Office of Student Engagement
Dahl Centennial Union 266
700 College Drive
Decorah, Iowa 52101
Phone: 563-387-1020
Welcome Week is an orientation experience designed to help first-year and transfer students make a successful transition into the Luther community.
Save the dates: Saturday, August 26–Saturday, September 2, 2023
During this orientation experience, you will:
- Learn more about Luther and the college’s academic and community expectations
- Interact in meaningful ways with other new students, faculty, and staff
- Gain tools and knowledge to help students be successful
- Build a community that will support, respect and protect one another
Note that the schedule posted below is subject to change. Beginning August 14, students will have their own interactive schedules on KATIE.
Do you need assistance like closed captioning, an interpreter, or transportation due to mobility needs? Contact Disability Services at 563-387-1481 or disabilityservices@luther.edu.
Welcome Week 2023: August 26 through September 2
| 8 a.m.-1p.m. | Residence Hall Check-In Luther college athletes will be there to assist you and your family as you move in. Your resident assistant (RA) will make themself available to help you get connected and settled in. |
| 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Luther College Book Shop Is Open Dahl Centennial Union, Main Floor Pre-ordered textbooks can be picked up in the Mott-Borlaug Room on the first floor of the Dahl Centennial Union between 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | College Offices and Resources The following offices and resources will be available in the Main Lobby of Dahl Centennial Union: Career Center, Center for Global Learning, Center for Intercultural Engagement and Support (CIES), Division of Student Success (including Disability Services, Catalyze & TRiO), Financial Aid, Music Department, Parents and Family Council, Student Accounts, Student Engagement. Student Employment, Technology Help Desk and Decorah Tourism. Students will be able to check their SPO mailbox at the Mail Center. |
| 3 p.m.-4 p.m. | A Luther Welcome Mandatory for all new students, families invited | Center for Faith and Life (CFL), Main Hall Provost Brad Chamberlain, campus staff, and student orientation leaders will officially welcome you to the Luther community. |
| 5-8 p.m. | Connect with Your Residence Hall Floor (5 p.m.), Floor Meetings (7 p.m.) and Welcome Skits (8 p.m.) Mandatory for all new students | Begins in the residence hall and continues in the Center for Faith and Life (CFL) at 8 p.m. Transfer students will meet at the Luther Bell 5 p.m. and join other new transfer students for dinner and group activities. At 8 p.m. they will join all new students for the Welcome Home RA Skits at the CFL. |
| 9 p.m. | Outdoor Movie Bentdahl Commons (Rain Location: Valders 206) Bring your own blankets and join us on the commons for a movie. Popcorn and candy will be provided! |
| 9:30 a.m. | Sunday Worship Center for Faith and Life (CFL), Main Hall New students, returning students, families, and all members of the Luther College community are invited to a special worship service to begin the academic year. All faith backgrounds and denominations are welcome to attend. Interested students are invited to participate in worship by singing in a pick-up choir that will rehearse prior to worship at 8:45 a.m. Everyone else is invited to a time of coffee fellowship at 8:45 a.m. on the CFL steps. |
| 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Luther College Book Shop Is Open Dahl Centennial Union, Main Floor Pre-ordered textbooks can be picked up in the Mott-Borlaug Room on the first floor of the Dahl Centennial Union between 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Your Luther Life 101 Mandatory for First-Year Students | Center for Faith and Life (CFL), Main Hall
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| 1-3:30 p.m. | Awareness Through Performance (ATP) and Your Luther Life 102 Mandatory for all New Students | Center of Fine Arts (CFA), Jewel Theatre, and Jenson-Noble Hall of Music, Noble Recital Hall
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| 3-7 p.m. | Choir Auditions for Aurora or Norskkor Jenson-Noble Hall of Music For detailed information, visit the Choral Auditions page. |
| 3:30-5 p.m. | Technology Help Desk: New Student Assistance Brandt Hall and Ylvisaker Hall Learn how to connect your devices to the internet, use Luther’s printers, and find solutions to other technology problems. |
| 4-6 p.m. | Sustainability Outdoors: Hike to Dunning Springs Meet at the Luther Bell |
| 7 p.m. | Playfair The Ultimate Icebreaker Mandatory for First-Year Students | Library Lawn Team building and entertainment, all rolled into one! |
| 8:15 p.m. | Focus: Under the Stars Bentdahl Commons Focus is Luther’s weekly Sunday night student-led worship community. Kick off the year at this special outdoor edition of Focus with music, fellowship, and prayer. This is a nondenominational event - all are welcome! |
| 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. | Luther College Book Shop Pre-ordered textbooks can be picked up in the Mott-Borlaug Room on the first floor of the Dahl Centennial Union between 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. | Paideia Session Mandatory for all First-Year Students | Paideia Classroom (see location details in KATIE) Get connected to your excellent faculty, who are excited to meet you in a prerequisite Paideia session! Come prepared to get to know your classmates, explore the expectations of a Luther education, and discuss your assigned summer reading. |
| 12:30-1 p.m. | Fika [coffee+treats] Steps of the CFL Fika is a Swedish word for taking a real break in your day for coffee and a snack. Students, advisors, and the whole campus community are invited to grab afternoon coffee/lemonade and a treat. Looking ahead, join College Ministries for Fika during chapel break every Monday that classes are in session. |
| 1-2:30 p.m. | Get to Know Your Advisor Mandatory for New Students | Location to be determined During this time you will connect with your Luther College academic advisor, whom you met with at ROAD. This person will remain your advisor for at least the fall semester. Please have you schedule close by so that you can create a follow-up meeting. |
