The 2019-2020 academic year at UW-Stout begins with classes Wednesday, Sept. 4. The unofficial start of the year is three days earlier — the opening of residence halls Sunday, Sept. 1.
About 2,200 students are expected to arrive Sunday for the annual Move-in Day. More than 200 staff and 450 athletes will direct students and help carry their belongings into their new home away from home.
University Housing also extended move-in back to as early as Aug. 25, giving students the opportunity to settle on campus sooner for an extra nightly fee.
Dana Fritz, assistant director for administrative operations for University Housing, said Move-in Day is hectic but usually goes smoothly, thanks to planning and support. Students are informed of their housing assignments and other key arrival information well in advance via email.
Fritz estimated that more than 7,500 visitors, including family members, and students will be in town Sunday, with the first group at 8:30 a.m. Three other periods will be scheduled for students, through 3:30 p.m..
About 800 students — including many athletes — previously arrived on campus.
UW-Stout has residence halls on north campus and south campus, with most first-year students housed on south campus.
This year, 360 students will be moving back into North Hall. A $21.74 million renovation project began in late spring 2018 and was wrapping up at the end of August. Learn more about the renovation here.
The main cafeteria for students, Merle M. Price Commons, also has been renovated, mainly on the first floor and exterior. The work, mostly finished, created a new lounge and patio on the main floor and updated offices for dining, housing, the LGBTQ center the Qube and the Campus Card Office. The dining hall on the second floor remained open last year.
After move-in, students can take part Sunday in campus activities:
- The annual Blue Rah pep rally will be from 8:30 to 9 p.m. in Johnson Fieldhouse.
- Blue Devil Productions, UW-Stout’s student-run entertainment and events organization, will host a free show by comedian and magician Derek Hughes from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Student Center. He has performed on MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”
First-year orientation and other activities are Monday, Sept. 2, and Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Also on Sept. 3, Backyard Bash, an outdoor meet-and-greet between students and student organizations, will run from 5 to 7 p.m. on the lawn south of the student center. There will be plenty of socializing, free food and music.
On Sept. 4 following the first day of classes, the annual Meet Menomonie event for students, featuring local businesses, will be from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Sports and Fitness Center.
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Photos
Athletes help a new student move a futon frame into a residence hall in 2018.
First-year student Maya Smith of Alma unpacks and gets settled into her room in Keith Hall on UW-Stout Move-in Day in 2018.
