We warmly welcome all our new incoming students to campus for Welcome Week 2026! This is one of OBU's all-time favorite traditions and promises to be one of the most memorable weeks of your college journey. Here's what you have to look forward to:
Saturday, August 22—Move-in Day!
| Time |
Activity |
Location |
| 8 a.m. |
Residence Halls Open |
Housing Locations |
| 9 a.m. |
Student Services Fair |
Lower Geiger Center |
| 11:30 a.m. |
Lunch |
|
| 3 p.m. |
Parent/Family Orientation |
Recreation and Wellness Center (RAWC) |
| 3 p.m. |
New Students Meet Color Groups |
|
| 4:30 p.m. |
Family and Friends Sendoff |
|
| 5:45 p.m. |
New Student Orientation |
|
| 6:30 p.m. |
Small Group Picnic |
|
| 8 p.m. |
Commuter Gathering |
|
| 8 p.m. |
Residence Hall Meetings |
|
| 8:30 p.m. |
First Night |
|
| 10:30 p.m. |
All Tri-W Meeting |
|
Sunday, August 23
| Time |
Activity |
Location |
| 8 a.m. |
Breakfast with Small Group |
|
| 10:30 a.m. |
OBU Sunday Morning Gathering |
|
| 12 p.m. |
Lunch |
|
| 12 p.m. |
Honors Gathering |
|
| 2 p.m. |
Transfer Student Dessert |
|
| 3:15 p.m. |
Bison Frenzy Scavenger Hunt |
|
| 5 p.m. |
Dinner |
|
| 6 p.m. |
All Tri-W Meeting |
|
| 6:30 p.m. |
Color Group Time |
|
| 7:30 p.m. |
The President's Vision |
|
| 9 p.m. |
Free Bowling and Fun |
|
Monday, August 24
| Time |
Activity |
Location |
| 7:15 a.m. |
Breakfast |
|
| 8 a.m. |
Serve Shawnee |
|
| 12 p.m. |
Lunch with Small Groups |
|
| 12–2:00 p.m. |
Music Auditions and Placement |
|
| 1:30 p.m. |
Color Group Time—Academic Success |
|
| 2 p.m. |
Academic Life and Tech on Bison Hill |
|
| 2:30 p.m. |
Academic Meetings |
|
| 4:30 p.m. |
Practice Walk |
|
| 5 p.m. |
Dinner |
|
| 7:30 p.m. |
Ka-rip Wars |
|
| 9 p.m. |
RAWC Hangout |
|
Tuesday, August 25
| Time |
Activity |
Location |
| 7:45 a.m. |
Breakfast with Small Group |
|
| 8:30 a.m. |
Color Group Time |
|
| 9 a.m.–2 p.m. |
Crash Course Rotation |
|
| 2–4 p.m |
Music Auditions and Placement |
|
| 2:30 p.m. |
Un Cuerpo—Club Fair |
|
| 4 p.m. |
Community Standards Awareness Training |
|
| 5:30 p.m. |
Dinner with Small Group |
|
| 7 p.m. |
Color Group Time, Meet for the Walk |
|
| 7:30 p.m. |
The Walk |
|
| 8:15 p.m. |
Unity Gathering |
|
| 9 p.m. |
Popsicles with the President and First Lady |
|
Wednesday, August 26—Fall Classes Begin
| Time |
Activity |
Location |
| 10 a.m. |
Chapel |
Recreation and Wellness Center (RAWC) |
Thursday, August 27
| Time |
Activity |
Location |
| 6 p.m. |
Spotlight on Shawnee |
The Oval |
Friday, August 28
| Time |
Activity |
Location |
| 10 a.m. |
Chapel |
Recreation and Wellness Center (RAWC) |
| 6:30 p.m. |
Campus Welcome Back Party
|
Intramural Fields |
*Color Group Locations - update coming
