Welcome Week 2026
August 20 – August 24
Welcome Week is the first step in discovering how you belong in the BC Community! Welcome Week is designed for students to meet your CL 100 classmates and Soar Mentor, to learn expectations of living in the BC community and to provide resources to enhance your academic success.
What to look forward to:
Welcome Week is part of our required extended orientation and transition experience – and the official start of the Bridgewater College academic and co-curricular experience for new Eagles!
First-Year Students will move in on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026. You will spend a week with your Soar Mentor who will guide you through several days of learning about living in community at Bridgewater, getting to know members of your CL 100 class and instructor and forming a tight bond with other members of the Class of 2030. Welcome Week is a required part of our orientation and transition experience and will only be excused for students with extenuating circumstances. Please contact orientation@bridgewater.edu if you have said circumstances.
Residential Transfer Students will join us on campus on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. You will have a Transfer Welcome Session in the afternoon, and on Monday, Aug. 24, all transfer students will meet your CL 150 classmates and professor while getting acclimated to your new home.
*Please note, if you are asked to arrive at campus early, that information will be communicated to you separately.
Schedule of Events
Listed events are required for first-year students as part of their Welcome Week experience and CL 100 class. Attendance is strongly encouraged.
Please note that all events without an asterisk (*) are required unless the student has extenuating circumstances.
9:00 a.m. – First-year student move-in for residential students Please check your email from Residence Life for your move-in slot time
*10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Welcome Week Resource Fair (ID pick up is required)*
*11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Meet and Greet*
*3:00 p.m. – Commuter Student Welcome and Check-In First meeting for commuter students to begin Welcome Week*
4:00 p.m. – Soar Mentor Groups/Dinner/BC Cup Challenges
6:30 p.m. – Community Living
7:45 p.m. – Dr. Bushman’s Backyard Bash/First Year Fest
*8:00 – 9:00 a.m. – Breakfast*
*9:00 a.m. – CL 100 Class Meeting*
10:00 a.m. – BC Cup
12:00 p.m. – Lunch Rotations
1:30 p.m. – First CL Class, Honor Council, and Departmental Meetings
*4:30 – 8:00 p.m. – Soar Mentor Time and Dinner*
8:00 p.m. – An Evening with Patrick Holbert
*9:30 – 10:30 am. – Breakfast Pick-Up*
10:30 a.m. – Campus Cares Session
12:00 p.m. – Lunch Rotations
*2:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Recess and Refresh*
*5:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Dinner rotation*
8:00 p.m. – Derek Greenfield
*10:00 – 11:00 a.m. – Breakfast Pick-Up*
11:00 a.m. – Healthy Relationships – Megan Rae
12:00 p.m. – Lunch Rotations
1:30 p.m. – Bystander Intervention
*3:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Recess and Refresh*
*5:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Dinner Rotations*
9:00 – 10:30 p.m. – CEAT Presents: Wayne Hoffman
*as needed – Time with Advisors*
*7:00 – 9:00 a.m. – Breakfast*
9:15 a.m. – Class of 2030 Picture
9:45 a.m. – Line Up for Academic Convocation
10:00 a.m. – Academic Opening Convocation and Reception
11:30 a.m. – Lunch Rotations/Soar Mentor Time
*1:30 – 5:00 p.m. – On Your Own*
*5:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Dinner*
8:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Residence Hall Community Meeting, Residential students only
8:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Commuter Kickback, Commuter students only
*9:30 – 11:00 p.m. – CEAT Presents: Out of This World Bingo*
Welcome Week 2026: Transfer Students
Schedule of Events
Listed events are required for transfer students as part of their Welcome experience. Attendance at required events is strongly suggested.
Please note that all events without an asterisk (*) are required unless the student has extenuating circumstances
*11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Residential Check-In (required for residential students)*
4:00 p.m. – Transfer Welcome Session (residential and commuter)
5:00 p.m. – Transfer Dinner
6:15 p.m. – Campus Tours
9:00 p.m. – CEAT Presents: Wayne Hoffman
9:00 a.m. – Welcome Reception and Breakfast
9:45 a.m. – Line up for Academic Convocation
10:00 – 11:30 a.m. – Academic Convocation and Celebration
12:00 p.m. – Opening Day lunch with Department Representatives
8:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Residence Hall Community Meeting (required for residential students)
8:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Commuter Kickback
9:30 p.m. – CEAT presents: Out of This World Bingo
