Welcome Weekend Overview
Get ready to ‘TOON in during Welcome Weekend 2021!
Penn State Berks Welcome Weekend, Fall 2021
August 20-22, 2021
The Welcome Weekend Leadership Team and Orientation Leaders are eagerly preparing for the arrival of our new students for Fall 2021. We are constantly evaluating and assessing the most up to date recommendations from the CDC and Penn State University leadership. Below is our current schedule, please register to receive any updates as they are made.
Register here for Fall 2021 Welcome Weekend
Moving into the Residence Halls
Starting July 20 at noon, students that will be living in the residence halls will be able to log on to e-Living to view their room assignment and schedule your arrival date and time. For more information, visit the Housing and Food Services arrival site (arrival.psu.edu/fall/berks)! We highly recommend you check out the What to Pack and What to Leave section of their website.
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Farewell to Parents: Any parents that are still helping their child to unpack will be asked to head out so new students can begin their Residence Hall Orientation. During this time, students will be encouraged to grab dinner and be back to their community by 5:45 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
Residence Hall Orientation, Residence Hall Communities: After you have moved in, students will go through a Residence Hall Orientation. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about the other new students in their community as well as the policies and expectations for living on campus.
7:15 p.m.
Residence Hall Rally, Tent on Perkins Lawn: Residential students will learn more about what it means to live in the larger Residence Hall community and learn about the resources unique to our residential students, all while cheering on their Resident Assistants and peers during the rally under the Tent on Perkins Lawn.
POST-RALLY
Social Night, Ivy Lounge, Residence Hall Basketball and Volleyball Courts: Make your way back “up the hill” to the Residence Halls after the rally for opportunities to connect with the other residential students. We’ll be hosting Karaoke Night in the Ivy Lounge, as well as basketball and volleyball on the courts near the Village Residence Hall area.
Saturday, August 21, 2021
9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
New Student Check In, Perkins Student Center:
Students are encouraged to arrive early to ensure that they have plenty of time to check in to find out their team assignment, receive their welcome bags and schedules. Our Orientation Leaders will be around to help students in navigating through the process. There will be opportunities for students to win prizes before our Welcome Program begins.
10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
New Student Welcome, Tent on Perkins Lawn: Sit with your team as you are welcomed to Penn State Berks by the Chancellor, Dr. George Grant, Jr., you’ll also receive more information about what to expect from the weekend. You’ll also have the opportunity to be a part of our new student photo before heading to your First Year Seminar Small Group Sessions.
10:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
First Year Seminar Small Group Rotations, Various Locations around Campus: Students will spend the day rotating between small and larger interactive sessions that will help new students feel connected to each other and campus, especially the students they’ll be working with in their First Year Seminar. Orientation Leaders have designed these to help students feel as prepared as possible for their first week of classes. Students will also rotate through breakout sessions, alumni games, and lunch throughout their day.
5:00 p.m.
Commuter Rally, Perkins Auditorium: After spending the day learning about the resources available to all students, students commuting to campus are expected to attend the Commuter Rally. They will get to meet the staff that are available to support their unique needs and learn about the resources available specifically for them.
Dinner with Residence Halls, Tully’s: While commuters are learning more about their resources, residential students will meet their RAs in the Tully’s dining hall to grab dinner and reconnect with their friends and roommates from their communities.
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Kickball, Luerssen Lawn: Bring your friends from the day, or come down to make new ones as we kick off the year with a game of kickball on the Luerssen Lawn.
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Paint Night, Perkins Multipurpose Room: Whether you are artistic or not, living on campus, at home, or in an off campus apartment- join us for a self-guided opportunity to create the perfect décor to liven up your space before the start of the school year!
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Alumni Ice Cream Stand, Perkins Plaza: Have you heard of the Penn State Creamery? Well, you don’t have to travel to University Park to try some. Our alumni are ready to dish up ice cream and advice for students in the Perkins Plaza.
Lion Ambassador Bingo, Perkins Auditorium: Our Lion Ambassadors may have shown you around campus before your arrival, but they are excited to help you have a blast and win prizes during our first Bingo event of the 2021-22 academic year!
Sunday, August 22, 2021
9:15 – 9:45 a.m.
Adult, Change of Assignment, Transfer, and Veteran Student Check In, Perkins Student Center: We will have specialty small group sessions available for these populations of students, to discuss your unique needs- let Orientation Leaders know when you check in which group you would like to participate in.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Welcome to College with Michael Dean Ester, Tent on Perkins Lawn: Each year we laugh our way into our Sunday program with Michael Dean Ester, a campus favorite for motivating students for the start of their academic careers!
11:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Small Group Rotations, Various Locations around Campus: Students will have the opportunity to connect with their peers, while also rotating through a variety of resource sessions. We encourage students to ask their Orientation Leaders any questions they hope will be answered before they start classes on Monday, August 23!
