Franklin College
WELCOME WEEK 2026 WEDNESDAY, AUG 26 RESIDENCE HALLS NAPOLITAN STUDENT CENTER (NSC) ATRIUM SPURLOCK CENTER 4:00-4:30 p.m. Student & Family Welcome Begin your Welcome Week journey here! Listen to welcome remarks from college leadership, get pertinent updates and suggestions on how to get the most out of your Welcome Week experience, and find out how to stay connected with us all year long. NSC DINING HALL 4:30-6:15 p.m. Dinner Beginning with tonight’s dinner through August 30, all meals will be provided for commuter students, regardless of their meal plan status. NSC ATRIUM 6:15 p.m. Launch Group Meet -up Walk with your Launch Mentor and Launch Lab classmates to the Artcraft Theatre in downtown Franklin. HISTORIC ARTCRAFT THEATRE 7:00-10:00 p.m. Movie at the Historic Artcraft Theatre, hosted IN DOWNTOWN FRANKLIN by President and Mrs. Prather Join President and Mrs. Prather for a night of introductions and entertainment at the Historic Artcraft Theatre in downtown Franklin. Enjoy a free movie, popcorn, and soft drinks along with the opportunity to win prizes! 9:00-11:00 a.m. 3:30-4:00 p.m.
Residential Student Move Commuter Student Check
-In -In
THURSDAY, AUG 27 NSC DINING HALL 7:00-9:00 a.m. Breakfast LAUNCH LAB CLASSROOMS 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Launch Lab & Group Advising Connect in-person with fellow Launch Lab classmates, your Launch Mentor, and your First-Year Advisor. NSC DINING HALL 12:00-1:00 p.m. Lunch JCFA HENDERSON 12:00-12:45 p.m. TRIO SSS Orientation Lunch CONFERENCE ROOM Enjoy lunch while connecting with fellow TRIO Scholars. More information about the program, exciting events, and resources will be shared. Students should get their lunch from the cafeteria and meet in the Atrium, where a Launch Mentor will walk the group over to Henderson Conference Room in JCFA. NSC BRANIGIN ROOM 1:00-3:30 p.m. Be A Good Neighbor Hear from Student Development staff members about the expectations of being part of our Franklin College community, and the resources available to support students on campus. 1:00 p.m. Launch groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H 2:15 p.m. Launch groups I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P ASSIGNED LOCATIONS 1:00-3:30 p.m. Be Social Spend time getting to know your Launch group and mentors! 1:00 p.m. Launch groups I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P 2:15 p.m. Launch groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H NSC DINING HALL 5:00-7:00 p.m. Dinner NSC DINING HALL 5:00-7:00 p.m. Commuter Dinner and Discussion During dinner, join other new students and Launch Mentors to chat about life as a commuter student at FC. NSC BRANIGIN ROOM 7:00-7:30 p.m. Residence Life Meeting (residential students only) DAME MALL 7:30-9:00 p.m. Meet S’more Grizzlies (optional) Following the Residence Life meeting, join the Resident Assistants in playing yard games and making s’mores on Dame Mall!
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FRIDAY, AUG 28 NSC DINING HALL 7:00-8:30 a.m. Breakfast NSC PATIO/SIDEWALK 8:30-9:00 a.m. Line up for Bell Ceremony DAME MALL ELLIPSE 9:00-9:30 a.m. Opening Convocation and Bell Ceremony th Celebrate the official opening of the 189 Franklin College academic year with a welcome from President Prather, college leadership, returning students, faculty, and staff. NSC STEPS 9:30-9:45 a.m. Class Picture LAUNCH LAB CLASSROOMS 10:00-11:00 a.m. Be Inclusive Start living our core institutional value of inclusivity through activities and conversations designed to help you communicate across differences and foster a culture of respect within our community. NSC DINING HALL 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Lunch LEAVING FROM HAMILTON 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Class Schedule Tours (optional) LIBRARY Let the Launch Mentors help you find your classes, explore campus on your own, or enjoy some down time. ASSIGNED LOCATIONS 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Individual Advising Meetings (optional) Meet 1-on-1 with your first-year advisor to get to know more about them and how you will be working with them throughout the year. CAMPUS OFFICES 1:30-3:00 p.m. Be Resourceful Stop by important campus offices to accomplish last-minute errands, meet staff and faculty, and learn where important resources are located. Get your Be Resourceful Guide stamped to be entered into a bookstore raffle. NSC BRANIGIN ROOM 3:10-3:40 p.m. Be Connected Begin connecting with the technology that will help power your academic success. You’ll learn from our Information Technology team how to access and navigate our networks and academic software programs at FC. ASSIGNED LOCATIONS 3:45-5:00 p.m. Be Together Build connections with your Launch lab group, mentor, and instructor! NSC DINING HALL 5:0o-7:00 p.m. Dinner NSC BRANIGIN ROOM 7:00-8:00 p.m. Magical Beginnings Release all of your power, energy, and imagination to create a meaningful community through magic! DAME MALL ELLIPSE 8:30-9:00 p.m. Tower Tradition Your official induction into the Franklin College student body will be a memorable twilight tradition that connects you to the proud, resilient history of our campus and to the values upheld by our community.
