Fall Welcome Week
Welcome Week events are for all UNI students. This is your official welcome or welcome back to campus!
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UNI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Student Success & Retention at orientation@uni.edu at least one week prior to the event.
Check out the upcoming Fall 2026 schedule below!
Fall 2026 Schedule
- Saturday, August 22
Time Event Location Event Details 9:00 - 10:00AM Fitness Class
Wellness Recreation Center (WRC) 84 Start your semester off with a Fitness Class. Join our Fitness Instructors from the Wellness Recreation Center for a FREE Saturday morning workout.
Hosted by Recreation Services
10:00AM - 2:00PM Panthers Downtown
River Place Plaza Check out all that the Cedar Falls Downtown District has to offer! Take part in a scavenger hunt, score some exclusive deals, and have the chance to win gift certificates to Downtown. Free UNI tote bag while supplies last!
Shuttles will be available from campus to downtown and back - buses will pick up/drop off at the Admissions Welcome Center on campus.
Hosted by Student Success & Retention and Cedar Falls Downtown District
10:00AM - 12:00PM Smoothies at Seerley
Seerley Park Join us at Seerley Park for free smoothies, yard games and to make connections with current and new students!
12:00PM - 4:00PM Panther Disc Golf Tournament
Tourist Park, Cedar Falls The UNI Disc Golf Team is hosting an 18-hole disc golf tournament at Tourist Park for all UNI students. Bring your own discs or borrow some from club members, and compete for great prizes awarded to the top three finishers.
1:00 - 5:00PM Paddle on the Pond
Panther Pond Come paddle on the Pond's just north of the Wellness and Recreation Center.
Hosted by UNI Recreation Services.
7:00 - 9:00PM BINGO
Maucker Union Coffeehouse & Ballrooms Try your luck at BINGO for your chance to win awesome prizes such as legos, kindles, smart TVs, and more!
Hosted by Student Success & Retention
9:00 - 11:00PM Salt Co. Pancake Party
9319 University Ave. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 Picture this: Free pancakes all night long, volleyball, bags, and spikeball ready to be played, and then people wrestling in pancake batter!! It's a super fun event and a great way to meet new people and get connected! Hope to see you there!
Hosted by The Salt Company Student Fellowship
- Sunday, August 23
Time Event Location Event Details 1:00PM - 2:00PM CSBS Cookie Social
Sabin Hall Atrium Kick off the new academic year with cookies, conversation and community. Join the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences as we welcome our new faculty and celebrate the return of all our students, faculty and staff. Families are welcome.
Hosted by UNI College of Social and Behavioural Sciences.
2:00 - 4:00PM Orchesis Fall Auditions
Wellness Recreation Center (WRC) Room 187 Orchesis is a modern based dance company that started in 1926. We also dance in many different styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, etc! No dance experience is required. If you have any questions or can't make auditions, email us at orchesisuni@gmail.com
Hosted by Orchesis Dance Company
Afternoon/Evening Dorm House Meetings
Various Locations Meet your neighbors! Sunday night is dedicated to time in your new home. Watch for postings, check your email, or touch base with your RA for details about when and where your specific house/hall will be gathering.
8:00 - 9:00PM Salt Company Freshmen Welcome
Maucker Union Ballroom Come join us on Sunday, August 24th at 8pm for our Freshmen Welcome in the Maucker Union Ballroom. We'll have worship, teaching, a chance for you to meet people and get connected in a small group, and Texas Roadhouse Rolls!
Hosted by The Salt Company Student Fellowship
- Monday, August 24
Time Event Location Event Details 7:30AM - 1:00PM 1st Day Photo & Direction Booths
Various Locations Snap a picture on your way to class to commemorate your first day of class for the 2025-2026 academic year! You can also stop by these tents to help you find your way to class, just look for the purple and gold pop up tents around campus.
