WOW Weeks of Welcome

Weeks of Welcome

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January 12-24, 2026

Week of Welcome (WOW) is designed to celebrate the start of a new term, welcome the USA community back to campus, and connect students to the people, places, and groups that drive relationships and belonging at South. We have designed a schedule full of academic and social events to highlight our exceptional campus community.

Our goal is to help you get connected and make sure your time at South is phenomenal. You will have the opportunity to meet students across a wide range of areas, learn about student organizations, and discover opportunities to connect with faculty in learning experiences ranging from the classroom to the Gulf of Mexico. We look forward to meeting you at one of these opening events. Welcome to South Alabama!

Students at Convocation

 

 

Week of Welcome

 

Things to do during Week of Welcome


Jan 12
WOW Help Tents
Mobile Townhouse and Meisler Hall Lawn
7:30 am-3:30 pm

Got questions about your schedule or where to find campus resources? Navigating your first semester as a Jag? Swing by our Help Tent and connect with Southbound Orientation Leaders who are ready to guide you, share tips, and help you start the semester smoothly. Don’t miss out on making connections and getting the support you need.

*Informational Handouts, Campus Maps, Music

 

College of Engineering WOW
West Entrance, Shelby Hall
8-9 am

The College of Engineering is excited to welcome all new and returning students to the Engineering Family! Join us for some good snacks, music, and vibes to kick off the Spring semester!

*Free Food, Music

Dessert with the Deans
Health Sciences Admin Building
2-3 pm

Meet and share a sweet treat with the Deans of Allied Health Professions and Nursing.

*Free Food

January 13

WOW Help Tents
Mobile Townhouse and Meisler Hall Lawn
7:30 am-3:30 pm

Got questions about your schedule or where to find campus resources? Navigating your first semester as a Jag? Swing by our Help Tent and connect with Southbound Orientation Leaders who are ready to guide you, share tips, and help you start the semester smoothly. Don’t miss out on making connections and getting the support you need.

*Informational Handouts, Campus Maps, Music

 

College of Engineering WOW
West Entrance, Shelby Hall
8-9 am

The College of Engineering is excited to welcome all new and returning students to the Engineering Family! Join us for some good snacks, music, and vibes to kick off the Spring semester!

*Free Food, Music

 

Cocoa, Coffee, and Crafts Student Center Terrace
9:30-11:30 am

Join Global USA for cocoa, coffee, and crafts! Meet our international students and study abroad alumni! Learn about your options for study abroad programs!

*Free Food, Music, Giveaways

 

January 14
Dirty Soda Bar
Mitchell college of Business-2nd Floor Lobby
10 am-2 pm
Need a refresh after the break? Stop by and customize your own dirty soda at the Mitchell College of Business! It's the perfect sweet welcome for the Spring Semester.

*Free Food

 

Study Abroad Faculty-Led Program Info Session Marathon
Student Center Rooms 203 & 205
12-2pm

Join the Study Abroad Office for back-to-back faculty-led program info sessions! Check out our website for more information.

*Free Food, Informational Handouts, Giveaways

 

Passport to Possibilities Humanities North Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
2-4pm

Passport to Possibilities: Discover Majors, Faculty, and Resources Get ready to explore your academic world—one stamp at a time! During this interactive welcome-back event, students will journey through the department, collecting passport stamps as they uncover fun facts about our majors, meet faculty members, and learn about essential departmental resources. Each stop brings you closer to new connections, new knowledge, and exciting prizes. The more stamps you earn, the bigger the rewards! Grab your passport, start exploring, and unlock all the possibilities waiting for you this semester.

*Free Food, Informational Handouts

 


Hot Chocolate and Hot Takes
Life Science Lecture Hall
4:30-5:30 pm

We will have a hot chocolate bar and then a faculty and grad student panel to answer questions from students.

*Free Food

 

Snow Place Like South
Ballroom, Terrace, SC 203, SC 211, SC 212
6-9 pm

JP is kicking off the new year with a Winter Wonderland Week of Welcome event, and we've thawed out the coolest activities just for you! Lace up for ice skating, create custom snow globes, grab some warm treats, and stay for the magician to ensure you have a magical spring semester! Whether you are reconnecting with friends or making new ones, there is truly Snow Place like South!

*Free Food, Free T-Shirt/Apparel, Music

 

 
January 15

“Dear Future Me…” Crafting Event
Marx Library Second Floor
11 am-1 pm

Jags, it’s time to hype yourself up! Join the Marx Library, Center for Academic Excellence for a feel-good, creativity-packed event where you’ll write and decorate a letter of resiliency to your future self. Think stickers. Think glitter pens. Think “you’ve got this!” energy. Seal up your goals, pep talks, silly doodles, and dreams - and send a little academic encouragement forward in time, all while sipping some free Starbucks coffee. You can also exercise self-care and visit our ‘Shred Your Dread’ sustainability station to recycle your previous exams, papers, and notebooks that you no longer need.

*Free Food

 

Study Abroad Faculty-Led Program Info Session Marathon
Student Center Rooms 203 & 205
12-2pm

Join the Study Abroad Office for back-to-back faculty-led program info sessions! Check out our website for more information.

