Campus welcomes new students to campus for 2026-2027 academic year

 

UW-River Falls welcomes new students to campus for 2026-2027 academic year

Aug. 30, 2026 – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls welcomed new students to campus for Orientation on Sunday. The newest Falcons gathered at Ramer Field for rallying music with the Marching Falcons marching band, photo ops with UWRF mascot Freddy Falcon and a welcome from Interim Chancellor John Chenoweth and Student Government Association President Olivia Clark.

Chenoweth referred to the UWRF mission: to help prepare students to be productive, creative, ethical, engaged citizens and leaders with an informed global perspective. 

"That's our job," Chenoweth said. "Your job is to work hard academically, have all sorts of fun in other spaces, and in four years, I'll be shaking your hand as you walk across the stage for graduation."

"I hope you fall in love with UWRF as much as I have," said Clark, a junior English education major from Chippewa Falls. "Three years ago, I was sitting where you are, filled with excited nervousness and with no idea how much my life was about to change. To be honest with you, I was terrified. I have grown in so many ways."

The students then filed into Page Arena for an interactive session titled, "Get a Life! Your Real GPA" by Jason Scott Quinn, an actor, improv comedian, educator and facilitator/coach for Collegiate Empowerment. Quinn encouraged the students to focus on what he called their real GPA: their genius, passion and achievement, and to use their first year for exploration and discovery.

"Find out what you are great at," Quinn said. "Fuel your passion. What is that thing you love so much that people can't get you to shut up about it?" 

Quinn advised the students to get involved in campus activities, noting that students who are involved for 15-20 hours per week perform significantly better academically. 

Quinn encouraged students not to view college as the best four years of their lives, but as the first four years of their independent lives, laying the foundation for pursuing their passions long after graduation. 

"You will live a life of meaning," Quinn said. 

Sunday morning's events helped kick off two days of Orientation activities for new students and UWRF’s Week of Welcome, which features nearly two weeks of special events for Falcons to help them get acquainted with the campus and community. Students are invited to enjoy games and activities, live entertainment, free food, athletic events and more. In addition to enjoying special events and learning about campus activities and resources, students are invited to explore downtown River Falls during the Main Street Mosey, Saturday, Sept. 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"We are excited to welcome our new students to campus, whether they are local residents or are making River Falls their home for the next four years," said Michael Gilmer, dean of students and assistant chancellor for Student Affairs and Strategic Enrollment. "We appreciate the way the River Falls community rolls out the welcome mat for our new and returning students each fall. The open doors and 'Welcome back, Falcons' signs really make it feel like home."

UWRF is welcoming around 1,370 new students to campus for fall semester. 

Photo: New UW-River Falls students gather at Ramer Field with the Marching Falcons marching band and Freddy Falcon mascot to begin Orientation on Sunday, Aug. 30. The event was part of the kickoff to UWRF's Week of Welcome, which includes games and activities, live entertainment, athletic events and more to introduce new students to the campus and community. UWRF photo.