In August 2020, Georgia Tech hosted its inaugural Week of Welcome for first-year students, inviting them to move in a week earlier than in previous years. As Georgia Tech refocuses on returning to in-person classes and programming this fall, Week of Welcome 2021 is slated to build on this new tradition through partnerships between Campus Services, Student Life, Office of Undergraduate Education, the Georgia Tech Library, and many more. Organizers hope to expand programming this year with the support of the Georgia Tech community. 

“There is no better way to welcome our newest students than through a wide variety of events that reflect the diversity of our incoming student body,” said Runyi Wang, Student Center Program Council’s Week of Welcome Committee Chair. “We hope that incoming students will be able to find their community at Georgia Tech. By working closely with our campus partners, we are excited to offer events that cater to students’ varying interests and needs to do exactly that.” 

The second annual Week of Welcome kicks off with first-year move-in on Saturday, August 14, and Sunday, August 15, with events and programming starting the night of August 15. Second-year, new transfer, and new graduate students are invited to move in on Wednesday, August 18, with remaining upper-class residents moving in August 20 – 21. 

From August 16 – 22, students will have the opportunity to participate in workshops, events, and outings to help get acclimated to life at Georgia Tech. New programming will be offered for second-years, new transfers, and new graduate students beginning Thursday, August 19. 

Afternoons and evenings will be filled with opportunities for students to engage with one another and get to know their community. RATS Night at the Library, FASET Social, RecFest at the Campus Recreation Center, student organization fairs, Greek Recruitment, Grad Expo and Convocation, are some of the many events planned for the week.  

“I loved the experience of presenting workshops in 2020 and can't wait to do it again this year,” said Bryan Gomez, Residence Hall Association President. “As upper-class students, we sometimes forget how much we know about this campus and how much we have to share with the incoming class. Week of Welcome is the perfect time to share the experiences you've gathered over your semesters here, calm a few nerves, and excite the next group of Yellow Jackets about all that there is to offer here at Tech!”  

Departments, colleges, campus offices, and student organizations are invited to host engaging and informative workshops to help share information with students. Programming will be featured on the event schedule in Guidebook. 

Dr. Chris Reaves, Executive Director of the Center for Academic Enrichment and Director of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities & Student Innovation Programs held a workshop during Week of Welcome last year that was so well-attended it was offered multiple times throughout the week. 

“Week of Welcome was a great way to kick off the fall semester. We had 680 students attend the workshops we offered in the Office of Undergraduate Education. Though mostly virtual, the week was a wonderful way to welcome our students back to campus after being mostly away from Tech for five months.” 

To follow along as Week of Welcome planning evolves, visit welcomehome.gatech.edu. 

Plan Programming for Week of Welcome 

If your office, department, or organization would like to create events and workshops to welcome our incoming first-year, second-year, and transfer students, fill out the Week of Welcome Interest Form by July 6. Programming will be featured on the event schedule in Guidebook. 

For organizations that want to plan an event for incoming students during Week of Welcome but are unsure about how to proceed, email weekofwelcome@gatech.edu. 

Volunteer to Help with First-Year and Upper-Class Move-In

Housing and Residence Life invites campus partners and student organizations to sign up to help students and their families move into their residence hall communities for first-year move in August 14 and 15, second-year, new transfer, new graduate move-in on August 18, and upper-class move-in August 20-21. 

Students, faculty, and staff who are interested in volunteering can sign up through the Volunteer Interest Form. 

Student organization volunteers for move-in who will live on-campus this fall have an opportunity to move in early on August 13. Interested organizations should complete the Student Org Move-In Volunteer form by June 20.