Welcome Week Schedule
Welcome Week Schedule 2021
(2022 Schedule will be available in July)
Friday, August 20
8:00am - 2:00pm - New Student Move-In
Various Residence Halls
Check your North Central College for more information about how you will move into your Residence Hall.
9:00am - 1:00pm - New Student Orientation
Wentz Science Center Room 101
Not able to attend a Summer Orientation program? No problem! Attend this orientation program that will also incorporate the Welcome BBQ Picnic and Resource Fair. Reach out to orientation@noctrl.edu to let us know you and your family are coming.
9:30am - 10:30am - Cardinal First Family Breakfast (for first-gen students and families)
Old Main Lawn (Wentz Concert Hall Lobby is rain location)
This welcome breakfast is for all incoming first-generation college students* and their parents. Students will meet several CardinalFirst Ambassadors (upperclass first-generation students),faculty and staff who were first-generation college students and Julie Carballo, director of First Generation Programs.
*First-generation student defined as neither parent having a four-year degree.
11:00am - 1:00pm - Welcome Picnic & Resource Fair
Jefferson Lawn, Wentz Science Center (Merner Fieldhouse is rain location)
You and your family are welcome to enjoy a picnic lunch with the campus community. A North Central College Resource Fair will also be held at the same time for you to meet with all of the great resources on campus. Be sure to get your questions answered here!
11:00am - 1:00pm - Commuter Student Check-In
Jefferson Lawn, Wentz Science Center (Merner Fieldhouse is rain location)
Students living off-campus can check-in, receive all Welcome Week materials, and meet the Commuter Student Services staff. Students will also have the chance to purchase parking permits at the Check-In location.
2:30pm - 3:30pm - Opening Convocation
Benedetti-Wehrli Football Stadium (Pfeiffer Hall is rain location)
Join the faculty along with your family in this traditional event, when you are formally welcomed into the North Central academic community. Students will line up in Championship Plaza, right outside the Stadium, at 2:30pm and the official ceremony will begin at 2:45pm. Families may arrive into the stadium and begin seating at 2:15pm.
Convocation is the conclusion of the family programming. Students will have time to say goodbye to families and join the rest of the Welcome Week festivities.
5:00pm - 7:00pm - Res Life Meet Your Neighbors & Dinner
Various Residence Halls
Meet your Resident Assistant (RA) and learn about campus services and upcoming events. Resident student meetings will be on assigned floors.
5:00pm - 7:00pm - Commuter Student Hangout: Meet Fellow Students and Get Dinner Together
Jefferson Lounge
Meet your Commuter Assistants (CA) and learn about campus resources and upcoming events. Get a chance to meet with other commuter students and learn about the great resources for our commuters!
7:00pm - 7:45pm - CARD (First Year Seminar) Class Group Meeting
Various Classrooms (Find your classroom on the Whova App)
Join your First-Year Mentor (FYM) who will provide you with an overview of Welcome Week. You will have a chance to get acquainted with other new students in your CARD section.
8:00pm - 10:00pm - Red & White Night (Traditions Night)
Pfeiffer Hall, Merner Fieldhouse, Championship Plaza (Merner Fieldhouse is rain location)
Take part in a night dedicated to North Central College traditions and inspiring school spirit, including North Central’s fight song, Alma Mater and the parade, which dates back to 1912! End with inflatables, photobooth, s'mores, and more!
Saturday, August 21
10:30am - 12:30pm - Cardinal Playfair: Largest and Best Campus Activity
Jefferson Lawn
It's entertainment! It's fun! It's the perfect way to make new campus friendships. Cardinal Playfair is the best team-building experience that has a long-lasting effect on your campus experience.
12:30pm - 2:00pm - Lunch
2:00pm - 4:00pm - Cardinal Field Day
Jefferson Lawn, Rall Lawn, Championship Plaza
Show off your competitive edge and meet new friends at the same time. Play quick physical and mental games for your team to win. Teams will be determined when you get there, so come alone or with your new friends.
