A fresh group of first-year students will roll into Cal State Monterey Bay this week, bringing with them all of the excitement and jitters that come with embarking on a new journey. Upper-class students, of course, will also be returning to campus and, in addition to the logistics of setting up dorm rooms and apartments and adapting to new roommates, they will all be able to participate in a wide range of Otter Days events. 

From hauling suitcases and boxes to attending orientation meetings and enjoying lively mixers and activities, students will have no shortage of things to keep them occupied and entertained. 

Ben Corpus, vice president of enrollment management and student affairs, said the planned schedule of events is a way to make students feel they are in the right place. 

“We are thrilled to welcome our incoming class of Otters this fall,” Corpus said. “Otter Days programs are designed to foster connections, build community, and provide our incoming first-year and transfer students a strong foundation to begin their academic journeys at CSUMB. 

“In addition to our social programs, students will have plenty of other opportunities throughout Otter Days to get acquainted with the campus and learn about resources and services available to them,” Corpus added.

Some of the initial welcoming activities on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 21 and 22, will be dedicated to particular dorm regions, but they are not exclusive. Students can attend any of the events they wish, including a carnival, a silent disco, a trivia contest, and a casino night. And those aren’t the major events. 

On Friday, new students will gather in CSUMB Stadium for the Convocation. President Vanya Quiñones, Provost Andrew Lawson and other administrators will welcome the incoming class and share important information. 

Shortly after, the Campus Cookout will take over the Otter Sports Complex (practice soccer fields). New students can enjoy a complimentary lunch and take part in activities and entertainment from noon to 3 p.m. And what cookout would be complete without dessert? There will be plenty of sweet stuff at the ice cream social from 3 - 6 p.m. Later, from 8 to midnight, there will be more free food, entertainment and music as the Otter Student Union hosts Late Night with OSU.

Jeff Rensel, director of the OSU, said that evening’s event, along with others such as Welcome Back Bingo – 6 - 9 p.m. on Saturday – help students form a sense of community. 

“These events offer students the perfect opportunity to connect with their peers, create lasting memories, and discover their home away from home at the ‘heartbeat’ of campus, the OSU,” Rensel said. 

Sunday brings what has quickly become one of the most popular events of the school year, the Plunge. Hundreds of students are expected to crowd onto the beach at Monterey Tides Hotel in Seaside as President Quiñones leads the charge into the chilly surf of Monterey Bay.

One might think the fun ends with the completion of the weekend, but no. Other events are scheduled Monday through Wednesday including the following:

Monday 

• Veterans Resource Center Welcome Open House, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Divarty Quad.

Tuesday

• La Entrada, a welcome event with food, music and lawn games, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., El Centro and the main quad.
  
• On-Campus Job Fair, noon to 2 p.m., OSU Ballroom. Register beforehand.
• hOtter Wing Challenge, 4 - 5 p.m., Otter Express.
• Karaoke with the clubs. 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on the OSU steps.

Wednesday

• OC3 Block Party, noon to 3 p.m. at the OSU.

The only thing students need to worry about is making sure they have enough energy left – after all the activities – to attend the first day of classes.

“The start of the academic year is always an exciting time, and we are committed to creating a welcoming environment where every student recognizes this is a university where connections and relationships matter,” Corpus said.  

For details on all Otter Days activities, check the events page on My Raft.