The University of North Dakota officially began welcoming students for the 2009 fall semester on Friday morning when thousands of new and returning students converge on the campus for a new school year. Classes start on Monday, August 24, at 4 p.m.; the first full day of classes starts Tuesday, August 25.

UND President Robert Kelley together with Grand Forks Mayor Mike Brown will personally be meeting and greeting students, parents, friends, and relatives Friday afternoon. For their 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. meet-and-greet, Kelley and Brown will be driving a UND-owned North Dakota-made GEM electric vehicle around campus and will hand out UND water bottles.

To help new and returning students, UND Enrollment Services prepared answers to a list of the top 40 questions students and parents are likely to ask, covering such topics as registration, financial aid, computer services, payment of tuition and fees, and buying books. It is available at:
http://www.und.edu/Top-40-2009.pdf

Friday, August 21
The 2009 Welcome Weekend gets under way at 8:30 a.m. Friday when information centers at five locations around campus open. Residence halls open at 9 a.m. At that time, more than 3,000 on-campus residents will begin moving into 15 residence halls and 875 apartment units.

Assisting students and parents will be a Hall Orientation Team (HOT) of approximately 140 returning residents who have also organized weekend activities. UND athletes will be available to assist with moving in.

“Moving in is the first thing most new students want to get accomplished when they arrive on campus,” said Kyle Wikstrom, a UND student and HOT chairperson. “HOT students and faculty welcome families and help make the move-in process a little easier. It’s a great way to kick-off the year.”

Additional information on moving in is available on the UND Residence Services website at:
http://www.housing.und.edu/movein/

Other Friday activities include lunch at Wilkerson Dining Center from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; a submarine sandwich feed from 5 to 7 p.m. at various  campus locations; “Meet Your Neighbors” from 7 o 8:0 p.m. at the residence halls; and entertainment events from 9 p.m. to midnight.

A complete schedule of Welcome Weekend events---as well as a list of offices and facilities open throughout the weekend—is available at:
http://go.und.edu/includes/pdf/welcomeweekendschedule.pdf

Saturday, August 22
UND Welcome Weekend continues Saturday morning with check-in from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at three campus locations. A family brunch is available from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Wilkerson Dining Center.

An opening session from 1 to 2 p.m. will be held at the Chester Fritz Auditorium, followed by campus life discussion groups. From 2 to 5:45 p.m., UND Student Ambassadors and faculty members will be on had to lead the discussions and assist students in locating their classes.

Events Saturday conclude with a barbecue and carnival from 5 to 7 p.m. for students and their families at the Wilkerson Dining Center patio. There also is a “Night Life at UND” event in the Wellness Center from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Sunday, August 23
On Sunday, morning worship services on campus will be held at the Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Center, the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Newman Center, and the Wittenburg Lutheran (Missouri Synod) Chapel. Brunch at the Wilkerson Dining Center is available from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

A series of events for transfer students, including a welcome and resource fair, will be held at the Memorial Union from 2 to 5 p.m.

Sunday activities conclude with a residence hall picnic on the Walsh Quad from 4:30-6:45 p.m. HOT will sponsor a hypnotist at the Chester Fritz Library from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and a bonfire at the Wilkerson Gazebo from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Monday, August 24
On Monday from 11 a.m. to noon, students will attend an introduction to departmental advising.
 
Useful contacts:
Residence Services: Judy Sargent, Director
701-777-4251
Kirsten Carolin, Marketing Manager
701-777-4295, kirstencarolin@mail.und.edu.
 
Enrollment Services contact: Patsy Nies, special projects coordinator
701-777-3791, patsynies@mail.und.nodak.edu

Useful links:
Complete schedule of Welcome Weekend events (with list of offices and facilities open all weekend)
http://go.und.edu/includes/pdf/welcomeweekendschedule.pdf

UND Enrollment Services top 40 student and parent 40 questions answered
http://www.und.edu/Top-40-2009.pdf

Residence Services moving-in information
http://www.housing.und.edu/movein/

Peter Johnson, executive associate vice president for university relations
Office of University Relations
(701) 777-2731
media call (701) 740-5398
peterjohnson@mail.und.edu

Juan Pedraza, Office of University Relations
(701) 777-6571 (office) (701) 777-1321 (cell)
juanpedraza@mail.und.edu

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