Welcome Week

After many years of standardized programming, the leadership at West Virginia University assembled a small team to rethink and renew the events and experiences associated with our former "traditional" Welcome Week. Our new focus aimed at fostering a sense of community, encouraging interaction, and creating a unique sense of place. I was chosen to lead the effort to develop a new series of events and enhance traditional experiences, giving the ten-day series a fresh look while introducing new offerings and opportunities for sponsored activities, along with moments of surprise and delight.

As a result, we created four new events: a food festival featuring local vendors in partnership with Coca-Cola, a large student activities showcase, a movie festival, and a pool party. We also introduced a fully customized ice cream truck with a rotating menu that provided free treats in partnership with Oatly and a local creamery partner. These initiatives led to a 30% increase in first-semester retention and significantly enhanced the first-year experience.