ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ

New Student Convocation will be outdoors Under the Oaks

By ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ News Bureau, staff

August 21, 2026

A photo of hundreds of students from the Class of 2029 watching speakers on a stage for New Student Convocation in August 2025. Large trees overhead provide shade.
New Student Convocation for the Class of 2030 and families will take place Under the Oaks in the Historic Neighborhood.

With more favorable weather conditions in the forecast for Saturday, August 22, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ will welcome the Class of 2030 Under the Oaks in the Historic Neighborhood for New Student Covocation as originally scheduled.

SATURDAY UPDATE: Vice President Jon Dooley emailed the following message at 5:30 a.m. to ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ faculty, staff, and the Class of 2030.

**

Dear Faculty, Staff, New Students, and Families,

Since yesterday afternoon, the weather forecast has become considerably more favorable. We are pleased to confirm that New Student Convocation will be held Under the Oaks at 9 a.m. this morning as previously scheduled. Students will convene in Alumni Gym at 8 a.m. 

With yesterday’s rainfall, turf Under the Oaks may still be wet and soggy – sensible footwear is advised.

All Orientation activities will take place as originally scheduled: 

  • Following New Student Convocation, students proceed directly to Young Commons to meet their orientation leaders.
  • Family members of first-year students will go to their student’s ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ 1010 meeting room to meet with Academic Advisors and ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ 1010 Peer Educators.
  • Family members of transfer students will head to LaRose Digital Theatre in Koury Business Center for Transfer Orientation.
  • ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Bridge Families will meet with the academic coordinator in McKinnon Hall in the Moseley Student Center.

Please consult the printed schedule in New Student Orientation packets or on the New Student Orientation website for more details regarding event times and locations for Orientation activities today.

—

Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life
jdooley4@elon.edu

FRIDAY MESSAGE: The following message was emailed on Aug. 21, 2026, to ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ faculty, staff, and the Class of 2030.

**

Dear students, faculty, staff, and families of new students,

We are monitoring the possibility of rain for tomorrow (Saturday, August 22) and this message includes important information should weather impact New Student Convocation and other Orientation events for new students and families.  Please monitor Today at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ, official ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ social media, and your email for potential adjustments to schedules on Saturday due to weather.

We will make every attempt to hold New Student Convocation outside Under the Oaks on Saturday. However, if weather conditions make it impossible to hold New Student Convocation outdoors, here is what you need to know:

Confirmation of the location for New Student Convocation will be announced at 6 a.m. on Saturday.

  • ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ will confirm the location of New Student Convocation by email, on Today at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ and via social media. You can also text MOVEIN26 to the number 226-787 for real-time schedule changes due to weather. Since the forecast remains unpredictable, a decision likely won’t be made before Saturday morning. Remember to stay tuned to one or more of the information sources listed above.

Under the rain plan, New Student Convocation would be held in Schar Center and would be a ticketed event.

  • Doors at the Schar Center would open at 8:00 a.m. for students and family members. Students should proceed directly to Schar Center and be seated by 8:30 a.m. The ceremony would begin at 9 a.m. As a reminder, there is a clear bag policy for the Schar Center and umbrellas are among the prohibited items.
  • Each student received one ticket for themselves and two tickets for family members in the Orientation check-in packets during move-in.  Students, please remember to give your family members their two tickets today. Due to venue capacity, reprints or additional tickets are not available.
  • Faculty members participating in New Student Convocation should arrive at the Gill Room in the Schar Center by 8:30 a.m. Note the parking information below and plan extra time for arrival.

Limited parking will be available at Schar Center. Parking would be available in other campus lots, with shuttles running to Schar Center.ÌýÌý

  • Parking will be available at Schar Center, but the use of the Schar Center parking lot for Move-In Day on Friday means portions will be blocked off. Accessible parking would be available by Schar Center in Hunt Lot A.
  • serving numerous visitor parking lots across campus.

The Great Hall in Sato Commons will host additional guests as an overflow location.

  • Additional family members wishing to view New Student Convocation on campus can head to the Great Hall in Sato Commons. Doors will open in the Great Hall at 8:15 a.m. The ceremony will be livestreamed to screens in the Great Hall.

If the rain plan is implemented, here is what you need to know about other event changes following New Student Convocation:

Students would meet with their Orientation Leaders in the Schar Center concourse. Family members should remain at their seats in the Schar Center.

  • After the conclusion of New Student Convocation, students should locate their Orientation Leader on the concourse. Orientation Leaders will be ordered by group number along the entire concourse. These sessions will begin at 10:15 a.m. and will be followed by an 11:30 a.m. session with Academic Advisors and ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ 1010 Peer Educators, as originally scheduled.

There would be one joint Family Advising Information session to be held in Schar Center.

  • In the rain plan, the family meeting with ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ 1010 instructors will not occur. Family members will remain in Schar Center following the ceremony for a joint advising session rather than going to the campus location they had previously been assigned. This session will begin at 10:30 a.m.

The Parents/Family College Coffee would be held in Schar Center after the Family Advising Session.ÌýÌý

  • Family members will move to the Schar Center concourse following the advising session for a special College Coffee gathering.

The Family Send-off Picnic would be moved indoors.

  • Students and family members with tickets to the picnic can head to McEwen Dining Hall, Lakeside Dining Hall, Clohan Hall and the first floor of Moseley Center for their meals. Additional indoor seating will be available in Koury Athletic Center, Alumni Gym, Moseley Center and other campus buildings. Covered outdoor seating will also be available at Phi Beta Kappa Commons and the Koury Athletic Center’s West Lawn.

We wanted to communicate this rain plan to you in advance to help ensure a successful weekend regardless of potential weather disruptions. Please check email, Today at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ, and official ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ social media on Saturday morning for additional information and details.

–
Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life
jdooley4@elon.edu