We produce a booklet called Engage in 8! that is jam-packed with fun events, free food, and great ways to meet new friends. The 2019 Engage in 8! (printed) will be available on Move-In Day (or Commute and Connect)! View it online here.
Click here to view our online Engage in 8! schedule of events.
Mandatory events, key experiences, and major highlights of the first week are listed below. We can't wait to see you on campus!
New Student Move-In Day!
| Event | Time and Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Early Bird Move-In | 6-8 am, SRC-North |
Students who cannot arrive during their scheduled time, or who want a head start on the day can check-in during this time. Details are provided in the move-in information mailed to each student in early June. Sponsored by the Office of Residence Life. |
| New Student Move-In Day | 8 am - 3 pm, SRC-North |
First-year students will check in during their scheduled time. Check-in times are listed in the move-in information mailed to each student in early June. Sponsored by the Office of Residence Life. |
|
Living in your Community: Residence Hall Floor Meetings & Activities, |
6:30 pm, Residence Hall Lounges | All new students living in the residence halls will meet with their Resident Assistant and Hall Director who will introduce them to on-campus living. Please bring this booklet with you to the meeting. Your Resident Assistant will provide you with more information once you check into your hall. Sponsored by the Office of Residence Life. |
|
Move-In Bash |
8-10 pm, Student Recreation Center |
Meet new people while enjoying music, cool treats, and other fun activities. Kick off the fall 2019 semester with a walk down memory lane the all new Kidult Pop Party. The Kidult Pop Party is one of the most interactive and fun dance parties EVER! It features 9 huge Instagram-ready inflatables, a retro games zone with classic consoles on massive screens, a custom designed Bounce House (for big kids only), and Kidult Tour DJ dropping pop throwbacks from the past 2 decades and much much more. This FREE event is open to the University community. Sponsored by Campus Life & Event Services and the Student Activities Council. |
Academic Engagement Day and Returning Student Move-In Day!
| Event | Time and Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| First STEP Orientation |
7-11 am, University Center |
Students who have not attended a First STEP orientation must attend today's session. Failure to complete the First STEP process will prevent students from registering for classes. First STEP includes informational sessions, advising, and enrollment. Sponsored by New Student Programs. |
|
Commute and Connect! |
10:45 am, Show Me Center main entrance |
Stop on your way to Convocation to get a free Southeast T-shirt to wear to the event and an "Engage in 8!" to help you get connected! Park in the main Show Me Center lot. Sponsored by New Student Programs. |
| Welcome Convocation |
11 am, Show Me Center |
The Welcome Convocation is your chance to be with your peers entering Southeast in 2018! Be sure to wear the T-shirt you received during Residence Hall Check-In or at the Commute & Connect event Friday morning. Grab a lunch as you arrive. You will be seated within your college and greeted by University President Dr. Carlos Vargas and other featured guests. You will learn about other Opening Week activities. Doors open at 11 a.m. Sponsored by New Student Programs. |
|
Southeast 101 |
1:30 pm, Various Campus Locations |
First-year students connect with faculty, staff, and their Opening Week leader. You will depart from the Show Me Center at the conclusion of the Welcome Convocation. Sponsored by New Student Programs. |
| College Meetings |
3:00 pm, Various Campus Locations |
Students interact with faculty and hear the dean of their college speak. Shuttles will take students back to the Show Me Center parking lot after the meeting. |
|
First Year Photo |
4:30 pm |
Meet your class on the football field! Sponsored by New Student Programs. |
|
Welcome Cookout |
5:00 pm, John Henry Newman Center |
The John Henry Newman Center welcomes you with early relief from your dorm food! Come for an evening cookout with BBQ, spike ball, and other yard game competitions. Sponsored by the John Henry Newman Center (formerly known as Catholic Campus Ministry) |
|
Student Government Ice Cream Pig Out |
7 pm, Student Recreation Center |
This all-you-can-eat Southeast tradition offers great food, friends, and fun! After eating your ice cream, stick around for an exciting performance! Sponsored by Student Government. |
|
Magician Kid Ace |
8 pm, Student Recreation Center |
After the annual Ice Cream Pig Out, enjoy Harlem-based magician and illusionist Kid Ace. You can now see him star on season 3 of the hit Netflix series, Bill Nye Saves The World, where Ace teams up with Bill Nye and Youtube sensation Joanna Haussman to understand how animal brains react to magic at the Santa Barbra Zoo. With featured roles in music videos with artist such as Lil’ Yatchy, Young Thug and MGMT, it’s no wonder why Kid Ace is quickly becoming one of magic’s newest stars. With a pulse on the culture, Ace seamlessly blends modern music and fashion with the world of illusion. Sponsored by the Student Activities Council. |
|
Midnight Slip-N-Slide |
11:30 pm, Ignite House |
There's no better way to begin your college career than making friends with new people as you slide through water and laugh with each other in the middle of the night. You really don't want to miss this SEMO tradition! Sponsored by Ignite Campus Ministry. |
Campus Engagement Day. There are nearly twenty events taking place all over campus this day- check out the app or your printed Engage in 8! for the full schedule of events.