*Free Good, Informational Handouts, Giveaways

 

Passport to Possibilities
Humanities North Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
2-4 pm
Passport to Possibilities: Discover Majors, Faculty, and Resources Get ready to explore your academic world—one stamp at a time! During this interactive welcome-back event, students will journey through the department, collecting passport stamps as they uncover fun facts about our majors, meet faculty members, and learn about essential departmental resources. Each stop brings you closer to new connections, new knowledge, and exciting prizes. The more stamps you earn, the bigger the rewards! Grab your passport, start exploring, and unlock all the possibilities waiting for you this semester.

*Free Food, Informational Handouts

 


Fraternity and Sorority Life: Meet and Greek
Student Center Ballroom
4-7 pm

Swing by the FSL Meet and Greek to enjoy a laid-back atmosphere. Meet members of South’s fraternities and sororities, along with plenty of other students from across campus. Whether you're curious about Greek life or just want to hang out, this is a great chance to connect and have some fun. Just good vibes and new connections. Bring your crew and come through!

*Free Apparel, Informational Handouts

 

Men’s Basketball vs Arkansas State (White Out)
Mitchell Center
7-9 pm

Men’s Basketball’s 5th home of the season and it comes with a lot of perks for students. A white out theme against the team that took us out of the Tournament last season. There will be a replica jersey giveaway just for students and a enter to win prize giveaway!

*Free T-Shirts/Apparel, Music, Giveaways, Prize Drawings

 

 
January 16
Swimming into the Semester with SSoMES
Education and Outreach Building (EOB) First floor lobby and classroom
11:30 am- 1 pm
Start the new term with The Stokes School of Marine & Environmental Sciences at our Swimming Into the Semester with SSoMES Welcome Back Event! Join us for a relaxed and friendly gathering to reconnect with classmates, meet new students, and say hello to SSoMES faculty and staff. Whether you're diving into your first semester or returning for another lap, this event is the perfect way to ease back in, build community, and learn what’s new at SSoMES. Come make a splash and kick off the semester with us!

*Informational Handouts, Giveaways

 

Build-a-Disease: The Worst Day Ever
Student Lounge of the Biomedical Library 
11:30 am-2 pm

Create. Infect. Laugh. Learn. Welcome to the ultimate science-meets-humor card game where YOU design the wackiest illnesses imaginable — and discover the real biology behind them! Can you create something as wacky as The Sneezing Rainbow Disco Syndrome? Drop by the Biomedical Library and give it a try!

*Free Food, Informational Handouts, Giveaways

 

Men’s Tennis vs Southern
Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts
2-4 pm

*Giveaways

January 20

Learn S’More About Study Abroad
10:30am-11:30am

Join the Office of International Education to learn more about your options for going global at South! Chat with advisors and study abroad alumni to get your questions about program types, application process, and funding answered, all while enjoying s'mores and other winter goodies as supplies last.

*Free Food, Giveaways

 

 
 

January 21

Transfer T-Shirt Swap
Student Center Lobby Mall
8:30 am-Noon

Transfer T-Shirt Swap is a fun, welcoming event for new transfer students where they can trade in a T-shirt from their previous college in exchange for a University of South Alabama T-shirt. This event is meant to: celebrate the transition to South, build school spirit, and help students connect with other transfer students and campus staff.

*Free T-Shirt/Apparel, Informational Handouts

 

Hot Cocoa Conversations with Advising & New Year, New Me with Career Development
Academic Services Center
1-3 pm
Warm up with a cup of hot cocoa and chat with your Academic Advisors! Whether you have questions about classes, majors, or campus life, stop by for a sweet conversation and a friendly face. Start the new year with a fresh professional edge! Visit Career Development to take a free professional headshot perfect for your Accelerate South and LinkedIn profiles.

*Free Food, Music

 

Movie Mania
Humanities Building (HUMB) 150
5-7 pm

Kick off the semester with Movie Mania! Meet new people & learn more about South Alabama Film Society with a movie-themed games night. Whether you’re a movie expert or have only seen a few, come join SAFS for some games!

 

January 22

Get on Board Day
Student Center Ballroom
11 am-2 pm

With over 270+ student organizations at South, this is your chance to meet some of those organizations, discover your passions, and learn how to get plugged into campus life. From cultural orgs and service groups to leadership opportunities and everything in between, there’s something for everyone!

*Informational Sheets

Women’s Basketball vs. Georgia State
Mitchell Center
7-9 pm

*Giveaways

 

January 23

Men’s Tennis vs Jackson State
Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts
1-3 pm

*Giveaways

Nationally Competitive Study Abroad Scholarships Workshop
Student Center 203
11:30 am-12:45 pm

Need help with your application for a nationally competitive scholarship for your study abroad program? Join us for this workshop for some tips and suggestions for composing competitive essay applications!

*Free Food

Build-a-Disease: The Worst Day Ever
Student Lounge of the Biomedical Library
11:30 am-2 pm

Create. Infect. Laugh. Learn. Welcome to the ultimate science-meets-humor card game where YOU design the wackiest illnesses imaginable — and discover the real biology behind them! Can you create something as wacky as The Sneezing Rainbow Disco Syndrome? Drop by the Biomedical Library and give it a try!

*Informational Handouts, Giveaways

January 24

Women’s Basketball vs. Georgia Southern
Mitchell Center
2-4 pm

*Giveaways