Winter Welcome Week rings in the new semester

New and returning students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are heading back to campus for the spring semester with opportunities to connect during the 2026 Winter Welcome Week.

The week of festivities will begin Monday, Jan. 12—when students start classes—and continue through Friday, Jan. 16.

Hannah Turcotte, assistant director of the Center for Student Leadership, Engagement and Community, helped organize event activities.

“Winter Welcome Week is an opportunity for both returning students to come back to campus and just delve right back into engagement opportunities,” Turcotte said. “But it’s also for students joining us this semester to get a taste of the UTC experience.”

For students interested in getting involved with on-campus student organizations, the Winter Organization Fair is Thursday, Jan. 15. Turcotte said that anywhere from 40 to 60 of the campus’ 160-plus student-run organizations will be present.

“Some of our fraternity and sorority life groups, club sports, special interest groups, governance groups, faith-based organizations, organizations from all of the different categories … sign up to be present,” she said. “They’re definitely there looking for new members to share opportunities that they have coming up.”

The week will include opportunities for incoming transfer students to learn more about campus, including a Transfer Meet-Up: Make a Button and Mingle on Monday, Jan. 12.

“Typically in the spring, we do have more transfer students joining us—and more nontraditional students,” Turcotte said. “We want to make sure there are activities that those students can see themselves in and make sure that they have something that sounds fun and engaging for them.”

There will also be multiple evening events for students who can’t be on campus during the day, she said, including Game Night at the Mocs Recovery Lounge, which will take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Stacy Town Center.

“We want a variety of times that really do cater to anyone’s schedule,” Turcotte said. “The goal definitely for the Welcome Week calendar is to provide a lot of different opportunities in terms of style of event and time. No matter who is on campus, they can find a way to get involved.”

The premier late-night event and conclusion to 2026 Winter Welcome Week will be Friday, Jan. 16, with a Dinner and a Show featuring comedian and magician Trent James.

“We collect feedback from our students on an annual basis to see what type of activities they want to participate in,” she said, “and things like comedy and magic shows are always a real hit.”

Turcotte hopes students attend to connect on campus.

“It’s just a great engagement opportunity so that students have a warm welcome back to campus and can kick off the semester in a really positive way,” she said.

Winter Welcome Week calendar:

Monday, Jan. 12

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Welcome Tables, Vine Street by Power C
2-4 p.m., Transfer Meet-up: Making a Button and Mingle, Lupton Hall first floor

Tuesday, Jan. 13

9 a.m.-3 p.m., Veteran and Military Affairs Operation Supply Drop, Hooper Hall Room 102
3-4:30 p.m., International Tea Time, Lupton Hall first floor

Wednesday, Jan.14

12-3 p.m., Grand Opening: Center for Student Leadership, Engagement and Community, Lupton Hall first floor
2-4 p.m., Scrappy’s Market, University Center Lobby Tables
5:30-8:30 p.m., Game Night at the Mocs Recovery Lounge, Mocs Recovery Lounge at Stacy Town Center
7 p.m., Paint Night, Lupton Hall first floor

Thursday, Jan. 15

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Part-Time Job Fair, University Center Tennessee Room
11 a.m.-1 p.m., Start Well: Winter Edition, Center for Wellbeing Lounge
12-2 p.m., Warm Welcome with the Graduate School: Hot Cocoa and Cider Bar, University Center Lobby Tables
4-6 p.m., Winter Organization Fair, University Center Tennessee Room
5-7 p.m., Pizza and Pwange, eSports Facility at Maclellan Gym

Friday, Jan. 16