| Event | Time and Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Under the Sea Yoga OR Drum to the Beat | 10:30 am, Student Recreation Center | What type of stress relief and start to the semester do you need – Yoga or Drumming? Come out to the Rec and experience relaxing Yoga OR upbeat Drum to the Beat. In Yoga, pretend like you are under the ocean and relax through the variety of postures OR in Drum to the Beat, let your stress out by some high energy cardio combined with drumming. After class, please stay for our coffee bar and light snacks. Sponsored by Recreation Services. |
| Honors Welcome Back Picnic | 12:00 pm, Honors House (603 N. Henderson) | Students in the Jane Stephens Honors Program should join us for fun yard games, free food, and a chance to connect with other Honors students! Food will include burgers, hot dogs, popsicles, and more. Sponsored by the Jane Stephens Honors Program. |
| College of Education, Health, and Human Studies Freshman Welcome Picnic | 12:00 pm, Mark F. Scully Building, Veranda | Freshman majors in all programs housed in the College of Education, Health, and Human Studies are invited to a picnic. Come eat some hotdogs, play kickball, get information about student organizations, and meet faculty and staff. Sponsored by the College of Education, Health, and Human Studies. |
| Create Your Canvas | 3:00 pm, University Center Skylight Terrace | Add flare to your room or apartment by creating a custom canvas. We’ll provide the supplies; you provide a little creativity. Sponsored by Campus Life & Event Services. |
| Student Involvement Fair | 5:00 pm, University Center | Get involved on campus by finding the perfect student organization for you. Many student organizations will have a booth with information. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about life outside of the classroom. Sponsored by Campus Life & Event Services. |
| What is FYLP? | 5:00 pm, Univeristy Center | Interested in becoming a leader at Southeast? Come to the UC 3rd floor to meet the FY LP student facilitators and participate in some leadership activities! Go to semo.edu/leadership /first-year for more info. Sponsored by Southeast Leadership Programs and Campus Life & Events Services. |
| Ball Out | 8:00 pm, Student Recreation Center | Pick your game: Dodgeball, Octoball, 9 square, maybe even basketball. Or just come and watch your new friends hit each other in the face. This will be a great time to have fun and meet people before classes begin. Sponsored by Ignite Campus Ministry. |
| SAC Welcome Back Movie | 9:00 pm, Academic Hall Auditorium | Join SAC for our exclusive late-night screening of Marvels’ Avengers: Endgame where the remaining Avengers must figure out a way to bring back their vanquished allies for an epic showdown with Thanos, the evil demigod who decimated the planet and the universe. Enjoy delicious popcorn and other refreshments. Sponsored by the Student Activities Council. |
| Back to School Bash | 9:13 pm, Student Recreation Center | This is the annual Back to School Bash hosted by the Omicron Pi Chapter of a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. This event invites students to come enjoy music and dance their way back into the mood for school. |
| Event | Time and Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer Student Welcome | 3:00 pm, LeFerla Residence Hall | Whether you’re a new or returning transfer student, stop by for food, games and prizes. Connect with other transfers and learn more about all that SEMO offers! Sponsored by the Office of Residence Life and the Office of Admission |
| Tours with Opening Week Leaders | 2 and 3 pm, Stroup Fountain, Kent Library Lawn | Still not sure where your classes are? Meet with an Opening Week leader to tour campus. Be sure to bring your class schedule! Sponsored by New Student Programs. |
| Welcome Back Picnic | 4-6 pm, Show Me Center |
Don't miss this year's Welcome Back Picnic! There will be food and lots of freebies in the Show Me Center from Cape Girardeau businesses and organizations, University departments, and student organizations. Sponsored by Chartwells and New Student Programs. |
| Lip Sync Battle | 7:00 pm, The Lighthouse |
What better way to kick off your first week of classes than to enjoy some free snacks and laughs? Come to The Lighthouse to see old faces, meet new faces, and stuff your face. No participation required. The only thing you’ll need is a sense of humor! Sponsored by The Lighthouse Campus Ministry. |
| Event | Time and Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Classes Begin | All Day | First day of classes for the Fall 2019 semester. |
