Big E Welcome 2026 Schedule
Required Events for New Students in Yellow
7am – 9pm Case Dining Hall Open
8:30am – 6pm Big E Welcome Move-In – Various Locations
Housing & Residence Life Check-In: OSTC | 8:30am – 4:30pm
Big E Welcome Check-In: Powell Student Center | 1pm – 6pm
10am – 4pm Registration & Class Schedule Assistance – Advising & Colleges
Whitlock (Central location for all colleges – each college will have one
representative at central location)
11am – 6pm EKU Parent & Family Send-Off – Powell Corner Mural
*University Leadership Meet & Greet 11am-1pm
7pm Welcome Home Socials – Individual Halls
7am – 9pm Case Dining Hall Open
8am – 9am Wake Up Yoga | SRC Front Lawn
8:30am – 2:30pm Big E Welcome Move In – Various Locations
Housing & Residence Life Check-In: Alumni Coliseum
First Year | 8:30am – 12:30pm
Returners | 8:30am – 4:00pm
Big E Welcome Check-In: Powell Student Center
Residential Students | 8:30am – 12:30pm
Commuter Students | 11:30am – 2:30pm
9am – 9:45am Acro Yoga | SRC Front Lawn
10am – 4pm Registration & Class Schedule Assistance – Advising & Colleges
Whitlock (Central location for all colleges – each college will have one
representative at central location)
11am – 2pm EKU Parent & Family Send-Off – Powell Corner Mural
*University Leadership Meet & Greet 11am-1pm
12pm – 3pm Esports Lounge Open | SRC Esports Lounge
12pm – 3pm Challenge Course Zipline and Swing | Challenge Course
12pm – 3pm 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) Martin Lawn
6:30pm – 7:30pm Big E Kickoff & Welcome Walk – Ravine
7:30pm – 11pm Powell Palooza – Powell Plaza (SRC)
7am – 8:30am Breakfast – Case Dining Hall
7am – 7:45am Bootcamp | SRC Maroon Studio
8:45am – 9:30am Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 2)
9am – 2pm Walk-in Academic Placement Testing – Whitlock 340
9:30 – 11am College Open Houses
11am – 2pm Lunch & Programming
Lunch Case Dining Hall
Programming:
Time Group/Dept. Location
11am – 2pm DIY to Destress – SRC
11am – 2pm Mobile ID & Meal Plan Assistance – Powell 008
11am – 2pm Library Open House – Crabbe Library
11am – 2pm Study Abroad – Library Atrium 225
11am – 2pm Center for Student Accessibility Open House – Whitlock 359,353
11am – 2pm El Centro Open House – Library 103-A
11am – 2pm Mental Health & Wellness Resource Fair – Whitlock 571
11am – 2pm Relaxation Room Open – Whitlock 571
11am – 2pm Student Success Center Open House – Library 106
11am – 2pm Nova Open House – Cammack Lawn
2pm – 2:30pm Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 3)
2:30pm – 4pm Educational Session
Alcohol Awareness & Prevention Program – Center for the Arts
4pm – 7pm Dinner & Programming (Dinner – Case Dining Hall)
Programming:
Time Group/Dept. Location
4 – 7pm T-Shirt Distribution – Powell
4 – 6pm Club Sports Fair – SRC Front Porch
4 – 6pm Counseling/Relaxation – Whitlock 571
7 – 7:30pm Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 4)
7:30 – 9pm Big E Photo and Spirit & Traditions Night – Roy Kidd Stadium
9 – 11:30pm Eastern Extravaganza – KJ Plaza & KJ
(Note Returner Move-In 8:30am – 4pm at Halls)
7am – 8:30am Breakfast Case Dining Hall
7am – 7:45am Wake Up Yoga | SRC Terrace
7am – 7:45am Cycle Class | SRC Maroon Studio
8:45am – 9:30am Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 5)
9:30am – 11am Educational Session & Big E Explore
Big E Explore – O’Donnell
Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Program – Center for the Arts
11am – 2pm Lunch & Programming (Lunch – Case Dining Hall)
Select Campus Offices Open (including Ask Me)
Programming:
Time Group/Dept. Location
11am – 2pm Greek Cookout – SRC/Powell Plaza
11am – 2pm SGA Open House – SGA Suite – Powell 116
11am – 2pm Involvement Open House – Powell 013 (Center for Student Involvement)
11am – 2pm Campus Rec Open House – Campus Rec
11am – 2pm El Centro Open House – Library 103-A
11am – 2pm Military & Veterans Lounge Open – Powell 147
2pm – 2:30pm Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 6)
2:30pm – 4pm Educational Session & Big E Explore
Big E Explore – O’Donnell
Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Program – Center for the Arts
4 – 6:30 pm Dinner & Programming (Dinner – Case Dining Hall)
Programming:
Time Group/Dept. Location
4:30 – 5:30pm Commuter Student Social – Powell 013 (Center for Student Involvement)
4:30 – 6:30pm Campus Rec Open House – Campus Rec
5pm Fan Day – EKU Athletics Roy Kidd Stadium
6:30pm – 7:00pm Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 7) – Travel Time
7:00 – 9:30pm Big E Bash – Roy Kidd Stadium
7:00pm – 9:00pm Football Scrimmage – EKU Athletics
9:30pm – 11:00pm Movie Night – O’Donnell Auditorium (Whitlock)
7am – 8:30am Breakfast Case Dining Hall – EKU Dining
8am – 6pm Select Campus Offices Open
All Whitlock (including Ask Me 10am – 2pm)
11:30am – 2pm Lunch Case Dining Hall
LLC Orientation 2pm O’Donnell
11 – 2pm Colonel Ready – Powell Plaza
4pm – 5pm Colonel Crew Roundup (Meeting 8)
5pm – 5:30pm New Student Convocation – Alumni Coliseum
5:30pm – 7:30pm President’s Dinner – Case Dining Hall & Powell Plaza
6pm – 10pm Off Campus Shuttle to the Shopping Center
Quick Links
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 who are unable to attend any portion of Big E Welcome need to email studentlife@eku.edu using their official EKU email account to be excused.
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.
Commuting students can park in any of the designated commuter lots around campus. These lots can be found on the EKU Parking Map. For more information on EKU Parking visit EKU Parking & Transportation Services.
Residential students can park in any of the designated residential lots around campus. These lots can be found on the EKU Parking Map. For more information on EKU Parking visit EKU Parking & Transportation Services.
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, located in Powell 215, provides students with FREE food and clothing.
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.