West Chester University’s 2023-2024 academic year begins with the first classes of the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 28. 

A Golden Welcome to all those new to WCU, and a hearty welcome back to those returning – whether students, faculty, or staff. Welcome also to those taking classes and teaching on the Philadelphia campus and to our distance education students and faculty. 

The WCU Class of 2027 (incoming first-year students) is making history as the largest admitted class of 3,030 students, who will create a unique formation on the Quad on Sunday, Aug. 27, beginning at 4 PM. In addition, 1,000+ transfer students have also become Golden Rams. In total, more than 4,030 new incoming undergraduate students are joining the vibrant WCU campus this fall. 

Welcome Week 2023 

Road Trip to Ram Country is the theme for WCU’s 2023 Welcome Week, which takes place Wednesday, Aug. 23 through Sunday, Aug. 27. Thanks to the folks in the Division of Student Affairs and New Student Programs (NSP), new and transfer students have multiple opportunities to connect with classmates and get to know the campus and our student life and academic resources. 

Some highlights of the Welcome Week schedule: 

Friday, Aug. 25 from 12 to 3 PM A new “Welcome to the Borough” event offers students a chance to explore the Borough of West Chester and meet Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste, a class of 1974 WCU alumna, as well as business owners and residents. Students are invited to head into town on foot or by shuttle and present their WCU IDs at borough retailers to receive discounts on food and more. Our team coordinated a T-shirt giveaway (while supplies last) with Rita’s water ice as well as “meet and greet” sessions with emergency responders and a volunteer fair in Align Space at the intersection of High and Market Streets. 

Later Friday, in addition to other events, students can find their way around campus as they enjoy frozen banana treats outside the Sciences and Engineering Center and The Commons (1 to 3 PM); have fun at new “foam party” in Sykes Student Union (7 to 11 PM); and discover the resources at the FHG Library while they play mini golf and a scavenger hunt (7 to 10 PM). 

The annual Ram Rally spirit event with Rammy, cheerleaders, and the Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band takes place Thursday, Aug. 24, in Hollinger Field House (8 to 10 p.m.) and kick off for the fall football scrimmage is Friday at 6 PM in Farrell Stadium. 

Several new events specifically target the transfer student population to welcome them and help them transition smoothly to life at WCU: a swag swap on Friday (2 to 4 PM at the Village and East Village on South Campus); transfer student s’mores Saturday night (8 to 9 PM the Village Clubhouse); and a transfer taco social Sunday 12 to 2 PM (Sykes Ballroom A). 

Other populations getting a special welcome are all first-generation WCU students, who are invited to such activities as meet and greet events (Thursday, 4 to 5:30 PM Sykes Ballrooms; Friday, 1 to 3 PM, Lawrence Center) and a rock climbing social (Saturday 1 to 3 PM); and commuter students, who can find support and connections at commuter success events (Thursday, 11 AM to 3 PM, Sykes Ballrooms). 

Other activities include therapy goats and therapy dogs; multiple fitness classes to introduce newcomers to the Student Recreation Center; wellness information sessions and a Student Health Services event for building your own first aid kit; a work on campus expo; tours of the Gordon Natural Area on South Campus; and much more. 

Facilities Improvements 

Students who live on campus this academic year are moving into rooms with fresh paint and upgraded lighting, plus other amenities. 

As they do every summer, the WCU Facilities Division staff have completed renovations and upgrades to all university-owned residence halls and apartments. This year’s summer projects included bathroom renovations within the South Campus Apartment complex; lighting upgrades to every student’s bedroom; the replacement of furniture in the elevator lobbies of Goshen and Tyson halls and within the living room of College Arms Apartments; and major painting in three of our housing communities. In College Arms apartments, Facilities replaced all kitchen appliances within all apartments. 

• The renovation of the South Campus Apartment Complex bathrooms consisted of new shower stalls, toilets, lighting, vanities, flooring, and shelving in approximately 25 percent of the apartments. Renovations will continue each summer.  
• The lighting upgrade project provided a new light fixture with a dimmer in approximately 1,300 student bedrooms located in Tyson, Goshen, Killinger, Schmidt Halls, and South Campus Apartments.  
• Kitchen appliance upgrades consisted of new refrigerators and ranges in all apartment communities, including South Campus Apartment Complex and College Arms Apartments  
• The painting project included painting six buildings at South Campus Apartments, all 41 apartments within College Arms Apartments, Schmidt Hall, and all lounges in Tyson and Goshen Halls.  

The WCU Grounds Crew has also been hard at work maintaining the campus green spaces, from the academic and residential quad areas to the South Campus playing fields. 

Plus, the Borough of West Chester and the Commonwealth managed infrastructure improvements this summer along High Street and South New Street, resulting in repaving and repainting crosswalks.

Learn more at West Chester University.