| Welcome Back Tents | 7:30 am - 1 pm, Various Campus Locations |
Stop by one of the four Welcome Tents for a map, water, and snacks before heading to class! Sponsored by New Student Programs. |
| Destination: Fun!! | 11:30 am, University Center |
Welcome to the beginning of the school year! Join Campus Life & Event Services for fun and frolicking! |
| Get a Campus LIFE & Event Services | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, University Center Lobby |
Welcome back to campus! Learn about Leadership opportunities, such as Student Government, FyLP, and more. Sponsored by Campus Life & Event Services. |
| Backyard BBQ | 5:30 pm, Capaha Park |
Looking to have fun? Grab a friend and head over to Capaha Park for free food and yard games. If you need a ride or directions, text us at (816) 550-3452. Sponsored by The Lighthouse Campus Ministry. |
| Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre and Dance Open House | 6:00 pm, River Campus |
John and Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre Meet our inspiring, talented theatre and
dance faculty, staff, and students while enjoying pizza and refreshments. Learn about
this year’s events and auditions. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Conservatory,
get involved, and meet new people! This event is |
| Sorority Recruitment Informational Meeting | 6:30 pm, University Center Ballroom |
Interested in joining a sorority and want to know what it’s all about? If so, join us at the sorority informational. We’ll discuss each sorority, fees, and the recruitment process. You can register for recruitment at enroll.icsrecruiter.com/pan/semoun by Tuesday, August 20 at noon. A $35 fee is required at the time of registration. If you’re unable to attend the meeting and would like information, contact Amy Grandidier at semopc.rr@gmail.com. Go Greek! Sponsored by Panhellenic Council. |
| Sorority Recruitment Orientation | 7:30 pm, University Center Ballroom |
If you registered for sorority recruitment at enroll.icsrecruiter.com/pan/semoun, you’ll be assigned a Pi Chi (a woman who disaffiliates from her sorority and acts as a recruitment counselor). At this orientation, prospective members meet their Pi Chi and other participants in their Pi Chi group, as well as learn more about what to expect for recruitment. If you have questions, contact Amy Grandidier at semopc.rr@gmail.com. Go Greek! Sponsored by Panhellenic Council. |
| Bonfire | 8:00 pm, Newman Center |
A bonfire in August probably isn't the best idea, but all bets are off when s'mores are craved! Chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, new/old friends... who can resist? Sponsored by the Newman Center and FOCUS. |
| Event | Time and Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Back Tents | 7:30 am - 1 pm; Various Campus Locations | Stop by one of the three Welcome Tents for a map, water, and snacks before heading to class! Sponsored by New Student Programs. |
| Department of Mass Media Welcome Back for Students | 10:00 am, Grauel Building Basement | Faculty, staff, and students will greet incoming students on their first day of classes. Complimentary T-shirts, cookies, and popcorn will be available, while supplies last. Sponsored by the Department of Mass Media. |
| First-Year Leadership Program Information Table | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, University Center Lobby | Towers Complex 2nd Floor Come for cool giveaways and learn about the First-Year Leadership Program (FY LP, pronounced flip). FY LP is a fall-semester series of six workshops led by student facilitators. Participants explore their personal leadership strengths while connecting with other Southeast leaders through fun, engaging activities. Visit semo.edu/leadership/first-year to register or for more information. Sponsored by Southeast Leadership Programs and Campus Life & Event Services. |
| Meet the Bros of Alpha Phi Omega | 11:00 am, University Center 3rd Floor | Alpha Phi Omega is a co-ed service fraternity that helps serve the community, campus, and nation. Our chapter, Beta Psi, has been at SEMO for 80 years! If you love meeting new people, leadership, and service, then Alpha Phi Omega is for you. Sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega. |
| Dorm Decor Workshop | 5:00 pm, Crisp Museum | Participants create a rope rug to be embellished with images and/or designs. Participants must pre-register by August 19 at semo.edu/museum (go to Enroll in Classes), as seating is limited. For the $10 fee, supplies are provided. Craft forward: Learn this activity and share the knowledge by teaching others. Sponsored by the Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum |
