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Big E Welcome

Program Overview

Big E Welcome is your official introduction to life at EKU! This exciting multi-day experience helps first-year students transition smoothly into college life. During Big E Welcome, you’ll connect with new friends, explore campus resources, and gain valuable skills to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Quick Links

2025 Big E Welcome Schedule

*Denotes a required event

7am – 9pm

Case Dining Hall Open

8:30am – 6pm

*Big E Beginnings – Various Locations

  • 8:30am – 4:30pm: Housing & Residence Life Check-In
    Olympic Sports Training Center
  • 8:30am – 5pm: EKU BookSmart Pick-Up
    Barnes & Noble, Powell Building
  • 8:30am – 4:30pm: Mobile ID & Meal Plan Assistance
    Powell Room 008
  • 11am – 6pm: Big E Welcome Check-In
    Powell Student Center |

9am – 4pm

Registration & Class Schedule Assistance – Advising & Colleges

11am – 6pm

EKU Parent & Family Send-Off
Powell Corner Mural
University Leadership Meet & Greet is from 11am-1pm

7pm – 9pm

Welcome Home Socials
Individual Residence Halls

Thursday, August 14

7am – 9pm

Case Dining Hall Open

8am – 9am

Wake Up Yoga
SRC Front Lawn

8:30am – 2:30pm

*Big E Beginnings – Various Locations

  • 8:30am – 12:30pm: Housing & Residence Life Check-In
    Olympic Sports Training Center
  • 8:30am – 2:30pm: EKU BookSmart Pick-Up
    Barnes & Noble, Powell Building
  • 8:30am – 2:30pm: Mobile ID & Meal Plan Assistance
    Powell Room 008
  • 8:30am – 12:30pm: Residential Students Big E Welcome Check-In
    Powell Student Center
  • 11:30am – 2:30pm: Commuter Students Big E Welcome Check-In
    Powell Student Center

9am – 3pm

Registration & Class Schedule Assistance – Advising & Colleges

9am – 9:45am

Acro Yoga
SRC Front Lawn

9am – 2pm

Walk-in Academic Placement Testing
Whitlock 340

11am – 12pm

Wellness Walk By
SRC Classroom/Wellness Office

11am – 2pm

EKU Parent & Family Send-Off
Powell Corner Mural
University Leadership Meet & Greet is from 11am-1pm

12pm – 3pm

Esports Lounge Open – SRC Esports Lounge
Challenge Course Zipline and Swing – Challenge Course
Climb Time – SRC Climbing Center

3pm – 3:30pm

Travel to Meet Colonel Crew Group

3:30pm – 6:30pm

*Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 1) & Dinner
Powell Plaza

4:30pm – 6:30pm

Big E Welcome Walk Tailgate (Faculty & Staff Event)
Miller Lawn

6:30pm – 7:30pm

*Big E Kickoff & Welcome Walk
Ravine

7:30pm – 11pm

Powell Palooza
Powell Plaza (SRC)

7am – 7:45am

Group Fit Mesh
SRC Maroon Studio

7am – 8:30am

Breakfast
Case Dining Hall

8:45am – 9:30am

*Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 2)
All Groups – Powell Plaza & Powell Corners

9am – 2pm

Walk-in Academic Placement Testing
Whitlock 340

9:30 – 11am

*College Open Houses
Various Locations

11am – 2pm

Lunch & Programming
Lunch Case Dining Hall

2pm – 2:30pm

*Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 3)
Red, Orange, & Yellow Groups – Alumni Coliseum Parking Lot
Blue, Green, & Purple Groups – Powell Plaza

2:30pm – 4pm

*Educational Session (Alcohol Awareness & Prevention Program)
Center for the Arts

4pm – 7pm

Dinner & Programming
Dinner Case Dining Hall

7pm – 7:30pm

*Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 4)
Powell Plaza

7:30pm – 9pm

*Big E Photo and Spirit & Traditions Night
Roy Kidd Stadium

9pm – 11:30pm

Big E Bash
Powell Plaza, Campus Rec & Surrounding Areas

7am – 7:45am

Wake Up Yoga – SRC Terrace
Cycle Class – SRC Maroon Studio

7am – 8:30am

Breakfast
Case Dining Hall

8:45am – 9:30am

*Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 5)
Red, Orange & Yellow Groups – Powell Plaza
Blue, Green & Purple Groups – TBD – AC Parking Lot or Ravine

9:30 – 11am

*Educational Session & Big E Explore
Big E Explore – Red, Orange & Yellow Groups
Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Program – Blue, Green & Purple Groups

11am – 2pm

Lunch & Programming
Lunch Case Dining Hall

2pm – 2:30pm

*Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 6)
Red, Orange & Yellow Groups – Alumni Coliseum Parking Lot
Blue, Green & Purple Groups – Powell Plaza

2:30pm – 4pm

*Educational Session & Big E Explore
Big E Explore – Blue, Green & Purple Groups
Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Program – Red, Orange & Yellow Groups

4pm – 7pm

Dinner & Programming
Dinner Case Dining Hall

7pm – 7:30pm

*Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 7)
Powell Plaza

7:30pm – 11pm

Eastern Extravaganza

7am – 8:30am

Breakfast
Case Dining Hall

11am – 1pm

*Housing & Residence Life Meetings

  • 10:30am
    Grand Campus, Keene, Martin, Mattox, McGregor, Sullivan
  • 12pm
    Clay, North, Palmer, South, Telford, Walters

10am – 2pm

Select Campus Offices Open

  • 10am-2pm Big E Central, Admissions, Colonel Card
  • 11am-2pm Housing open via Phone/Email