3:45 p.m.
Honors Student Meeting, Alumni Pavilion: If you are participating in the Honors Program, you will meet with the Honors Program Coordinator to review expectations before the start of the school year.
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Yard Games, Various Locations around Campus: Whether you bring your roommate, a friend from sessions, or you come to meet new people- join Orientation Leaders as we pull the yard games back out for you to relax before classes start on Monday!
6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Trivia Night, Perkins MPR: We are ready to pick your brain before you need to put them to work, join Orientation Leaders for a night of random trivia!
8:00 p.m.
THON presents the Welcome Back Talent Show, Perkins Auditorium: Our local THON affiliate group, Berks Benefitting THON, will be hosting an opportunity for you to get to know them better, while also showing off your talents- or supporting your peers as they show off theirs!
Follow our Orientation Leaders on Instagram: @berkswelcomeleaders
Welcome Week
Our Campus Activities Board (CAB) is a student run organization that utilizes student funding to provide a large portion of our Welcome Week events. For more information about attending any of the CAB events below, visit their website (https://sites.psu.edu/berkscab/) or follow them on Instagram to stay up to date with all of their events (@psubk_cab).
Monday, August 23
12:15 p.m.
Convocation, Tent on Perkins Lawn: New students are expected to attend this prestigious event where they will be welcomed into the Berks’ academic community.
9:00 p.m.
CAB presents Crazy Bob Electronic Giveaway Dance Party, Tent on Perkins Lawn: Bob is a campus favorite, he’s always ready to help Penn State Berks kick off a school year with fun... and amazing prizes!
Tuesday, August 24
8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
CAB presents the Glocade, Tent on Perkins Lawn: Help CAB light up the night on Tuesday, as we bring glow in the dark games to campus for a night of arcade style games!
Wednesday, August 25
12:15 p.m.
Student Government Association presents Club Rush, Tent on Perkins Lawn: Penn State Berks has a variety of clubs, organizations, or club sports teams available for its students. Club Rush offers an opportunity to meet members of clubs and find ways to get involved.
8:00 p.m.
CAB presents John Cassidy Balloon Comedian, Perkins Auditorium: John Cassidy is a Welcome Weekend staple, delighting Penn State Berks students for years with his balloon comedy!
Thursday, August 26
8:00 p.m.
CAB presents Sunset Cinema in Perkins, Tent on Perkins Lawn: Bring a blanket, or if you are one of the first 30 students you’ll get a mat, and join CAB in the tent on Perkins Lawn for a showing of the Lion King!
Friday, August 27
6 p.m.
Arts & Lecture Series presents Animal Adventures, Tent on Perkins Lawn: Things will be getting wild under the tent when Ed Laquidara brings his animal friends for adventures during his presentation.
Community Weekend
Saturday, August 28
10:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Donate & Disc Golf, Check In at the Lion Bench in Perkins Plaza: The Student Athlete Advisory Committee will be collected non-perishable food items or clothing while they help you get started on our on-campus Disc Golf Course. Students can bring their own discs, borrow a set, or the first 20 students to donate will receive a CAB frisbee to use on the course.
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Day of Service: New to Shelter Welcome Packages, Perkins Multipurpose Room: The Pavement Project is excited to invite you to help as we put together care packages that will be donated to Opportunity House. This event will last while we have items to put together.
11:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Yard Games, Walking Tacos, and Year 2 All About You, Perkins and Luerssen Lawns: Orientation Leaders will be pulling out the yard games once more- to allow students to play leisurely or if they would like to challenge their peers to a rousing game! Grab a walking taco while you explore! We also want to invite second year students to join us to tie dye a class of shirt, and if the music moves you- share your favorite song as we karaoke!
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Self-Guided Paint Afternoon, Perkins Multipurpose Room: Shout out to Rainbow Alliance for the opportunity to create masterpieces... or maybe just pieces, that you can showcase in your homes, whether that is on or off campus!
Sunday, August 29
10:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Donate & Disc Golf, Check In at the Lion Bench in Perkins Plaza: Again on Sunday, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee will be collected non-perishable food items or clothing while they help you get started on our on-campus Disc Golf Course. Students can bring their own discs, borrow a set, or the first 20 students to donate will receive a CAB frisbee to use on the course.
11:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Yard Games, Perkins and Luerssen Lawn: Continue your games from the day before, or join us to challenge new people- we'll have the lawn games out again for some more excitement!
1:00 p.m.
Ice Cream and Fellowship, Perkins Plaza: Thank you Christian Student Fellowship for joining us to dish out some tasty creamery ice cream! Get there early, as we don’t know how long supplies will last!
12:45-3:00 p.m.
Day of Service: Opportunity House Meal Prep, Meet at the Lion Shrine: The Pavement Project is at it again, helping to prepare a meal that will be served to the residents of Opportunity House during their dinner time.