| 3-5 p.m. | Campus Scavenger Hunt Learn about resources on campus and in the Decorah area as you join your team on an interactive scavenger hunt! Create your team, designate a team captain, and download the FREE GooseChase app on your mobile device. Teams with the most points will earn PRIZES! |
| 4-6 p.m. | Sustainability Outdoors: Walking Tour of our Natural Areas Meet at the Luther Bell Walk through Anderson Prairie and Hickory Ridge Woods to discover Luther’s easily accessible trail system. |
| 4:30 p.m. | First-Year String Players Meeting Orchestra Room, Jenson-Noble Hall of Music Q&A with members of the Luther College string faculty. Topics include lessons, chamber music, orchestra auditions, lockers, and practice room policies. Required of all first-year string players. |
| 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Transfer Student Event Meet at the Luther Bell New incoming transfer students will meet their transfer student support team and will receive tips for a successful transition to Luther College. Current transfer students will get the opportunity to meet incoming transfer students and celebrate the start of a new year together. Food will be provided. |
| 8 p.m. | Bingo Night Bentdahl Commons | Rain location: Marty's Grill Students are encouraged to bring their own blankets or towel to sit on. Win some Luther gear! |
| 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. | Luther College Book Shop Pre-ordered textbooks can be picked up in the Mott-Borlaug Room on the first floor of the Dahl Centennial Union between 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| 9-10 a.m. | Academic Advising Sessions: Information on Areas of Study Mandatory for all New Students | Location details in KATIE Choose the advising session that most closely reflects the area of study you may wish to pursue. If you are still exploring possible majors and minors, a “still exploring” session is available. |
| 10:30-12:30 a.m. | Diversity and Inclusion | Dr. Joshua Fredenburg Mandatory for all new students | CFL, Main Hall This highly interactive workshop will help students define what is diversity, equity and inclusion, build their cultural and social awareness, understand cross-cultural relationships, develop intercultural competencies, and increase their capacity to build an inclusive community and importance of belonging. |
| 2-3 p.m. | Leadership and Involvement | Dr. Joshua Fredenburg Mandatory for all new students | CFL, Main Hall This high energy, dynamic, interactive, and powerful session will provide students with a set of questions that will enable them to thrive, succeed, and maximize their college experience. Students will learn how to create a transformational college experience through the balance of academics and extracurricular activities. |
| 4-6 p.m. | Sustainability Outdoors: Views from Pulpit Rock Meet at the Luther Bell Walk to Pulpit Rock and discover amazing views of Decorah. |
| 6-8 p.m. | Activities Carnival Library lawn (weather permitting) Find out how you can get involved in student organizations at Luther! Join us on the library lawn to meet with student organization leaders from our 80+ student groups! There will also be music, food and fun! |
| 8 p.m. | Be the Light, Ring the Bell Meet on the steps of the CFL Mark the beginning of your Luther journey with this candle-lighting ceremony, which culminates in an opportunity for each new student to ring the Luther Bell in celebration! |
| 7 a.m.-5 p.m. | First Day of Class Belfie What’s a belfie, you ask? It's a selfie at the Luther Bell, to remember your first day of classes. Norkie will be available at 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. |
| 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m. | Luther College Book Shop Pre-ordered textbooks can be picked up in the Mott-Borlaug Room on the first floor of the Dahl Centennial Union between 9 a.m.-2p.m.. |
| 10:30 a.m. | Opening Chapel Break Bentdahl Commons | Pastor Melissa Bills and Music by Dr. Alex Meszler Chapel break takes place each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of the academic year from 10:30-10:50 a.m. During Monday chapel break, we join in Fika on the CFL steps. During Wednesday and Friday chapel, we welcome a variety of speakers and musical ensembles, representing a variety of religious traditions. All are welcome. |
| 7-8 p.m. | PAIDEIA Author Q & A required Mandatory for first-year students | CFL, Main Hall Session begins promptly at 7:00PM. On-stage Interview with the author of this year's PAIDEIA Summer Read. |
| 8:30 p.m. | Contra Dance Outside the Union and CFL Join us for a night of live folk music and large group line dancing where you are guaranteed to meet new people, learn a few new dance moves, and endless amounts of laughter and fun! |
| 9:40-11 a.m. | Opening Convocation Mandatory for all new students | CFL, Main Hall The college marks the beginning of the new year with an official welcoming of new students into the community. Javier Zamora, author of the summer reading Solito: A Memoir, will be this year’s Opening Convocation speaker. |
| 10:30 a.m. | Chapel Break with College Ministries CFL, Main Hall | Speaker (to be announced) and Music by Dr. Alex Meszler Chapel break takes place each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of the academic year from 10:30-10:50 a.m. During Monday chapel break, we join in Fika on the CFL steps. During Wednesday and Friday chapel, we welcome a variety of speakers and musical ensembles, representing a variety of religious traditions. All are welcome. |
| 7:30 p.m. | Magician and Mentalist, Wes Mathison CFL, Main Hall You do not want to miss this show! Wes Mathison is a Los Angeles native who now finds his home in Chicago. He has spent the past few years touring with Broadway's best-selling magic show, The Illusionists. Wes is also one of the most in-demand college entertainers, bringing his one-man magic and mentalism show to colleges and universities across the United States. |
Office of Student Engagement
Dahl Centennial Union 266
700 College Drive
Decorah, Iowa 52101
Phone: 563-387-1020