4:00pm - 6:00pm - Break ("Take & Makes" Available)
Jefferson Lounge
Take that much needed break, get some dinner, and get ready for Casino Night! There are craft "take-and-makes" available for pick up at Jefferson Lounge
6:00pm - 8:00pm - Dinner
8:00pm - 11:00pm - Casino Night
Wentz Concert Hall, Madden Theater
With $1,000 in prizes, the odds are in your favor. You just have to join in the game with fun favorites like poker, roulette, craps and blackjack. Along with some free food and karaoke, it’s sure to be a good night!
Sunday, August 22
10:00am - 12:00pm - Outdoor Adventure (Choose between a Hike, walk down the Riverwalk, or walk through Downtown Naperville)
Start at Jefferson Plaza
Start at Jefferson Lawn and be introduced to your new surroundings.
1:00pm - 2:30pm - A Shot of Reality
Pfeiffer Hall
A Shot of Reality is an alcohol awareness show that was created out of serious, painstaking research, but performed by two professional comedians who make the topic engaging. Covering multiple facets of responsible alcohol use, the show keeps students engaged with a powerful combination of levity and realistic discussion. This is many schools’ favorite program to satisfy alcohol awareness training, especially for orientation. A Shot of Reality has been performed all over the United States...and Texas.
2:30pm - 3:30pm - Ice Cream Social
Jefferson Lawn
Come grab some ice cream and cool off with some fun and friends!
4:00pm - 7:00pm - "Booyah" Game Night (1990s Decade Themed Games)
Wentz Science Center
Play a variety of games, including '90s arcade games, board games, trivia, and so much more. Valuable prizes will be given out!
7:00pm - 8:00pm - Break and Dinner
8:00pm - 10:00pm - SCREAM Movie in Merner
Merner Fieldhouse
Join us for this '90s movie classic! A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a new killer, who targets the girl and her friends by using horror films as part of a deadly game. First 50 people get a free blanket! Feel free to bring your own blanket to sit on, too!
Monday, August 23
8:00am - 9:00am - Breakfast
8:00am - 12:00pm - On-Campus COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
Cardinal Room (Merner Fieldhouse)
With your health as our top priority, we are hosting on-campus COVID-19 vaccine clinics for students, staff and faculty at no cost, with the first clinic taking place August 23-24. If you are able to get vaccinated prior to the on-campus clinic, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. However, if you are unable to get vaccinated before returning to campus, we strongly encourage you to register for a time slot at our on-campus clinic.
You may choose between Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines when registering in advance. Pfizer requires two doses. If you choose to receive the Pfizer vaccine at the August clinic, you will be able to sign up then to receive your second dose at the September clinic. Johnson & Johnson only requires a single dose, which will be available on either of the August dates.
9:00am - 10:30am - CARD "Class" with Faculty
Various Classrooms
Get excited to meet with your first North Central class! You’ll talk about the class and how you can set yourself up for success in fall semester. Look in your Welcome Week app for your CARD 101/102/200 classroom assignment.
11:00am - 12:30pm - The Hook Up
Pfeiffer Hall
Hooking up can often sound like harmless fun, but it can also be a cover for some very unhealthy behaviors. This engaging discussion pulls back the covers on hooking up, clarifying when it’s actually sexual violence and how bystanders can protect potential victims from predators.
12:30pm - 2:00pm - Lunch
12:30pm - 2:00pm - Premier Scholars Program Meet-Up
2nd Floor--Harold and Eva White Activities Center
The Office of Multicultural Affairs will be hosting a welcome event for the 2021-2022 Premier Scholars! Students who are participating in the Premier Scholars Program will get to meet the Premier Team and pick up their t-shirts and prizes from Premier Week. For any questions, contact us at mca@noctrl.edu.
2:00pm - 4:15pm - Say What?! Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Presentation and Discussion
Pfeiffer Hall
Students are a diverse group of people, not only in their character and opinions, but also in their gender, race, ethnicity, age, and abilities. Does your institution consider diversity and inclusivity to be important? Are your educators creating a welcoming and safe space for their students? Do your students know how to have an open, yet respectful dialogue? Catharsis Productions can help you create a respectful environment and an inclusive culture where everyone loves to work, study, and prepare for a professional environment. Catharsis Productions uses humor, interactive talk, and exercises to create an impactful and meaningful learning environment for all participants. Say What?! utilizes research from psychology and adult learning theory mixed with real-world discussion and examples of cultural differences happening around us.
