Thanks to planners’ efforts and students and families’ flexibility, this year’s Welcome Weekend at UND came off without a hitch
Question: How do you funnel thousands of students and their families – with many individuals carrying boxes – through narrow hallways and other confined spaces, in a limited time, but without crowding?
Answer: You don’t. Instead, you change the parameter that’s least essential – the limited time – to accommodate the much more important factors, which are students and families and Moving Into Your College Dorm and those key words, “without crowding.”
At UND, the result was an extended Move-In period that began Aug 1, three full weeks before this year’s Welcome Weekend at the University. Over the course of those weeks, students by the hundreds moved their possessions into their dorm rooms, each student having scheduled a two-hour block of time in which they could do the work.
That kept crowding to a minimum, and made Welcome Weekend – which unfolded on Aug. 22-24 – a fun, smooth and uncrowded experience.
“Parents and students were excited, and our efforts to reduce density via confirmed move-in times made a huge difference,” said Cara Halgren, vice president for Student Affairs & Diversity and Dean of Students. Housing, Dining, Student Involvement and Parent Program staff and volunteers “did a fantastic job” – as did the parents and students themselves, whose exceptional goodwill and understanding were vital to making the weekend a success, Halgren noted.
As of Tuesday morning, some 1,777 students have moved into UND residence halls.
Below is a selection of photos that celebrate Welcome Weekend 2020.
Throughout the weekend, students were provided UND-green, Fighting Hawks-branded face coverings. Photo by Mike Hess/UND Today.
Volunteers distributed the free masks in front of the Chester Fritz Auditorium. Photo by Mike Hess/UND Today.
Drop-offs and move-ins were more precisely scheduled this year, allowing the process to be less dense than usual. Photo by Mike Hess/UND Today.
The family of a student take a selfie in front of the dorms. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.
The check-in process featured a drive-thru style to receive keys and start unpacking. Photo by Mike Hess/UND Today.
With new arrangements of one student per room across campus dorms, students had more space for moving in, setting up and rearranging. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.
Andy and Kathy Armacost check in on students moving into the dorms. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.
UND Hockey Head Coach Brad Berry helped distribute free masks to students alongside Cassie Gerhardt, associate vice president for student affairs & diversity and associate dean of students. Many members of the UND community volunteered over Welcome Weekend. Photo by Mike Hess/UND Today.
A student receives their new Fighting Hawk t-shirt among sprawling activity in the main quad. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.
Students and family members went on bike tours of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks throughout Welcome Weekend. Photo by Mike Hess/UND Today.
Spikeball was among the main quad activity during a t-shirt giveaway event. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.
Students take a selfie in front of the Eternal Flame. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.
Monday morning was met with Sunrise Yoga at the Wellness Center. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.
