With its traditional Ivy Ceremony, new students will be welcomed to William Woods University today.
Students will walk through ivy and cross a bridge on Senior Lake at 5 p.m. today.
The Ivy Ceremony marks the start of college life for freshmen and transfer students at WWU. When they graduate four years later, the ivy will be cut during another ceremony, symbolizing separation from college life and the beginning of a new life. The tradition is believed to have started more than a century ago when the William Woods class of 1899 planted ivy on campus during a special graduation ceremony.
The campus will be alive today with activity when freshmen and transfer students move into residence halls and attend freshman orientation sessions with their families.
"We have a full schedule of activities to welcome students and help them ease into university life," said Amy LaRue Dittmer, director of career services and student transition. "We do everything we can to make our students feel comfortable and to ensure their transition is as smooth as possible."
Events today include a barbecue for students and their families. Other events this week include academic sessions, advisor meetings, an ice cream social, a campus scavenger hunt, and recruitment events for fraternities and sororities.