11:00AM - 1:00PM Pop-in for Popcorn
Wellness and Recreation Center 203 and Schindler Education Center Lobby Need a quick snack between classes? Pop in during Welcome Week to grab a free bag of popcorn and customize it with your favorite toppings. No presentation, no sign-up, just free popcorn while supplies last!
Hosted by UNI College of Education.
11:00AM - 2:00PM Sorority Life's First Day of Class Party
Maucker Union Rooftop Enjoy yard games & hang out with sorority life!
Hosted by Sorority Life
11:30AM - 12:45PM Happy 150th Birthday, UNI!
Maucker Union SW Courtyard Celebrate the start of a new academic year and 150 years of shared history. Sign our birthday card to UNI and grab a cupcake while supplies last.
Hosted by UNI Sesquicentennial Steering Committee
1:00 - 3:00PM Float into the School Year
Maucker Union Coffeehouse Float into the school year on a sweet note! Join us on the first day of class for a campus-wide Open House event to enjoy root beer floats and connect with the UNI community. All faculty, staff, and students are invited!
Hosted by the Division of Student Life and the President's Office
5:00 - 6:00PM UNI Debate Team Informational Meeting
Lang 218 Please join us for Domino's Pizza during our yearly informational meeting where you can learn about the team and what we do! 5:00 - 7:00PM UNI Men's Club Soccer Tryouts
UNI Recreation Services Field UNI Men's Club Soccer is a competitive student organization that competes under the USCCS League against other collegiate club teams. This is our tryouts for the Falls 2026 season. We will narrow down the roster as tryouts go on to get to a maximum roster size of 30 players.
- Tuesday, August 25
Time Event Location Event Details 7:30AM - 1:00PM 1st Day Photo & Direction Booths
Various Locations Snap a picture on your way to class to commemorate your first day of class for the 2025-2026 academic year! You can also stop by these tents to help you find your way to class, just look for the purple and gold pop up tents around campus.
11:00AM - 1:00PM Pop-in for Popcorn
Wellness and Recreation Center 203 and Schindler Education Center Lobby Need a quick snack between classes? Pop in during Welcome Week to grab a free bag of popcorn and customize it with your favorite toppings. No presentation, no sign-up, just free popcorn while supplies last!
Hosted by UNI College of Education.
12:00- 2:00PM Civil Rights and Bites
Gilchrist 117 The Office of Civil Rights Compliance is hosting an open house. Stop by to learn more about OCRC, meet the staff, take some giveaways, and get a treat!
Hosted by the Office of Civil Rights Compliance
4:30 - 5:30PM Envision your 26-27 School Year with SSWA
ROD Library 287 Join SSWA at our first event of the semester! We'll be introducing our club along with our executive board officers. After, we'll give students the opportunity to create vision boards for this upcoming school year! 5:00 - 6:00PM Service & Sip
Sabin 024 Drink dirty sodas & learn more about Women in Public Service 7:00 - 8:00PM Sunset Jo-Yo
Lawther Field Jo-Yo is an interactive experience in journaling and yoga. Individuals are led through an hour practice - combining movement and journaling centered around goals and hopes for the semester! Session is led by UNI Alumna Kayla Becker. Free UNI yoga mats to the first 50 students.
Hosted by Student Success & Retention
- Wednesday, August 26
Time Event Location Event Details 10:00AM- 1:00PM Wilson Hydration Station
Curris Business Building Hall of Flags Join us in the Hall of Flags to cool off and refresh with a hydrating drink from the Wilson College of Business! 11:00AM - 1:00PM Pop-in for Popcorn
Wellness and Recreation Center 203 and Schindler Education Center Lobby Need a quick snack between classes? Pop in during Welcome Week to grab a free bag of popcorn and customize it with your favorite toppings. No presentation, no sign-up, just free popcorn while supplies last!
Hosted by UNI College of Education.
