Free Time

8:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (please find your specific move-in time)

Move-in for new students in housing (by residence hall and by floor): We'll be ready to welcome you at your scheduled move-in time. 

Your move-in time is when you should arrive on campus. It is based on your residence hall and floor. Please do not arrive ahead of your move-in time!

Enter campus via the west entrance. An enthusiastic student team will be on hand to help!

Nelson—all floors: noon-1:30 p.m.

Bodien, Edgren, or Getsch

• Fourth floor: 10:15-11:30 a.m.

• Third floor: 8:15-9:15 a.m.

• Second floor: 9:15-10:15 a.m

• First floor: 10:15-11:30 a.m.

3-4 p.m.

New commuter student check-in: We'll be ready to welcome you anytime during this arrival window. Enter campus via the west entrance. Arrival staff will direct you to parking. 

West Lot—Proceed to Brushaber Commons (BC) Atrium Level 2 for check-in

9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Info Central: Please stop here to get important check-in materials and your ID card. This is also the place to get answers and directions. Your family will check in too!

• Check-in (Atrium)

• Post Office (Atrium)

• ID photos (The Studio)

• Meal plan help desk (Atrium)

• Business Office help desk (Atrium)

• I-9 form assistance (Atrium)

• Financial aid (Atrium)

Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 2

10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Advising Central: Need to change your class schedule? Want to know more about how credits are transferred? Have general questions about majors? An academic advisor will help you get started well.

Hagstrom Center (HC) 113

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Lunch: If you arrive in the morning or are already on campus, you have options! Enjoy lunch in our dining center during these serving hours, grab a to-go order from Royal Grounds (BC Level 2), or head off campus to eat. All meals in our dining center are $14.40 per person during Welcome Week (siblings under five are free).

Monson Dining Center—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 3

5-6:45 p.m.

Welcome picnic: Stop by anytime to enjoy several food stations. Students are covered under their meal plan and families eat free! Community Life Center (CLC) Lawn

7-8 p.m.

Kickoff Celebration: Your official welcome to Bethel! Arrive 15 minutes early to get a good seat.             

Benson Great Hall

8:30-9:30 p.m.

Commuter student kickoff celebration: Meet other commuter students and learn about opportunities to engage in campus life.

Kresge Courtyard                                                                         

Rain plan: 3900 Grill—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 3

8:30-9:30 p.m.

Transfer cnnection event: Meet upperclassmen from Bethel Student Government (BSG) and get to know other transfer students! There will be s'mores, games, and more!

Football Patio Pergola—Royal Stadium                                           

Rain plan: Heritage 1st Floor Common Area

8:30-9:30 p.m.

Residence hall kickoff celebration: Meet hallmates and learn about life in campus housing.

Bodien, Edgren, and Getsch: your residence hall lobby.     

Nelson: The Underground

9:30-10:30 p.m.

Glo party

8-8:35 a.m.

Breakfast: If you're living on campus, your options include breakfast in the dining center during these serving hours or a to-go order from Royal Grounds (BC Level 2). If you have a meal plan, swipe your ID card.

Monson Dining Center—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 3

8:45-10:15 a.m.

Core Group meeting and tour: Your core group is your Welcome Week family unit. It includes about 15 other students and is led by upper-class students.

• Freshman students living on campus will be in a core group with other students on their floor.

  • Meeting location: your floor

• Commuter freshmen will be in a core group with other Commuters.

  • Meeting location: The Loft—BC fourth floor floor

• Transfer students will be in a core group with other transfer students.

  • Meeting location: The Loft—BC fourth floor

This meeting includes a resource tour. You'll visit all the must-know places on campus.

10:30-11:30 a.m.

Chapel service

11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

Core group lunch

• Core groups 1-8: 11:45 a.m.

• Core groups 9-16: noon

• Core groups 17-23: 12:15 p.m.

• Core groups 24-29: 12:30 p.m.

Monson Dining Center—first meet at your core group location at the above time.

1:10 p.m.

Meet your core group: Connect with your core group at your core group location to walk to the Belong and Become event.

1:25-4:45 p.m.

Belong and Become event

• Core groups 1-17 meet on the football field (SRC if raining)

• Core groups 18-35 meet in Benson Great Hall

5-7 p.m.

Dinner with your core group

Monson Dining Center—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 3. 

• Core groups 30-36: 5 p.m.

• Core groups 11-19: 5:30 p.m.

• Core groups 20-29: 6 p.m.

• Core groups 1-10: 6:30 p.m.

First meet at your core group location at the above time.

7-8:30 p.m.

Cultural connections dessert: This event celebrates and shares the stories of students from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds at Bethel. Come meet new and returning students, hear words of encouragement from student leaders, enjoy desserts, dance, and join in honoring the diversity of experiences that enrich our community. Open to all who are interested in celebrating and learning from these stories.

The Underground—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 2

9-11 p.m.