SATURDAY, AUG 29 NSC DINING HALL 7:00-9:30 a.m. Breakfast SPURLOCK CENTER 9:30-11:30 a.m. College & Class Connections with Hooray Hosted by the Center for Student Success, “Hooray” is an interactive program that will be a spirited kick-off to your time as a Grizzly as well as a time to get to know your peers. CLINE WOODS 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Tailgate and Cookout Enjoy our time-honored tradition of grilling and games prior to supporting the Grizzlies on the field in Faught Stadium. Join new students and some of FC’s student organizations under the trees behind Cline Hall. SPURLOCK CENTER 1:00 & 5:00 p.m . FC Athletics Scrimmages (optional) “Stand up and cheer for Franklin College!” Show us your Grizzly spirit by cheering on our athletics teams in their first contests of the season. NSC DINING HALL 5:00-7:00 p.m. Dinner NSC ATRIUM & DAME MALL 8:00-10:00 p.m. Griz Game Night Get to know your fellow Grizzlies! Show off your skills playing yard games and bingo or take on your friends in Mario Kart and Just Dance on a giant screen. Sign up for corn hole, shuffleboard, pool, and euchre tournaments. Or just hang out, eat snacks, and listen to live music. Win great prizes and bragging rights!
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SUNDAY, AUG 30 NSC DINING HALL 9:00-11:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast NSC DINING HALL 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Brunch ASSIGNED LOCATIONS 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Center Yourself Practice self-care by choosing among various activities that will focus on stress reduction, movement, and/or mindfulness. Activities include yoga, meditation, coloring mandalas, basketball open gym, and more. You can also attend a local worship service! HAMILTON LIBRARY 309 1:00-2:30 p.m. Modern Language s Confirmation E xam Check your Welcome Week schedule sticker to find out if you need to attend this session, which is only for those who want to confirm their language proficiency. Required is for those who want to test out of the modern languages requirement, and optional is for those enrolled in an upper-level language course who may optionally attempt to test out of the language requirement. DAME MALL ELLIPSE 1:00-3:00 p.m. Chill with the Greeks (optional) Come and meet the Greeks while playing yard games and enjoying a cool treat! Questions about Greek Life on campus? Members will be there to tell you about their experiences and how you can get involved. NSC ATRIUM 1:00-4:00 p.m. IT Helpdesk (optional) Need help with your laptop? Having IT issues? The Office of Information Technology will be available to support you and make sure your technology is up and running for the first day of class. LEAVING FROM HAMILTON 3:00 p.m. Shopping Shuttles (optional) PARKING LOT Need notebooks or pens for class on Monday? Want to stock up on snacks for your room? Catch a ride to our local Meijer on one of the shuttle vans leaving from the parking lot behind Hamilton Library. NSC BRANIGIN ROOM 3:00-5:00 p.m. TRIO SSS Orientation for all TRIO Scholars Meet with all TRIO SSS students and enjoy fun activities, opportunities to connect with other TRIO scholars, and information on all the exciting events and workshops planned for the academic year. NSC DINING HALL 5:00-7:00 p.m. Dinner LOCATIONS POSTED IN 7:00-8:00 p.m. Residence hall floor meetings (required for residential students) RESIDENCE HALLS
MONDAY, AUG 31 8:00 a.m. Classes Begin NSC PATIO 7:30-10:00 a.m. First Day of Class Pictures with Donuts + Coffee NSC/DAME MALL 5:00-8:00 p.m. Welcome Bash and Campus Picnic Join the entire Franklin College community to celebrate the beginning of the year. Enjoy a night of inflatable activities, karaoke, giveaways, amazing food, and more!
TUESDAY, SEPT 1 RICHARDSON CHAPEL PORCH/LOBBY Join the Office of Religious Life for a come-and-go lunch where you can meet the interfaith Religious Life Team and local churches. We will have food, music, and casual conversation for students of any background and class year. 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Religious Life Welcome Lunch (optional)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT 2 DAME MALL 7:00-8:30 p.m. Greeks with the Greeks (optional) Grab some free pizza from Greeks Pizzeria and play games with members of FC’s Greek organizations.
THURSDAY, SEPT 3 LAUNCH LAB CLASSROOMS 11:00-11:50 a.m. Launch Lab DAME MALL 6:00-7:30 p.m. Be Engaged Fair Student organizations, campus departments, and off-campus partners will be at this event, sharing information about avenues for involvement and resources to help you be successful. There are always lots of great giveaways, too!
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FRIDAY, SEPT 4 HOOSIER CUPBOARD 5:00-7:00 p.m. FC on the Town (optional) Celebrate the end of the first week of classes with FREE ice cream from the Center for Student Engagement! Meet us at Hoosier Cupboard for our first FC on the Town event of the year. Located at 370 East Jefferson Street, Hoosier Cupboard is just a short walk from campus!
AUG 30-SEP 16 Various Dates & Times
Sorority and Fraternity Recruitment Information Sessions (optional ) Interested in becoming a part of Greek Life? Want to learn more about recruitment? Follow @FCGreek on Instagram for information regarding information sessions and pre-recruitment events leading up to Greek recruitment, which will take place September 8-15. Welcome Week is one component of several required elements in your Launch experience. The goals of Welcome Week include building meaningful relationships, developing core skills for academic and personal success, gaining confidence in your ability to navigate college resources, communicating across differences, and deepening a commitment to community. These goals are achieved through various types of programming scheduled throughout the week. Participation requires listening to presentations, engaging in small and large group discussions, reading written materials and handouts, using campus technology, and moving to various locations throughout campus. If you require accommodations for a disability in order to fully participate in Welcome Week, please contact the Center for Student Success at studentsuccess@FranklinCollege.edu.
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