As students return to Texas A&M University-Victoria for the fall semester, they will be greeted with two full weeks of events designed to help them connect, explore campus resources and start the year off on a positive note.

A&M-Victoria’s Weeks of Welcome, running from Aug. 24 to Sept. 4, features a robust lineup of social activities, resource fairs, service opportunities and wellness-focused programs.

Freddie Cantu

“This year, we are planning a lot of new stuff, things that none of our students have experienced before,” said Freddie Cantu, A&M-Victoria director of Student Involvement. “I hope the students have a great start to their semester and meet a lot of new people, make friends and just have fun.”

There will be an early event hosted prior to the first day of classes. The Student Involvement office will host an Ice Cream Social event on Thurs., Aug. 20 from 2-4 p.m. at the University Commons Lobby. This event is open to all students, faculty and staff to enjoy a free ice cream sundae.

The first week of celebrations begins on Aug. 24 with First Day Photos from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by the Advancement team in the lobby of University Center. A photo booth will be set up so students can capture a keepsake from their first day of classes. Additionally, a Welcome Table will be set up in the lobby to give students information about Weeks of Welcome events.

That evening, students are invited to Jaguar Kickoff from 6-8 p.m. inside the University Commons Multi-Purpose Room. The kickoff will feature free food, games and interactive activities aimed at breaking the ice and encouraging students to start building friendships from day one.

On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the day will begin with the Paw Pantry Pop-Up event from 10 a.m. to noon in the lobby of University West. It is an outreach event for the university’s on-campus food pantry. Incoming students, especially freshmen, will be able to set up their pantry accounts by completing a brief registration form. Once registered, they can access the pantry weekly within established limits to obtain groceries and essential items.

From 2:30-3:30 p.m., students are invited over to the lobby at University Center for Pretzels with the President, where they can enjoy pretzel snacks and have a chance to meet and talk with Christian Hardigree, the president of A&M-Victoria.

Later that evening, Ultimate Bingo will be held from 7-9 p.m. inside the Multi-Purpose Room at University Commons. Each round, students will have the chance to will a basket filled with groceries, snacks, toiletries and everyday essentials.

Kicking off the day on Wednesday, Aug. 26, students are invited to the Finance & Friends Mixer from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside University West Room 133. From 1-3 p.m., the university will host a women’s soccer game against Schreiner inside The Cage. That same day, the university will host a Part-Time Job Fair from 2-5 p.m. inside the University Commons Multi-Purpose Room.

Later that evening, students are invited out to the Involvement Fair from 5:30-7:30 p.m. inside University Commons Multi-Purpose Room. At the fair, students can learn about existing clubs, sign up to get involved or even explore the possibility of starting a new organization. Tables will also highlight organizations that are being revived, with sign-up sheets available for students interested in helping bring them back.

On Thursday, Aug. 27, the schedule blends fun, creativity and wellness. The day begins with a Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Parking Lot Q. Later that afternoon, the men’s soccer team will take on Schriener from 1-3 p.m. at The Cage.

From 3-5 p.m., students are invited to Build-A-Jag at the University Commons Multi-Purpose Room. Modeled after the popular build-a-bear concept, this event allows students to assemble their own plush jaguar, complete with stuffing and an A&M-Victoria-branded T-shirt.

Later that day, Rec Night: Welcome to Wellness will be held from 5-7 p.m. at the Health & Wellness Center. The event is a scavenger-hunt-style program where students will move through different stations, such as the weightlifting area and upstairs spaces, completing small activities while familiarizing themselves with the building and its resources.

Starting off Friday, Aug. 28, the day begins with Dos & Donuts from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at the Welcome Center. Students will be able to grab free donuts while asking questions, seeking guidance or raising any concerns they may have as they navigate their early days on campus.

From noon to 2 p.m., the Volunteer Fair will be held inside University Commons Multi-Purpose Room. The fair will offer students a snapshot of the many ways they can engage with the broader community through volunteer work.

The day closes with a Movie Night event from 7-9 p.m. inside Galvan Community Hall, where students can look forward to a relaxed atmosphere and a chance to socialize with others with free ice cream.

Launching into the second week, the celebration begins on Monday, Aug. 31 with Let’s Plan for Success from 9 a.m. to noon inside University West 104. Hosted by the Center for Student Success, the session will highlight the center’s academic support services and provide students with tools, such as free notebooks and planners, to help them organize and structure their semester.

Also that day, Treats for TELUS will be held from 10 a.m. to noon inside the lobby of University West. Students will be informed of the new TELUS app that provides 24/7 real-time counseling support and can pick up free snacks.

The last event that Monday will be Speed-Friending planned for 5-6:30 p.m. inside University Commons Multi-Purpose Room. It is a social event inspired by speed dating but designed to foster new friendships.

Starting off Tuesday, Sept. 1, the Health & Wellness Fair, organized by the Counseling Center, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon inside University Commons, Multi-Purpose Room. From 1-2 p.m., Toolkit Tuesday will be held inside University West 104, organized by the Center for Student Success.

That evening, Splat Fest will be held from 5-7 p.m. on the lawn of the Health & Wellness Center. Building on the university’s longtime Splatterbeat event, Splat Fest will include paint-covered drum activities, paint-covered dodgeball and more.

On Wednesday, Sept. 2, the day will begin with Cultures & Confections scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Pyramid Row. The event will offer students a chance to sample snacks from different countries and partake in an informal cultural exchange.

Later that day, Spirit Jeans will be from 2-4 p.m. in the lobby of University Commons. At this event, students can bring their own jeans and decorate them with paint, glitter and other materials to create their own spirited attire for home games and other campus events.

The last event on that Wednesday is the SGA General Body Meeting from 7-8 p.m. at University Commons, Multi-Purpose Room, where students are invited to come and get to know student leaders on campus.

Kicking off Thursday, Sept. 3 is T-shirts to Totes planned from noon to 2 p.m. inside the lobby of University Commons. It is an upcycling activity featuring older or donated shirts that can be cut and transformed into reusable tote bags. Free T-shirts will be available while supplies last, and students are welcome to bring their own T-shirts to repurpose.

The day will also include King of the Court: Volleyball Edition from 5-7 p.m. inside the Health & Wellness Center. A mini-styled tournament, students are invited to compete in small teams in short matches to see who can hold the court the longest.

Ending the night is Movie Night: #Skyking from 7-8:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Health & Wellness Center. Hosted by the Counseling Center, the event will host a documentary screening of “Skyking,” a film that addresses themes related to suicide prevention and mental health.

The last day of the Weeks of Welcome celebration is Friday, Sept. 4. That afternoon, students will have the chance to lend a hand during Volunteer with The Texas Zoo from 3-5 p.m. at The Texas Zoo, 110 Memorial Drive.