Welcome Day: Wednesday, August 21

Welcome Day is one of the most exciting days of the year at North Park. The campus goes from its quiet summer state to suddenly bustling with life, new students, and the anticipation of another great year. This is a great day for incoming students, along with their parents and families: moving in, exploring campus, eating together, and getting to know the people of North Park. A few sessions are even designed specifically with parents in mind — but fun activities for students will last well into the night, after you've said your goodbyes. So come, be our guest, and experience Welcome Day!

Resources for Your Trip

The first step in your transition is traveling to North Park's campus. Get more details, including maps for moving in to each campus living area, directions to campus, and suggestions of where you can find great restaurants.

Welcome Day Events 

We've organized activities for Threshold Week into a few categories: Academic, Community Life, and Social. Below you'll find descriptions for all the events listed on the schedule for Welcome Day, grouped by event type. (Events and times subject to change.)

Academic

Threshold will help you get off on the right foot for school with challenge tests, meetings with your faculty advisor, and opportunities to tie up any loose ends. We're taking it easy on you on the first day, but check the schedule for all the events you can't miss on Thursday and Friday.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Placement Tests — Magnuson Campus Center

8:30 am to 12:30 pm ✔ Mandatory for International Students

This test is required for all new international students so we can place you in any necessary language support courses.

North Park Welcome — Carlson Gymnasium

1:30 pm ✔ Mandatory

The Threshold Staff and North Park University faculty welcome all students and their families to campus during this special session. Hear about the academic life of the University, and start putting faces to names of professors, staff, and administrators.

Opening Convocation — Carlson Gymnasium

4:00 pm ✔ Mandatory

Join President David Parkyn and the entire campus community to kick off the new academic year at this festive and meaningful event. Hear straight from President Parkyn how excited he is to get to know each of you, and get a taste for the honor and tradition that comes with being a North Park Viking.

Check out more academic events during Threshold Week.

Community Life

Get to know North Park! Transition is tough, but our campus community is glad to welcome you. Our faculty, staff, and students are looking forward to helping you find your place here.

Welcome Tent — In Front of Old Main (Foster Avenue)

Resident Students: 7:00 am – 4:00 pm ✔ Mandatory

Commuter Students: Noon  ✔ Mandatory

Check in to get your schedule for the week and other important information that will help with your transition. Stop by the Welcome Tent as soon as you get to campus — resident students must stop here before checking in at their assigned campus housing.

Student Administrative Services Check-In — Hamming Hall

7:00 am – 1:00 pm ✔ Mandatory

Resident and Commuter Students
Get your student ID, check-in with student accounts, ask questions and get answers!

You should head to the Student Administrative Services Check-In as soon as you are done at the Welcome Tent. Resident students must stop here before heading to your residence hall in order to get their student ID, which serves as a key to your residence hall and other buildings on campus.

Resident Student Move-In ✔ Mandatory

• Anderson, Ohlson, Park North: 8:00 – 10:00 am
• Sohlberg, Burgh, Sawyer Court: 10:00 am – noon

We do our best to make the move-in as painless as possible! You'll be greeted at your residence hall by CREW leaders, Threshold staff, and maybe even our University president, Dr. David Parkyn, to help carry your loads. We've got this down to a science so you can enjoy your whole day.

✔ Please note: you must check into your building during the times listed above, but you will be able to continue moving in your things throughout the day.Your student ID card is your key to the residence hall and other campus buildings; you must check in at the Welcome Tent and Student Administrative Services Check-In before you head to your assigned campus housing.

Parent and Family Orientation — Carlson Gymnasium

2:30 pm ✔ Mandatory

Will my son or daughter really be OK when I leave? How will North Park become my student's new community? Following the Provost and Faculty Welcome, parents and families are invited to stay in the gymnasium to hear from staff and faculty who can answer your questions and ease your fears. North Park is excited to join you for the next steps of your student's life!

University Ministries Worship Service (with dessert to follow) — Anderson Chapel

6:30 pm

The last stop of the day for parents and families, Welcome Day activities conclude with this meaningful service. Led by Campus Pastor Judy Peterson, please join us to bathe our new students, their families, and the North Park community in prayer as we kick off a new school year.

CREW Group Kick-Off — Hamming Hall

8:30 pm

Now that your family and friends have left campus, spend some time getting to know your CREW group. You'll spend a lot of time with them throughout the week — and maybe for the rest of college. It's not uncommon to hear North Park students explain that their roommates, best friends, and study buddies started out as CREW comrades.

Residence Life Meetings — LHA

10:00 pm ✔ Mandatory

Resident Students
Just because you're out of your family home doesn't mean you're living on your own. Gather with groups from your residence hall to get the in's and out's of living communally. These folks will be your neighbors, friends, and classmates for a long time — get off to a good start together.

Check out more community life events during Threshold Week.

Social

We hope you're as excited as we are about the fun experiences you'll have at North Park. Throughout the week we'll make sure you have plenty of time to relax, get to know your new friends, and explore some new places.

Lunch — On Your Own

11:00 am

There are many great restaurants in the neighborhood to enjoy with your family and friends. Check them out online or ask for a list and map at the Welcome Tent. Students with a meal plan may also eat in Aramark Dining Hall, but parents and other guests will need to pay for their lunches if they choose to join their student there.

Commuter Student Welcome and Coffee — LHA

12:30 pm ✔ Mandatory

Commuter students are an important part of our campus community. Take this chance to get to know each other better, and get to know some of the faculty and staff you'll see when you're on campus.

Welcome Picnic — In front of Wilson Hall

5:00 pm

Free to all students, parents, and families
Dine in the "park" that gives us our middle name. Eat alongside your fellow new students, their families, faculty, and staff while you enjoy one of the community's favorite outdoor locations.

Check out more social events throughout Threshold Week.