-10 p.m.  Outdoor Movie: Monsters University  Enjoy a movie and meet new people while enjoying a fun summer treat. 
  • Sponsored by Eagles @ Nite 
 Drake Field 
Sept. 5
Time Event Description Location
Run begins promptly at 9 a.m.  Run around La Crosse  Join the Triathlon Club for a run around La Crosse! Choose from three routes (3 mile marsh run, 4 mile downtown run, and 5 mile bluff run) so you can choose the route that’s best for you! Afterwards, cook hotdogs on Eagle. 
  • Sponsored by Triathlon Club 
 Eagle Field 
9-11 a.m.  College Meet and Greet  Meet other students who are studying within the same college as you! You may even find some with your same major! 
  • Sponsored by Eagle Guides 
 Student Union Lawn 
10 a.m.  Men's and Women's Cross-Country Alumni/Intrasquad Meet  Cheer on your Eagles as they race against former Eagles in the Alumni meet.  
  • Sponsored by Athletics 
 Myrick Park 
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.  Flu Shot Clinic  Swing by and get your flu shot to help protect yourself as we head into cold and flu season. Walgreens will handle billing and insurance; no cost to students!
  • Sponsored by Walgreens and Wellness & Health Advocacy 
 Student Union, Entertainment Cafe 
3 p.m.  New Student Welcome and Class Photo  Join the newest class of Eagles as we officially begin the academic year with our New Student Welcome, our campus tradition celebrating new beginnings, community, and the journey ahead. Afterwards, we'll have our traditional class photo on the football field!  Roger Harring Stadium 
5-7 p.m.  Welcome Picnic  Cap off the New Student Welcome by joining the rest of your classmates for a picnic featuring DJ Martee McFly.  Student Union Lawn 
8 p.m.  Moonlight Mile  Come walk or run a mile through campus with Rec Sports! The route starts at the new Eagle L Sculpture and finishes in VMSC Roger Harring Stadium under the lights with games and music. All fitness levels welcome! No advance registration is required. Bring your ID and arrive early (7:30) to get free glow sticks. Limited availability.  
  • Sponsored by: REC 
 Eagle L Sculpture 
Sept. 6
Time Event Description Location
9-9:30 a.m. Breakfast   Whitney Center
9-11 a.m.  Coffee Conversations  Are you feeling stressed? Come chat with our Eagle Guides! They'll share their experiences from life on campus and getting involved, to surviving the tough classes and everything in between. FREE FOOD AND COFFEE. 
  • Sponsored by New Student and Family Programs 
 Student Union, Third Floor 
9:30-10:30 a.m.  Solve It! Find It! A Campus Search!  Join friends to solve riddles and locate specific areas across campus. From unique monuments, to involvement and study spaces, there's tons to find. Winners receive prizes!  Search begins promptly at 9:30, meet outside the Union 
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.  Mike Domitrz: Can I Kiss You  “Can I Kiss You?” is one of the most inclusive and sought-after programs for providing specific how-to skills for teaching consent, respect in relationships, bystander intervention, and addressing sexual assault. Each year, the program is delivered to tens of thousands of students on campuses all over North America.  Student Union, the Bluffs 
1-1:30 p.m. Lunch   Whitney Center
2-5 p.m.  Biking Around La Crosse with Drift Cycle 
 
PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER AT THIS LINK.  		Join Drift Cycle for a bike ride around your new hometown! Learn about the different Drift Cycle locations to make getting around a little easier. 
  • Sponsored by Drift Cycle 
 Meet at Drift Cycle station outside Student Union. 
2-5 p.m.  Walk your schedule! 
  		Calm your nerves by finding your classrooms, so you can walk into your first class feeling prepared. 
  • Sponsored by New Student and Family Programs 
 Various Locations 
5-7 p.m.  Theatre Trivia  Join us as we kick off a new year of the Drama Club! Team up with new friends and answer the theater-themed trivia questions. All students welcome! Winners receive prizes! 
  • Sponsored by: The Drama Club 
 Student Union, Entertainment Cafe (Lower Level) 
5-9p.m.  Super Smash Bros. Club Melee, Meet, and Greet  The Super Smash Bros. Club challenges you to the ultimate Melee! Whether interested in joining or returning members, all are welcome! 
  • Sponsored by: Super Smash Bros. Club 
 Student Union TBD 
5-8 p.m.  Yard Games  It’s Yard Games on Drake Field! Meet new people and see who has the best bag toss!  
  • Sponsored by: Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship 
 Drake Field and Volleyball Courts 
6-9 p.m. Dance on the Lawn The opening swing dancing event will be a beginner friendly lesson on east coast swing followed up by social dancing where they can try out the new moves they just learned and meet new people!
Sponsored by: Ballroom and Swing Dancing Club 		Student Union Lawn
6:30-7 p.m. Dinner   Whitney Center
7 p.m.  Hypnotist Chris Jones  UWL Alum Chris Jones is a hypnotist, comedian, and the host of upcoming prank series Double Take on Facebook Watch. In 2015, he made headlines by being the ONLY hypnotist ever to appear on America’s Got Talent when he successfully hypnotized judge Howie Mandel into doing the impossible. Join CAB in kicking off the year with Chris Jones and get ready to laugh! 
  • Sponsored by: CAB 
 Student Union, The Bluffs 
Sept. 7
Time Event Description Location
Between Commitments Prep for First Day of Classes Use your free time today to make sure you are ready to go for the first day of classes!
-Get your Books.
-Complete your Mandatory Trainings (check Canvas and your email, a hold will be placed on your account if this isn't completed!).
-Walk your Schedule
-Pack your backpack.
-Make sure everything is charged.

 		Around Campus
9:30-10:30 a.m. Breakfast   Whitney Center
1-1:30 p.m. Lunch   Whitney Center
2-3 p.m. Dialogue Matters: Bridging Voices at UWL  Join us for a session focused on fostering dialogue to cultivate a resilient campus community that values civil discourse, inclusivity, and free expression. Objectives include promoting self-awareness through inclusive conversations, understanding boundaries of lawful speech, and familiarizing students with campus resources. This session aims to empower students to positively contribute to campus life through respectful dialogue and active engagement.
  • Sponsored by: Center for Civil Dialogue and Civic Engagement
 Centennial Hall, Various Rooms
3:30-4:30 p.m.  ABSE's You Belong in the Frame  Start the year by stepping into the spotlight—literally! Join ABSE (Access, Belonging & Student Engagement) for a fun and affirming back-to-school photo experience designed to celebrate you and the vibrant community you're now a part of. 
 
Whether you're striking a solo pose or snapping a group shot with your new friends, this is your moment to capture the beginning of your college journey. 
 
We’ll have free printed photos, props, and giveaways—plus info on how ABSE supports students in finding their place, feeling seen, and building a community of care. 
 
Because here, you belong in the frame. 
 
Sponsored by: Access, Belonging & Student Engagement 		Clocktower 
5-6 p.m. Dinner   Whitney Center
6-8 p.m. REC Fest Come learn everything you need to know about Rec Sports! We will have representatives from all areas to talk to you about our programs, employment opportunities, and spaces around the REC. Register for intramurals, talk with sport clubs, interact with staff, learn about the Outdoor Connection, check out the Fitness Center and climbing wall, and so much more. GIVEAWAYS & PRIZES!
  • Sponsored by: Rec Sports
 REC
 7 p.m. New Officials Informational Meeting  Want to get paid to stay in the game? Join us at one of the Intramural Officials Info Meeting to learn how you can become an Intramural official, build your leadership skills, and earn money with a flexible schedule. No prior experience needed—we’ll train you!  
  • Sponsored by: Rec Sports 
 REC Conference Room 161