4:30pm - 7:00pm - Dinner and Break
7:00pm - 9:00pm - Mission IMPROVable
Pfeiffer Hall
Mission IMPROVable is a four-person improv comedy team that performs a totally unique style of short form improv. Voted the 2014 Best Comedy Performers and the 2013 Entertainers of the Year, Mission IMPROVable is one of the top-ranked traveling comedy companies in the country. This Chicago and Los Angeles-based troupe has proven itself as a consistent presence in the college market. The members of Mission IMPROVable adopt the roles of secret comedy agents, ready to take you on a laughing roller coaster. The audience members are the co-agents and participate in hilarious theater games or “missions” by yelling out suggestions. The on-the-spot randomness provided by the audience makes each mission truly unique and hysterical. May your mission be a memorable one!
9:00pm -11:00pm - Late Night Rec Sports (Glow Ultimate Frisbee)
Merner Fieldhouse
Test your skills or learn a new sport through late night rec sports! We'll have lots of lawn games set up, but we'll also be testing your skills at Glow Ultimate Frisbee!
Tuesday, August 24
8:00am - 10:00am - Breakfast
10:00am - 11:30am - Mental Health Speaker Carli Bushoven
Pfeiffer Hall
Carli tragically lost her younger sister, Madison Holleran, to suicide on January 17, 2014, which was just two weeks after Carli’s first child was born. Beautiful, athletic, kind, and smart, Madison was thought by many to have “had it all.” Her death came as a shock to not only her family, but her friends, community, and people across the country – and became the catalyst for the NYTimes bestselling book “What Made Maddy Run?“ by Kate Fagan and published by Little, Brown and Company.
11:00am - 1:00pm - Picnic in the Plaza
Rall Lawn
Join us on Rall Lawn for carnival games and food trucks sponsored by North Central College student organizations. Learn ways you can get involved on campus and grow meaningful relationships on campus. Join for food trucks and rainbow floats sponsored by Cardinal Safe Zone.
12:00pm - 4:00pm - On-Campus COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
Cardinal Room (Merner Fieldhouse)
With your health as our top priority, we are hosting on-campus COVID-19 vaccine clinics for students, staff and faculty at no cost, with the first clinic taking place August 23-24. If you are able to get vaccinated prior to the on-campus clinic, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. However, if you are unable to get vaccinated before returning to campus, we strongly encourage you to register for a time slot at our on-campus clinic.
You may choose between Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines when registering in advance. Pfizer requires two doses. If you choose to receive the Pfizer vaccine at the August clinic, you will be able to sign up then to receive your second dose at the September clinic. Johnson & Johnson only requires a single dose, which will be available on either of the August dates.
1:00pm - 3:00pm - Where are my classes?
Start at Jefferson Plaza
Orientation Staff will be all throughout campus to help you navigate your first day. Find out where your classes are located so that you can start your day on the right foot.
1:00pm - 3:00pm - Academic Advisor Open House
Seybert Hall
Your academic advisor is an important component to your success at North Central College. Come meet the academic advisors, grab a cookie, and ensure that your classes are set up for the fall semester. Have a question? This is the time to make sure you get your answers.
3:00pm - 6:00pm - Have a Totally Tubular 80s Afternoon
Jefferson Lawn, Wentz Science Center
Choose from a variety of events including guided paint classes, rec sports tournaments, lawn games, eSports tournaments, or just to chill out. Check out the Welcome Week app for locations.
5:00pm - 7:00pm - College Honors Program Welcome Dinner
Old Main--Smith Hall (2nd floor)
First-year and new transfer students who have been accepted into the College Scholars Honors Program are invited to join us for a casual dinner. We will introduce you to some key aspects of the Honors Program while you get to know your fellow College Scholars, some returning honors students, and faculty members. After dinner, you'll be invited to tour the Honors facilities at Ward Hall.
6:00pm - 11:00pm - Get Ready for Classes Tomorrow!
Get a good night's rest and start your semester strong!