| Tie-Dye Tuesday | 5:30 pm, Stroup Fountain | Kent Library Lawn Make an original tie-dye creation for free! We’ll provide all you need to create your own tie-dye T-shirt. Limited to the first 100 students! Sponsored by The Lighthouse Campus Ministry. |
| Karaoke Party with Pizza | 6:30 pm, Baptist Student Center | Join us for an evening of singing, fun, and food. You can sing if you want, but you know what they say-"Never say never." Sponsored by the Baptist Student Center. |
| Board Game Competition | 8:00 pm, Newman Center | You're probably already "Bored" with the games of dorm life, so we have a better "Board" game for you at the Newman Center! Show your competitive spirit and stop being "Bored!" Sponsored by the Newman Center and FOCUS. |
| Event | Time and Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast with the Dietitian | 7:30 am, Towers Cafe | Start your day off right with a balanced bite with the Chartwells dietitian. One meal swipe for all you care to eat. Sponsored by Chartwells Dining Services. /Make Your Own Street Sign, 10 a.m., University Center 3rd Floor Lobby Join SAC for Opening Week make and take street signs! Come personalize a free street sign with vibrant colors, silly nicknames, and designs! Must present a valid student Redhawks ID. Supplies are limited. Sponsored by the Student Activities Council. |
| Slackline with the Rock Climbing Club | 11:00 am, Academic Hall Terraces | Terraces Slacklines are similar to tightropes but are looser and set close to the ground between trees. It was started by an Illinois climber in the ‘70s and has gained popularity ever since. Test your balance on a slackline! This event will also be held on August 28. Sponsored by the Rock Climbing Club. |
| LGBTQ+ Ally Picnic | 11:30 am, Kent Library Portico | Allies of the LGBTQ+ community show their support at the LGBTQ+ Picnic for free lunch, information, and to meet like-minded people. Everyone is welcome! Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members are encouraged to attend. Sponsored by the LGBTQ+ Resource Center and the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. |
| Psychology Club First Meeting | 12:00 pm, Scully 423 | Join Psych Club for its first meeting of the semester! This is a great opportunity to meet and socialize with other psychology majors and minors, as well as the professors in the department! Sponsored by the Psychology Club and the Department of Psychology. |
| Hawaiian Ice Social | 2:00 pm, River Campus Atrium | Cool off with an icy treat and take selfies or group pics with our fun beach props. Sponsored by the Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum. |
| Game Night | 6:00 pm, The Lighthouse | Looking for a relaxing evening and to meet new friends? Join The Lighthouse for game night. We’ll have board games, video games, and great laughs. Come on down! Sponsored by The Lighthouse Campus Ministry |
| Pasta and Praise and Worship | 7:00 pm, Newman Center | First of many weekly gatherings of faithful friends (known as Venite: Vay-Knee-Tay, which is Latin for "Come"), so why not "Venite" for some really good pasta along with a little praise and worship music. You might even see a VERY Special Guest. Sponsored by the Newman Center and FOCUS. |
| Event | Time and Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Destination: Athletics | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, University Center Lobby | Meet some of your Southeast soccer and football players and learn why you should be proud member of the Redhawks student section at athletic events! Sponsored by Campus Life & Event Services. |
| Endless Plate | 5:00 pm, University Center Redhawks Market | Twice a month, Chartwells brings a residential feel to retail dining. One meal swipe or $9.01 in cash, credit, Redbucks, or Flex for all you care to eat. Visit Chartwells at Southeast Missouri State on Facebook for menu updates and more information. Sponsored by Chartwells Dining Services. |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm, Baptist Student Center | Join us in the chapel for a time of sharing music and spoken word! Sponsored by the Baptist Student Center. |
| Sandy Volleyball, Ice Cream, Etc., | 8:00 pm, Parker Field | Sand volleyball, ice cream, Ultimate Frisbee, more ice cream, yard games, even more ice cream. It’s never easy to predict what will be more competitive—who wins the games or who eats the most ice cream! Sponsored by the Newman Center and FOCU |
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