On Iowa!--New kickoff events give first-year students a running start

On Aug. 19, The University of Iowa welcomed its Class of 2015 with a literal bang, as fireworks lit the sky above Kinnick Stadium. It was the opening of On Iowa!, a program designed to welcome new students, introduce campus culture, and emphasize the transition to college life.

The Kinnick event—which also included large-scale icebreakers on the field, lessons on the Iowa fight song and other traditions, and inspiration from wrestling legend Dan Gable—launched a pre-semester weekend that closed with the annual Convocation ceremony on the Pentacrest and a block party hosted by UI President Sally Mason.

The program has been more than a year in the making, driven by research showing that in-depth orientations and community building initiatives correlate with improved retention and other student outcomes. It’s part of the University’s renewed focus on undergraduate student success.

The new undergraduate class—which with 4,565 students is the University’s largest and most diverse—begins their UI experience steeped in Hawkeye culture, arguably better poised to make the leap to college than any class before them.

— photos by Bill Adams, Tim Schoon, and Tom Jorgensen

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First-year students got a local retail mecca all to themselves during a late-night Target shopping spree.
Assembled in small groups, students talked academics, campus involvement, decision-making, and other topics with seasoned peer leaders.
The On Iowa! prize patrol roamed campus handing out everything from free-burrito coupons to TVs.
Greek organizations hosted a cookout and games, part of a drive to connect new students with campus groups.
Students began arriving on campus mid-week, with plenty of time to explore and take part in optional activities.
As they arrived at Kinnick for the Friday kickoff event, students touched the iconic statue of the stadium’s namesake.
Games on the Kinnick Stadium field prompted new classmates to pull together.
The kickoff event was all about having fun, making connections, and building school spirit.
Students formed a massive block I on the Kinnick field—what organizers expect to become an On Iowa! tradition.
Iowa’s spirit squads introduced songs, cheers, and game-day traditions.
Surprise speaker Dan Gable delivered the kickoff event’s keynote address.
Herky welcomed the fireworks display—a Kinnick Stadium first.
During Saturday sessions, students toured the central campus and stopped for photo ops.
Reps from campus organizations welcomed potential members at Hubbard Park.
Student volunteers packaged emergency meals for distribution across the country and abroad—combined with water, the contents of each bag feed six to eight people.
DJ team White Panda delivered a Saturday-night concert exclusively for first-year Hawkeyes.
More than 2,500 students rocked Hubbard Park during the Saturday-night show.
On Sunday, students assembled on the Pentacrest lawn for the Convocation ceremony.
Flag-bearers guided the class from Convocation to the President’s Block Party.
The block party included plenty of food, lots of giveaways, and a Herky-led flash mob.
In what’s become a campus tradition, President Mason hosted the pre-semester party at her place.
Dancers helped kick off the semester—come Monday morning, classes would begin bright and early.
 

© The University of Iowa 2009