Back in the Bobcat groove

Ohio University’s Class of 2030 began their time as Bobcats by moving into their new homes, nervously meeting new friends and taking part in numerous OHIO traditions during Welcome Week 2026. 

It’s a familiar story for generations of Bobcats who fondly recall their first days as students, but each year and each class is different. 

This year’s first-year students made their own first-week memories, found new friends and even found most of their classes. They may have used Google maps, Snapchat maps or even Mapquest, but the new students are definitely finding their footing and their place at Ohio University. 

This year, OHIO welcomed more than 7,700 new students across all of its campuses and online. Read more about this year’s impressive class of new students.

The Class of 2030 moved into an active and growing OHIO campus (complete with the brand new McDavis Residence Hall under rainy skies at times and warm temperatures at other times. OHIO leaders and students assisted with the move-in, helping students and family members carry clothes, books, bags, shoes, more shoes and much, much more. 

This short video perfectly captures family members during the move-in, and you owe it to yourself to check it out if you haven’t seen it already. 

Ohio University hosted a large number of Welcome Week events on all campuses to celebrate the beginning of the new academic year. 

One highlight each fall is the annual Class Photo held in Peden Stadium. The new students filled the stadium where they will soon be watching the Bobcat football team in action, and posed for the official Class of 2030 image. Immediately following the photo, OHIO hosted the Baker Bash in Baker University Center, where students enjoyed free food and plenty of activities. 

The first weekend also included the annual Party at Ping event, where new students were treated to more free food, along with games, giveaways and great music from the Marching 110. 

Also during the first weekend, the first-year students met up in the Convocation Center for the First Year Student Convocation, led by President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. The students heard words of advice from the president, as well as other university leaders and OHIO alumni, and then walked up Richland Avenue to the Involvement Fair on the College Green. 

The Marching 110, recently named the top college marching band in the nation by USA Today, led the students up Richland Avenue and then performed for the students on the College Green. 

Students also enjoyed (enjoyed? Maybe we should say experienced?) their first classes during Welcome Week. OHIO set up Ask A Bobcat booths at Baker University Center for students to ask questions about where to go or how to get there, and students also had opportunities to get their First Day of Class photos taken as different spots around campus. 

Students also relaxed by visiting a petting zoo near the bottom of Morton Hill, let down their guards and had fun playing at the UPC Field Day (complete with a bounce house!), and were entertained at special performances and events, including an always-popular show featuring a hypnotist. 

Welcome Week included new events and activities, too, including celebrating the grand openings of OHIO’s new golf simulator and the recently revitalized  Writing Commons.  

The week also featured with Bobcat Block Party and Firework at PawPrint Park, giving all students the opportunity to celebrate the end of the first week of classes with more free food, fun and fireworks. 

Filled with activities designed to help new students make new friends and feel at home, Welcome Week was just the beginning of the journey for the newest class of Bobcats. 

Each student’s path will be filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and plenty of choices of which way to go, but they will each find their way, in large part due to the support of other students, along with faculty, staff and alumni. That’s one important lesson the students learned during Welcome Week, they may have come to campus feeling alone and nervous, but they are all part of one OHIO community now, and Bobcats support Bobcats on campus and throughout their lives. 

Welcome to Ohio University, Class of 2030. We’re glad you’re here and we’re excited about the year ahead of us.