Movie on the lawn: After a busy day, bring a blanket and settle in to watch a movie with your new friends, hosted by Bethel Student Government.

Kresge Courtyard

Rain plan: Benson Great Hall

7:15-8:30 a.m.

Breakfast: Monson Dining Center—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 3

9:15 a.m.

Meet your core group: Connect with your core group at your core group location to walk to the Academic Connection session.

9:30-11:30 a.m.

Academic connection session: Meet in Benson Great Hall and find the sign for the major you’re most interested in.

Professors from that major will lead you to your Academic Connection session. You’ll meet faculty and advisors who can answer your questions and help you to start the semester well.

Meet fellow students in your major and learn academic details about the major you’re interested in! Bring your class schedule.

To see where your Academic Session will take place, go to bethel.edu/academic-connections

11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

Lunch with your core group or Academic Connections group

Monson Dining Center—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 3

First meet at your core group location.

• Core Groups 24-35: 11:45 a.m.

• Core Groups 1-8: 12:00 p.m.

• Core Groups 9-16: 12:15 p.m.

• Core Groups 17-23: 12:30 p.m.

1-2 p.m.

Advising help: Have questions or concerns about your fall schedule? Stop by Advising Central for help!

Math placement help: If you have questions about math course placement or the math placement exam, meet with your precalculus or calculus instructor or see Dr. Jed Yang in Clauson Center (CC) 311. You may also refer to the math placement page or email Dr. Yang at mathcs-testing-manager@bethel.edu.

Clauson Center (CC) 311

Multilingual learner support: If you're a multilingual learner, support services are available to you. Drop by the Academic Enrichment and Support Center (AESC; HC324) for further support. You may also refer to the multilingual learners page.

Hagstrom Center (HC) 324

1-5 p.m.

If you live on campus: Break time—use this time to get settled in your room, connect with other students, or rest!

1-5 p.m.

Commuter connection event: If you will be commuting to campus this semester, this event is for you.

Want to meet people, explore campus, and have a blast doing it? Join us for fun games, prizes, a chance to connect with other Commuter and PSEO students and hear from other students on how to succeed as a commuter!

The Loft-Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 4 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

The Underground-Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 2 from 3:30-5 p.m.

5-7 p.m.

Dinner: Have dinner with new friends before attending the Show. 

Monson Dining Center—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 3

7-8:30 p.m.

The Show: This fun production by Welcome Week staff will help you learn what makes Bethel unique!

Benson Great Hall—Community Life Center (CLC) Level 1

8:30-10:30 p.m.

BSG after-party: Don't let the fun end after The Show! Come by the Bethel Student Government (BSG) After Party for games, karaoke, trivia, and so much more at this annual event hosted by the members of Bethel Student Government!

Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 2

7:15-8:30 a.m.

Breakfast: Monson Dining Center—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 3

11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

Commuter lounge: Relax or connect with others in this space for commuters.

The Underground—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 2

Noon-1:30 p.m.

Lunch with your core group

• Core groups 1-8: 12 p.m.

• Core groups 9-16: 12:15 p.m.

• Core groups 17-23: 12:30 p.m.

• Core groups 24-29: 12:45 p.m.

Monson Dining Center—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 3
First meet at your core group location.

1-3 p.m.

Advising Central: Need to change your class schedule? Want to know more about how credits are transferred? Have general questions about majors? An academic advisor will help you get started well.

Hagstrom Center (HC) 113

1-3 p.m.

Walk your class schedule: Your core group leader will help you find your classrooms.

First meet at your core group location.

1-3 p.m.

Lawn fun: Relax, mingle, and enjoy lawn games.

Kresge Courtyard

2-3 p.m.

Winter/spring student athlete orientation

It is a high priority that all new winter/spring student athletes come for a mini orientation and welcome to Bethel Athletics from our athletic staff.

Clausen Center (CC) 313

5-7 p.m.

WLC freshmen open house

New Bethel students are invited to attend an open house in the Wellness Center (WLC) and check out the facility, spin the prize wheel for an opportunity to win cool WLC prizes, hang out with our fun and energetic staff, and grab some free wellness snacks. While you are here, learn about/sign up for our year long physical wellness competition called Bethel Built, and get signed up for the WLC App which keeps you aware of all things WLC. We look forward to welcoming you into one of the most vibrant and uplifting facilities on campus

Wellness Center (RC) 200

5-7 p.m.

Dinner with your core group

Monson Dining Center—Brushaber Commons (BC) Level 3

• Core groups 1-8: 5 p.m.

• Core groups 9-16: 5:30 p.m.

• Core groups 17-23: 6 p.m.

• Core groups 24-29: 6:30 p.m.

First meet at your core group location.

7:30-9 p.m.

Koinonia service: A Greek word meaning "fellowship," Koinonia is a service that brings the entire Bethel community together. As a body, we will worship and hear testimonies from Bethel community members.

Benson Great Hall—Community Life Center (CLC) Level 1