11am – 2pm

Ask Me Station – Powell Corner (Case) & Whitlock

11:30am – 2pm

Lunch
Case Dining Hall

1pm – 3pm

First-Year Fair
Powell Plaza

IT Geek Install Blitz – Whitlock Building – Corner Office Area (Welcome Center) (starting at 2pm)
First Year Involvement & Resource Fair and Campus Tours

3pm – 5pm

*Colonel Crew Roundup Meeting 8
Home Bases

5pm – 5:30pm

*New Student Convocation
Ravine (rain location: TBD)

5:30pm – 7:30pm

President’s Dinner
Case Dining Hall & Powell Plaza

6pm – 10pm

Off Campus Shuttle to the Richmond Centre and Walmart

Frequently Asked Questions

Big E Welcome is mandatory for all first-year students, this includes all commuter and on-campus residential students. Transfer students with less than 30-credit hours are expected to attend. Transfer students with more than 30-credit hours and regional campus students are welcome to attend Big E Welcome but need to email studentlife@eku.edu using their official EKU account to sign up for the program.”

No. Big E Welcome is FREE for all students.

Students that are unable to attend any portion of Big E Welcome need to email studentlife@eku.edu for an excusal using their official EKU email account.

Big E Welcome primarily takes place the 4 days prior to the beginning of the fall semester. Big E Welcome allows students to connect and build friendships with other first-years, equip themselves with the necessary skills to excel in and outside the classroom, and to truly welcome them to EKU and the Exceptional Eastern Experience. Orientation is another required program for first-year students which occurs over the summer. For more information about orientation, please contact the Office of Admissions or visit their website.

Commuting students can park in any of the designated commuter lots around campus. The EKU Parking Map can be viewed HERE and more information on EKU Parking can be found on their website.

Residential students can park in any of the designated residential lots around campus. The EKU Parking Map can be viewed HERE and more information on EKU Parking can be found on their website.

We want the best experience for all our students at EKU and to ensure that their individual needs are met. If a student needs accommodations due to a disability, they may apply through the Center for Student Accessibility‘s online application.

EKU Meal Plans activate the first day of move-in. Students may use their meal swipes or flex dollars to eat at Case Dining Hall. To learn more about dining, including their hours of operation, please visit the EKU Dining Services website.

The Colonel’s Cupboard & Closet, located in Powell 215, provides students with FREE food and clothing, to learn more click here.

Yes. Transfer students with less than 30-credit hours are expected to attend Big E Welcome. Transfer students with more than 30-credit hours are welcome to attend Big E Welcome but need to email studentlife@eku.edu using their official EKU account to sign up for the program

Of course, the more the merrier! Regional campus students may attend Big E Welcome but need to email studentlife@eku.edu using their official EKU account to sign up for the program. Regional students need to register for parking if they plan on attending Big E Welcome or visiting main campus. Regional students can register their vehicle through the EKU Parking Portal using the “Guest Login” and a NON-EKU email account; the first 2 permits are free then $5 each day after.

The Office of Student Life & First-Year Experience, located in Powell 152, is here to help however we can! We can be reached by phone: (859) 622-3855 or by email: studentlife@eku.edu.

Contact Information

Student Life & First-Year Experience
Powell 152
859-622-3855
studentlife@eku.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Big E Welcome is mandatory for all first-year students, this includes all commuter and on-campus residential students. Transfer students with less than 30-credit hours are expected to attend. Transfer students with more than 30-credit hours and regional campus students are welcome to attend Big E Welcome but need to email studentlife@eku.edu using their official EKU account to sign up for the program.”

No. Big E Welcome is FREE for all students.

Students that are unable to attend any portion of Big E Welcome need to email studentlife@eku.edu for an excusal using their official EKU email account.

Big E Welcome primarily takes place the 4 days prior to the beginning of the fall semester. Big E Welcome allows students to connect and build friendships with other first-years, equip themselves with the necessary skills to excel in and outside the classroom, and to truly welcome them to EKU and the Exceptional Eastern Experience. Orientation is another required program for first-year students which occurs over the summer. For more information about orientation, please contact the Office of Admissions or visit their website.

Commuting students can park in any of the designated commuter lots around campus. The EKU Parking Map can be viewed HERE and more information on EKU Parking can be found on their website.

Residential students can park in any of the designated residential lots around campus. The EKU Parking Map can be viewed HERE and more information on EKU Parking can be found on their website.

We want the best experience for all our students at EKU and to ensure that their individual needs are met. If a student needs accommodations due to a disability, they may apply through the Center for Student Accessibility‘s online application.

EKU Meal Plans activate the first day of move-in. Students may use their meal swipes or flex dollars to eat at Case Dining Hall. To learn more about dining, including their hours of operation, please visit the EKU Dining Services website.

The Colonel’s Cupboard & Closet, located in Powell 215, provides students with FREE food and clothing, to learn more click here.

Yes. Transfer students with less than 30-credit hours are expected to attend Big E Welcome. Transfer students with more than 30-credit hours are welcome to attend Big E Welcome but need to email studentlife@eku.edu using their official EKU account to sign up for the program

Of course, the more the merrier! Regional campus students may attend Big E Welcome but need to email studentlife@eku.edu using their official EKU account to sign up for the program. Regional students need to register for parking if they plan on attending Big E Welcome or visiting main campus. Regional students can register their vehicle through the EKU Parking Portal using the “Guest Login” and a NON-EKU email account; the first 2 permits are free then $5 each day after.

The Office of Student Life & First-Year Experience, located in Powell 152, is here to help however we can! We can be reached by phone: (859) 622-3855 or by email: studentlife@eku.edu.

Contact Information

Student Life & First-Year Experience
Powell 152
859-622-3855
studentlife@eku.edu