Dozens of activities await new students at the University of Colorado at Boulder starting Aug. 21 including a welcome convocation hosted by Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson and a "Global Jam" featuring international food and music.
The free events are planned to allow new students to get acquainted with the campus and surrounding community before fall semester classes begin Aug. 25. The activities are in addition to campus orientation sessions that cover the details of class registration, policies and student services at each college.
New students will gather for the mandatory New Student Convocation at 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 22 at Folsom Field. The official gathering welcomes students to the university and will feature remarks by Peterson, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Julie Wong and Director of Admissions Kevin MacLennan.
Immediately following the convocation, the CU Marching Band will lead participants to Farrand Field, where "Global Jam" will offer new CU students with residence hall meal plans an international feast including musical entertainment from noon to 2 p.m. Offerings will include barbecue pork bao with plum sauce, tofu polenta bruschetta, Kiwi lamb burger, vegetable curry pie, Bavarian cream puffs and chef-carved roasted pineapple.
Any member of the CU-Boulder community with a Buff OneCard is welcome to attend Global Jam for free and guests may attend for $6 each. Attendance at the event, excluding food, is free and open to the public.
Some other highlights include:
o Thursday, Aug. 21, from 8:30 p.m. to midnight, the CU Student Recreation Center and Residence Hall Association will host an "Ice and Dice" event in the recreation center where students are invited to skate on the indoor rink, try the rock climbing wall, learn new dance moves or play blackjack for prizes.
o Friday, Aug. 22, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the CU Environmental Center in the University Memorial Center, room 355, will be open for tours. New students can learn about CU-Boulder's status as a model "green" campus and "Ralphie's Green Stampede," a zero-waste and carbon-reduction program at Folsom Field that will begin at CU's first home game on Sept. 6. Folsom Field will become the first major sports stadium in the nation to collect all materials in recycling or compost containers and eliminate trash cans.
o Friday, Aug. 22, from 8 p.m. to midnight, students are invited to UMC's "Welcome Fest" featuring live music, a street ball tournament, casino games, food and prizes.
o Saturday, Aug. 23, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., students are invited to a residence hall picnic on the Regent lawn.
o Saturday, Aug. 23, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Program Council will present a concert on Farrand Field.
For a complete schedule of CU-Boulder new student welcome activities visit .