11:00AM- 2:00PM Welcome Rally
Maucker Union Ballrooms The Welcome Rally is designed to connect incoming and returning students with the best local businesses, services, and opportunities in Cedar Falls and Waterloo. Join hundreds of UNI students for the ultimate campus kickoff experience: featuring local restaurants, coffee shops, student services, giveaways, and exclusive deals from Cedar Valley businesses. 11:00AM- 1:00PM Bites and Flights
The Learning Center at Rod Library Join the Study Abroad Center for a welcome back event! Meet past participants, study abroad staff, and learn about study abroad options. Food provided!
Hosted by the Learning Center
11:30- 1:30PM Civil Rights and Bites
Gilchrist 117 The Office of Civil Rights Compliance is hosting an open house. Stop by to learn more about OCRC, meet the staff, take some giveaways, and get a treat!
Hosted by the Office of Civil Rights Compliance
4:00- 6:00PM JPEC Connect
Business and Community Services Building: 8120 Jennings Dr, Cedar Falls, IA 50614 Interested in entrepreneurship? Build your foundation at JPEC Connect! Join us for an evening of food, fun, and networking open to all incoming freshmen and transfer students! Meet our team, connect with fellow students, and learn about the programming we offer throughout the year, including guest speakers, events, mentorship, and connections with successful UNI JPEC alumni.
Hosted by JPEC
7:00- 9:00PM Ultimate Frisbee Scrimmage
Intramural Fields Open Scrimmage hosted by the UNI Ultimate Frisbee Team. All skill levels welcome! - Thursday, August 27
Time Event Location Event Details 10:00AM - 9:00PM Panther Esports Overwatch Tryouts
Panther Gaming Lounge in Maucker Union This event is for anyone with interest in joining the UNI Esports Overwatch Team. It is open to everyone of any skill level and will be hosted both online through the Panther Esports discord and in person at the gaming lounge. 11:00AM - 1:00PM Pop-in for Popcorn
Wellness and Recreation Center 203 and Schindler Education Center Lobby Need a quick snack between classes? Pop in during Welcome Week to grab a free bag of popcorn and customize it with your favorite toppings. No presentation, no sign-up, just free popcorn while supplies last!
Hosted by UNI College of Education.
4:00 - 6:00PM UNI Soccer vs. St. Ambrose
UNI Athletics Soccer Field Come out and support your UNI Panther Soccer team! There will be FREE pizza for students while supplies last! 5:00 - 7:00PM KPMG Kickoff
Curris Business Building South Lawn The UNI Accounting Club is partnering with the Big 4 CPA Firm KPMG to host our kickoff event for the school year! We will be providing hamburgers and networking opportunities with your fellow students and professionals. 7:00 - 9:00PM Bowling
Maple Lanes Come down for a fun evening of bowling! Free bowling, shoe & ball rental for UNI students.
Hosted by Student Success & Retention
7:00 - 8:30PM BASIC Worship Community Kickoff
Lawther Field Come and check out BASIC Worship Community's kickoff! There will be an encouraging message, worship, games and pie shakes! We would love to see you there! 7:30 - 9:30PM The Salt Company Kickoff
Candeo Church 1405 Greenhill Rd. Cedar Falls, IA 50613 We would love for you to join us for our Kickoff service! We will have teaching from the Bible, worship, fun games, and FREE CHICK-FIL-A! - Friday, August 28
Time Event Location Event Details 11:00AM - 1:00PM Pop-in for Popcorn
Wellness and Recreation Center 203 and Schindler Education Center Lobby Need a quick snack between classes? Pop in during Welcome Week to grab a free bag of popcorn and customize it with your favorite toppings. No presentation, no sign-up, just free popcorn while supplies last!
Hosted by UNI College of Education.
7:00 - 9:00PM Silent Disco
Maucker Union Ballrooms Come down for a fun evening dancing with Silent Disco!
Hosted by Student Success & Retention
- Saturday, August 29
Time Event Location Event Details To Be Added