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The College of St. Scholastica

What to Expect

Each student will be part of a Delta Group. These are small groups led by an upper-class student leader. Your first Delta Group will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday, after you’ve moved into your home for the next nine months. Starting with that group, you will be involved in Welcome Weekend throughout the whole weekend.

Welcome Weekend is mandatory for all new first-year students. It is full of lots of fun programs, activities, and conversations that will help you connect well to this community and give you what you need to hit the ground running! You will have required events every day.

If you have a disability or chronic medical condition that may affect your ability to participate fully and richly in Welcome Weekend, please contact the Center for Equal Access at 218-625-4891 or at access@css.edu. It is important that you contact them at least two weeks before Welcome Weekend if possible.

Welcome Weekend is a great introduction to life at The College of St. Scholastica. During this time you will:

  • have a ton of fun!
  • become familiar with your new home at St. Scholastica
  • make new friends and connect with a number of the diverse people who make up this community
  • meet faculty and staff
  • find ways to be involved and make connections that get you started
  • learn more about academic success strategies
  • be familiar with the student support services that exist at St. Scholastica
  • experience our Benedictine values in action and explore further what it means to live them every day

Is St. Scholastica Welcome Weekend required?

Welcome Weekend is a required program and attendance is integral to your transition from high school to The College of St. Scholastica. The choice to attend is similar to the decisions you’ll be making every day of your college experience — whether to attend class or not, whether to participate in on-campus events or not, or whether to have a positive attitude or not. Just like regular class attendance has a positive impact on academic success, attending Welcome Week will enhance your academic experience by helping you get acquainted with St. Scholastica and build a sense of community (one of our values). We encourage you to attend all the sessions and events. Get to know your classmates and start making new friends and memories.

And remember, you have your first real Dignitas class on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 3!

Schedule

Welcome Weekend is full of fun and exciting activities! View the schedule to determine the events you would like to attend. Some events are mandatory each year and are indicated with bold titles. All meals and activities during Welcome Weekend are free.

Friday, Sept. 1

Bolded events are mandatory.

9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Move into Your New St. Scholastica Home
Welcome Home! Check in for Welcome Weekend and move in your belongings.
Lot 5 and Somers Hall

Students who have arrived early or who are commuting can check in between noon and 2 p.m. in the Student Union.

9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Welcome Refreshments
Lemonade, coffee and bakery items
Somers Hall 168

11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Free Root Beer Floats for Everyone
Hosted by Campus Ministry
Alpha Chi Lawn (outside between Somers Hall and Tower Hall)

11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Enjoy a FREE Lunch (for new students and families)
Greenview Dining Room, Somers Hall
Get tickets at welcome table.

1 p.m.
Muslim Prayer
Tower Hall 1603
Musala is available for Friday prayers.

1 p.m.
Jiimaan Open House
Jiimaan Abiwin, Tower Hall 3115
Drop in to meet Native Studies Director, Jennifer Niemi and get familiar with the Jiimaan Abiwin (CSS Canoe Room). All are welcome, with a particular welcome to our new Native students and their families.

Note: If your family is still on campus, please plan to say goodbye to them before Delta Group meetings. New students will be busy for the remainder of the day.

2:30-4 p.m.
Delta Groups
Delta Locations

2:30-3:30 p.m.
Parent and Family Council Welcome Reception
Benedictine Commons

4-5:30 p.m.
Welcome to the Neighborhood (Part I)
Mitchell Auditorium

5:30-6:30 p.m.
Celebration Dinner
Greenview Dining Room

7-7:55 p.m.
ResLife Wing Meetings and Commuting Student Meeting
Commuters meet in Somers Main Lounge.

8-9:30 p.m.
Saints Synergy
Reif Gymnasium

9:30-11 p.m.
Back to School Bonfire
Live music, ice cream treats, s’mores, lawn games and a bonfire.
Groves Lawn

Saturday, Sept. 2

Bolded events are mandatory.

8-9:15 a.m.
Breakfast
Greenview Dining Room

9:30-10:15 a.m. 
Delta Groups
Delta Locations

10:15-11:30 a.m.
Welcome to the Neighborhood (Part II): Building Relationships to last
Mitchell Auditorium

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Intramurals, Yard Games and BBQ Lunch
Science Front Lawn

1:30-2 p.m.
Delta Groups
Delta Locations

2-3:15 p.m.
Loving Your Neighbor: What this Means at St. Scholastica — Sex Signals
For yourself and others to learn strategies in taking responsibility for health and safety in college.
Mitchell Auditorium

3:15-4:15 p.m.
Getting Involved in Community: Residential Life and Student Activities
Mitchell Auditorium

4:15-5:30 p.m.
Saints Social
Meet new friends over refreshments, games, and a chance to win prizes!
Somers Main Lounge

5:30-7:30 p.m.
ResLife Family Floor Dinners
Greenview Dining Room
Commuting students will meet at 5:45 p.m. in Somers Main Lounge.

