It is once again time for new and returning students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to indulge in some fun.
Winter Welcome Week, held from Monday, Jan. 6, through Sunday, Jan. 12, will be a week of relaxing and exciting activities held by various departments and student organizations to help ease students into the spring semester.
Laura Petrus, UTC director of student and family engagement, explained the purpose behind Winter Welcome Week.
“The spring Winter Welcome is a bit more low-key than fall. Fall is big, loud, in-your-face, with so much going on,” Petrus said. “Spring is almost like a tiptoe into the semester, and it’s kind of that way intentionally because that’s what students have asked for.”
One of the opening events is Night at the ARC on Monday, Jan. 6, giving students a chance to explore UTC’s recreation facilities, participate in fun activities and learn about stress-relief tips.
“I think that’s a must-do,” Petrus said. “You can get to know campus recreation, play around and understand what recreation resources are available, how you can relieve stress through physical activity and make friends along the way.”
Another “must-do,” she said, is the Cozy Carnival on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Petrus described the carnival as a “Lupton Hall open house” where students will be able to participate in a variety of activities —such as creating their own pet rock—within the different spaces in Lupton.
A new event, the Campus Job Fair hosted by Housing and Residence Life, will highlight different employment opportunities on campus.
Another new event is the Hot Cocoa and Cider Bar, a collaboration with the Graduate School and the Graduate Student Association (GSA). The event is for graduate students to connect with fellow students and learn more about the GSA—and for current undergraduate students interested in connecting and learning more about graduate school.
“One of our goals for Winter Welcome is to really tap into populations of students that may not see themselves in traditional programs,” Petrus said. “We’ve been wanting to collaborate with the Graduate School for many years and we’re so excited to make it happen this year.”
Petrus also highlighted the Clarence T. Jones Observatory Open House: MOCs Under the Stars as a unique way to close out the week.
“It’s just a fun way to get students off campus and to this beautiful observatory,” she said. “It’s a really fun experience—something different for our students to tap into.”
Other events throughout the week include creative activities like painting, movie nights and opportunities for students to explore resources and student organizations.
“Whether you’re new or returning, it really provides a unique opportunity to both explore and tap into specific areas,” Petrus said. “It helps new students get different tastes of campus life, but it also helps returning students really target their involvement.”
Events and activities taking place during the week include:
Monday, Jan. 6
- Welcome Tables, University Center and Lupton Hall lobbies, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 7
- International Tea Time, Lupton Hall, sponsored by Center for Global Education, 3-4:30 p.m.
- Cozy Carnival, Lupton Hall, sponsored by Lupton Hall Offices, 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 8
- Winter Welcome Org Fair, University Center Tennessee Room, sponsored by Student and Family Engagement, 3-5 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 9
- Campus Job Fair, Lupton Hall, sponsored by Housing and Residence Life, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 10
- Acrylics and Apps, Lupton Hall, sponsored by Housing and Residence Life, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 12
- Clarence T. Jones Observatory Open House: MOCs Under the Stars, 10 N. Tuxedo Ave., sponsored by the Department of Chemistry and Physics, 6-8 p.m.
Students at the 2024 Winter Welcome Week Org. Fair. Photo by Angela Foster.
