Welcome to Wichita State
Welcomefest takes place the first four weeks of the fall and spring semesters and features dozens of activities. Popular programs awaiting new and returning Shockers include the NXT LVL Garage Party, Clash of the Colleges, Involvement Fair and much more!
Hosted by various student groups and campus departments, most events are free and give all students a chance to get acquainted with each other, learn their way around campus, and find ways to connect with the community.
Fall 2026 Event Schedule
Wednesday, Aug. 12
Plant your Roots in STEM
6 - 8 p.m. | Shocker Hall Courtyard
Society of Women Engineers, STEMnation LLC & TRIO SSS STEM
Thursday, Aug. 13
Kurzweil 3000 Open Lab
8 a.m. - Noon | Shocker Success Center, Room 106
Office of Student Accommodations & Testing
Friday, Aug. 14
Noon - 1:30 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, East Lawn
First-Year Programs
Kurzweil 3000 Open Lab
1 - 5 p.m. | Shocker Success Center, Room 106
Office of Student Accommodations & Testing
1:30 - 3 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Second Floor - Sage Lounge
Academic Affairs
Pressed for Talent
3 - 5 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Room 142
Student Engagement & Belonging
3 - 5 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Room 142
Office of Student Success
Meet the Greeks
7 - 9 p.m. | Shocker Hall Courtyard
Student Engagement & Belonging
8 - 10 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Third Floor
First-Year Programs
SAC Movie Night
9 p.m. | Duerksen Outdoor Amphitheater
Student Engagement & Belonging
Saturday, Aug. 15
Commuter Coffee, Conversations & Car Goodies
10 - 11 a.m. | Shocker Success Center, 2nd Floor Lobby
First-Year Programs
WU Paint Party
5 - 7 p.m. | Heskett Center
First-Year Programs
ALL IN: Free Cosmic Bowling, Billiards & Bullseyes
7 - 8 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes
First-Year Programs
NXT LVL Garage Party
9 p.m. - Midnight | Rhatigan Student Center, Parking Garage
Student Engagement & Belonging
Sunday, Aug. 16
Paddles Up! Pick-up Pickle Ball
9 a.m. - noon | Hubbard Hall Lawn
Campus Recreation & First-Year Programs
1 - 3 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Room 266
First-Year Programs
2 - 4 p.m. | Ablah Library
University Libraries
Monday, Aug. 17
1st Day of Fall Classes
Welcome Tables
9 a.m. - Noon | Rhatigan Student Center, North Patio
Student Engagement & Belonging
Tuesday, Aug. 18
Welcome Tables
9 a.m. - Noon | Rhatigan Student Center, North Patio
Student Engagement & Belonging
Get Set for Success with TRIO SSS
9 a.m. - Noon | Rhatigan Student Center, First Floor
TRIO Student Support Services
Wednesday, Aug. 19
Esports Hub Open House4 - 6 p.m. | Heskett Center
Campus Recreation
Thursday, Aug. 20
9 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
Rhatigan Student Center, Student Engagement & Belonging,
Student Activities Council & WSU Dining
Tropic Like it's Hot
8 - 10 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, East Patio
Student Engagement & Belonging
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Heskett Center
Campus Recreation & First-Year Programs
Friday, Aug. 21
7 - 10 p.m. | Crossland Stadium
First-Year Programs
Saturday, Aug. 22
Volleyball vs Kansas City
1 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena
Wichita State Athletics
Sunday, Aug. 23
Classroom CRAWL1 - 3 p.m. | Rhatigan Shocker Success Center, 2nd Floor Lobby
First-Year Programs
Monday, Aug. 24
Welcome to the Book Technologies Lab!
2 - 5 p.m. | Lindquist Hall, Room 601
Department of English
Tuesday, Aug. 25
Cultural Greek Council Informational
6 - 8 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Room 233
Student Engagement & Belonging
Wednesday, Aug. 26
Centennial Bash
8 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Outside Woolsey Hall
Barton School of Business
Career Connection Root Beer Kegger
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Hubbard Hall, East Lawn
Shocker Career Accelerator
Grand Opening: Fairmount College
2 - 4 p.m. | Lindquist Hall, Second Floor
Fairmount College Dean's Office & Advising
5 - 7 p.m. | Shocker Rowing Boathouse
Campus Recreation & Shocker Rowing
Thursday, Aug. 27
Involvement Fair
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, North Patio
Student Engagement & Belonging
Welcome to the Book Technologies Lab!
2 - 5 p.m. | Lindquist Hall, Room 601
Department of English
BARE IT ALL Opening Celebration
5:30 - 8 p.m. | Ulrich Museum of Art
Ulrich Museum of Art
Yard Show
6 - 9 p.m. | Shocker Hall Courtyard
Student Engagement & Belonging
Friday, Aug. 28
African Caribbean Students Association Welcome Mixer
5 - 6:30 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
African Caribbean Students Association
Volleyball vs Stephen F. Austin
6 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena
Wichita State Athletics
6 - 8 p.m. | Beggs Hall, Room 231
Wichita State University Linux Users Group
Challenge Accepted Gameshow with Joseph Tram
7 p.m. | CAC Theater
Student Engagement & Belonging
Saturday, Aug. 29
Volleyball vs Idaho State
6 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena
Wichita State Athletics
Sunday, Aug. 30
Volleyball vs Missouri State
Noon | Charles Koch Arena
Wichita State Athletics
Monday, Aug. 31
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Student Engagement & Belonging Open House
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, 216 & 208
Student Engagement & Belonging
SAC Open House
4 - 6 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Room 233
Student Engagement & Belonging
NPHC 101
5 - 7 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Room 142
Student Engagement & Belonging
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Alternative Spring Break Info Meeting
Noon - 1 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Room 216
Student Engagement & Belonging
Thursday, Sept. 3
NPHC 101
5 - 7 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center, Room 233
Student Engagement & Belonging
Friday, Sept. 4
Volunteer with CSB at the Kansas Food Bank Warehouse
10 a.m. - Noon | Register at wichita.edu/VolunteerICT
Student Engagement & Belonging
Discover the Secrets of Ablah Library:
Library Tour and Orientation
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. | Ablah Library
University Libraries
Volunteer with CSB at the Lord's Diner
5 - 8 p.m. | Register at wichita.edu/VolunteerICT
Student Engagement & Belonging
Saturday, Sept. 5
Sunday, Sept. 6
Monday, Sept. 7
Tuesday, Sept. 8
Wednesday, Sept. 9
AI Student Mixer at Social Tap
4:30 - 6 p.m. | Social Tap
Kansas Small Business Development Center at WSU
Thursday, Sept. 10
Friday, Sept. 11
9/11 Day of Service
7:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. | Register at wichita.edu/VolunteerICT
Student Engagement & Belonging
Saturday, Sept. 12
Volunteer with CSB at Wichita Clean Streams
10 a.m. - Noon | Register at wichita.edu/VolunteerICT
Student Engagement & Belonging
