Welcome Back Week
Welcome Back Week is a series of events starting on Saturday, January 21 through Saturday, January 28 for new and returning students. Check out the 2023 Welcome Back Week events to help kick off your semester!
For any questions or accommodations, please contact the First Year Experience Office prior to the event.
Event List
Events listed below are some of the signature events but more events and registrations can be found on MyRaft.
| Day | Time | Event Title | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, January 20 | 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. | New Resident Area Welcomes | Come meet residents, the RAs, and other Residential Life Staff at each area's welcome event. Please see your RA for details -- including the time and location of this event! | Varies by Area |
| Saturday, January 21 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Class Finding Tours | Are you new to campus and need to know where your classes will be? Meet an Orientation Leader at their chosen location to go on a class finding tour to make sure you know where you need to go when you start classes. Any student who has not been to campus before is welcome to attend, not just new students for Spring 2023! | OSU Main Quad |
| Saturday, January 21 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch with an OL | Join the Orientation Leaders and other students in the Dining Commons to grab lunch and hang out before the Meet and Mingle! | Dining Commons |
| Saturday, January 21 | 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. | You Otter Meet and Mingle | Meet the Orientation Leaders and Mingle with other Otters, play games, dance, and take a break before preparing for classes | OSU Rookery |
| Saturday, January 21 | 4 - 5 p.m. | Yoga Snow Flow | As we begin a new semester, take some time to slow down and commit to new intentions for the year ahead. Come settle into a deep practice that will nourish your body, mind, and heart. A sweet blend of twists, hip openers, and forward bends, along with some heart-opening, restful and restorative poses, breathing, and meditation will lead us into the quiet space. Give yourself the gift of this experience, or better yet: share it with a friend and come together! All levels welcome - beginner class. | Building 98 - Meeting House |
| Sunday, January 22 | 4 - 8 p.m. | Lunar New Year Celebration | Come and celebrate the year of the Rabbit with the Otter Cross Cultural Center! Lunar New Year is a traditional Asian festival that ushers in the new year with culturally significant celebrations. This event will feature a DJ and much more! | OSU Plaza |
| Sunday, January 22 | 7 - 9 p.m. | Residential Community Meetings | Residential students are required to attend community meetings. Please see your RA for the start time and location of your community's meeting. | By Area |
| Sunday, January 22 | 6 - 8 p.m. | Cookie Decorating | Show us your creative flair by decorating your own cookie or just enjoy the company of other students to relax and unwind. | Building 12 (First Year and Area 2) Cyber Cafe (Prom) Pinnacles Lobby (North Quad), Saratoga Center(East Campus) |
| Monday, January 23 | 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Bienvenidos con Burritos | Bienvenidos Welcome back to campus! Swing by and grab a tasty burrito and some coffee before the start of class! The first day of classes is already stressful don't worry about the breakfast, we have it handled for you. | OSU Main Quad Plaza |
| Monday, January 23 | 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. | RESET for Spring | R.E.S.E.T. for Spring semester with Health and Wellness Services. Learn and practice tips for your well-being using our reset model - reflect, eat, sleep, exercise, and talk. Various stations will be set up for students to practice these skills and learn about the wellness resources available. Food, resting stations, and opportunity drawings are available. | Main Quad building 12 |
| Monday, January 23 | 6 - 7 p.m. |
Zumba | Zumba is back! Come kick it with AS and start your semester out strong with an hour long Zumba class! | Otter Sports Center |
| Monday, January 23 | 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. | Movie Night | Come enjoy a movie with your friends. Popcorn and refreshments will be provided. (Movie: Black Panther) | OSU Ballroom |
| Tuesday, January 24 |
12 - 5 p.m. | Snow Day | Get in the winter spirit with us for a snowtastic day! We will be covering the main quad in snow and have food trucks available. | Main Quad |
| Tuesday, January 24 | 4 - 5:30 p.m. | OSU Open House | Join us in the Otter Student Union, the Heartbeat of Campus for our Spring 2023 Winter Wonderland Open House. | OSU |
| Tuesday, January 24 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | COE Welcome Week Drop-Ins & Giveaways | Future K-12 Teachers! Meet your peer-mentors, get support, grab a snack and giveaway items. It's a grab and go type of event! | Building 2 |
| Wednesday, January 25 | 4 - 5:30 p.m. | MOCA Mixer | Come out to have a mixer with Men of Color Alliance (MOCA) in OSU room 302/304. Grab a free drink and talk with students! | AS/SELD office |
| Wednesday, January 25 | 5 - 7 p.m. | Trivia Night | Join Associated Students for our kick off of Trivia Wednesdays in the OE! | Otter Express |
| Wednesday, January 25 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | COE Welcome Week Drop-Ins & Giveaways | Future K-12 Teachers! Meet your peer-mentors, get support, grab a snack and giveaway items. It's a grab and go type of event! | Building 2 |
| Thursday, January 26 | 6 - 9 p.m. | Paint and Sip | Come paint a magical winter painting and drink hot cocoa with extra marshmallows. | Building 12, West Lounge |
| Thursday, January 26 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | COE Welcome Week Drop-Ins & Giveaways | Future K-12 Teachers! Meet your peer-mentors, get support, grab a snack and giveaway items. It's a grab and go type of event! | Building 2 |
| Friday, January 27 | 8 - 11 p.m. | Winter Formal Ball | Come in your best dressed as we celebrate the start of the semester with our first annual CSUMB Snow Ball. DJ (TBD) will be playing throughout the night along with free snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. | OSU Ballroom |
| Friday, January 27 | 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | COE Welcome Week Drop-Ins & Giveaways | Future K-12 Teachers! Meet your peer-mentors, get support, grab a snack and giveaway items. It's a grab and go type of event! | Building 2 |
| Saturday, January 28 | 7 - 9 p.m. | Open Mic Night | Join us for the first Open Mic Night of the semester! Come share your talents or watch your fellow Otters perform! | OSU Rookery |