8-10 p.m.
Plant and Paint
Decorate a terracotta pot and pick a plant to make your new space feel like home!
Storms Atrium

9-11:30 p.m.
Out of this World Bash!
Photo booth, DJ, glow sticks, stickers and lots of free food!
Storms Den

Sunday, Sept. 3

Bolded events are mandatory.

10 a.m.-Noon
Brunch
Greenview Dining Room

11 a.m.
Catholic Mass
The Chapel

12:15-1:45 p.m.
Delta Groups
Find your classes and campus resources. Bring your class schedule with you.
Delta location

1:45-2 p.m.
Cookies in the Student Union
Student Union

2-4 p.m.
Student Success Panel and Dignitas First Class Meeting
Meet in Mitchell Auditorium first

4-4:15 p.m.
Snack
Mitchell Foyer

4:15-5:15 p.m.
Being Healthy: Striving for Benedictine Balance
Mitchell Auditorium

5:30-7 p.m.
Dinner
Greenview Dining Room

7-9:30 p.m.
Game and Craft Night
Board games, Mario Kart races, D&D, crafty things and pizza!
Storms Den

9 p.m.
Movie on the Hill
Cars
Alpha Chi Lawn

Monday, Sept. 4

Bolded events are mandatory.

8:30-9:30 a.m.
Breakfast
Greenview Dining Room

10-10:45 a.m.
Delta Groups
Delta Locations

10:15 a.m.-Noon
Welcome to the Neighborhood (Part III): Connecting as a Community of Saints
Mitchell Auditorium

Noon-2 p.m.
Lunch/Final Delta Group Meeting
Lunch closes at 1:30 p.m.
Greenview Dining Room

2 p.m.
Transfer Student Welcome
Transfer students are welcome to join us for tours and an awesome swag bag! We will answer your questions as you get ready to begin your time with St. Scholastica.

3-7 p.m.
Community and Beyond

  • Explore Canal Park: First bus leaves at 3 p.m. from St. Scholastica bus stop and loops. Last bus leaves at 6:45 p.m. from Canal Park.
  • Bus to Target: First bus at 3 p.m. from St. Scholastica bus stop and loops. Last bus leaves at 6:45 p.m. from Target.
  • Hike through Chester: Take a hike through Chester park and enjoy a treat!

4:30-6 p.m.
Dinner
Greenview Dining Room

6-7 p.m.
Praise and Worship with Bonfire
Christian Fellowship and Worship
Groves Lawn

7-8 p.m.
Christopher Carter Mentalist Show
Mitchell Auditorium

Other Helpful Bits of Information

Housing

If you apply for and select to live on campus for the fall, you will receive a letter in the middle of July informing you of your fall housing assignment and your new roommate(s). To be assigned a room, you will need to complete a housing contract and submit your $200 deposit. If you have not yet submitted your full deposit, please contact your admissions counselor or make your deposit online. You may also review a list of suggested items to bring to campus. Transfer students are not required to live on campus, but if you are a transfer student and interested in living on campus, please complete the same steps.

Saints Dining

Meal plans are used primarily in the Greenview Dining Room. Here students can dine with their friends and enjoy the diverse food options provided. More information can be found on the Saints Dining website.

Parking Permit and Transportation

Students are allowed to have vehicles on campus, but are required to register their vehicle online and purchase a student parking permit.

Please note that many students opt to NOT have a car on campus and it works out just fine. You can use your Saints Card as a bus pass to go anywhere in Duluth. For traveling further distances (Twin Cities and beyond) Jefferson Bus Lines picks up right on campus! (www.jeffersonlines.com/)

Welcome Weekend Parking Information and Current Parking Map

After unloading and moving into the residence halls, you will need to park your vehicle in lots 1, 15, 16 or 17. Contact Residential Life with questions about move-in day procedures. More information about parking can be found on the Facilities and Parking page.

View Full Campus Map (PDF)

Current Campus Parking Map, showing a partial closure in the Mitchell Auditorium Lot.