Weeks of Welcome

Dr. Eugene L. Zdziarski, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students

Weeks of Welcome (WOW!) is in the planning stages for the fall semester to enhance the transition process for new students and welcome back returning students. The main goal is to offer programs and highlight services for students in an effort to introduce them to the UF community and promote student engagement. In particular, the objectives for Weeks of Welcome are as follows:

• Develop campus-wide events specific to first-year, transfer and graduate students which help new students make the transition to the University of Florida.
• Provide new students with resources and campus information.
• Foster a sense of pride about being a Florida Gator.
• Teach new students about the history and traditions of the University of Florida.
• Inform new students of their rights and responsibilities as members of our community.

Weeks of Welcome provides you with a unique opportunity to reach out to the student body, and we would like to invite you to plan an event, highlight your services or just display signage to welcome students. For more information about the WOW! program and how you can get involved, please visit our website at www.dso.ufl.edu/nsp/wow. Click on “Get Involved.” You may also view what is planned for WOW! during Summer B.

If you choose to plan a program or already have one planned during this time, we ask that you submit the information to New Student Programs in the Dean of Students Office so that we may assist you in publicizing your programs and create a WOW! calendar for distribution. You can submit this information online by accessing the “Event Submission” page through our website. The deadline for fall program submissions is July 27th. If you have any questions, please contact Shane Wibeto at shanemw@dso.ufl.edu or call 392-1261, Ext. 236.

Our hope is to offer programs during WOW! in the areas of academic support, college and major information, student involvement and leadership, community service, career exploration, study abroad, wellness, campus services and much, much more. Let’s work together to help new and returning students be proud to be a Florida Gator!