Sunday, August 23, 2026
Schedule: Orientation Day 2
8:00 AM–2:00 PM Brunch (for all students)
📍A-Town Cafe
Please bring your Butler University ID. Meal plans are accepted. Credit card payment is accepted for those without a meal plan.
9:30–10:30 AM Butler University Convocation (Required for all first-year, transfer, commuter, and Founder’s College students; families are welcome to attend)
📍Hinkle Fieldhouse
As a Bulldog, there are two events that mark your academic journey at Butler: your induction as a scholar at Convocation and your commencement as a graduate. Join President James M. Danko, Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Michael Hole, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Student Affairs Dr. Khalilah Marbury, Vice President for Enrollment Management Lori Greene, and other University leaders as we celebrate your formal welcome to Butler University as a student. Students will enter Hinkle Fieldhouse at gates 2 and 3 to be directed to their seats together in the 100 level of the arena, while families will be directed to their seats from the upper track level. Families should enter Hinkle Fieldhouse at Gate 4.
New Student Photo
📍Sellick Bowl, Hinkle Fieldhouse
Immediately following the Butler University Convocation, please join Butler University faculty, deans, and administrators on the lawn adjacent to the Sellick Bowl. (Rain date: Monday, August 25, 6:00 PM)
Convocation Reception
📍Lawn adjacent to Sellick Bowl (inclement weather location: Dugan Hall)
10:30 AM–1:00 PM Health and Recreation Complex (HRC) Open House
📍Health and Recreation Complex (HRC)
The doors are open to the Health and Recreation (HRC) for our first annual Open House! Come tour the recreation side of the HRC, get a behind-the-scenes tour of Health Services, grab a snack, chat with our Counselors, and learn about the many programs we have to offer for our students. We look forward to seeing you after Convocation!
11:30 AM–1:00 PM Family Lunches on Your Own
📍On or off campus
11:30 AM–1:15 PM Commuter Student Center open
📍Atherton Union, Commuter Student Center, Room 011
Commuter students can hang out in this gathering space before the next required program. Members of the Commuter Student Organization and group’s advisor will be on site. Lunch tickets will be provided.
11:30 AM–12:30 PM Butler Catholic Community Mass
📍Atherton Union, Reilly Room
Join the Butler Catholic Community for the celebration of Mass.
Lunch will be served to Mass attendees.
11:30 AM–1:00 PM Service of Welcome and Blessing: A Christian Gathering for New Students and Families
📍South Campus, Common Room, Room 174
Students and families are invited to a Christian worship service during Welcome Week. Shaped in partnership with Butler’s Christian ministries and community partners, this gathering offers a time of prayer, Scripture, music, blessing, and hospitality as students begin their Butler journey. Lunch will be served following the service. RSVP.
1:00–1:30 PM Family Farewell
Please use this time to say goodbye before student orientation group meetings begin.
1:30–2:00 PM Student Orientation Group Meetings (Required for all first-year, transfer, commuter, and Founder’s College students)
📍The location of your orientation group has been emailed to your Butler email.
1:30–2:30 PM Jordan College of the Arts (JCA) Family Reception (JCA families only; JCA students will attend their Student Orientation Group Meeting)
📍Schrott Center for the Arts, Lobby
Meet the JCA Dean, members of the JCA faculty and staff, and other new JCA families. Light refreshments will be served.
2:15–3:45 PM Playfair
📍North Atherton Mall (inclement weather location: Health and Recreation Complex)
Meet hundreds of new students while playing icebreakers and games!
4:00–5:00 PM Identity + Me and Collective Unity (Groups 1–35)
📍 Orientation Group Rooms
Explore your own identities and how an awareness of them can lead to opportunities to establish and maintain belonging for yourself and others. This engaging session will build skills of self-reflection, communication, trust, and appreciation for diversity. Regardless of one’s identity, each student will participate in this experience by acknowledging several different components of their own identity and reflecting on their experiences of them.
4:00–5:15 PM Orientation Group Dinner (Groups 36–72)
📍Pick up food in A-Town Cafe, take plates out to the Atherton Mall and Butler Way Mall tents (inclement weather location: A-Town Cafe)
Please bring your Butler University ID.
5:15–6:15 PM Orientation Group Dinner (Groups 1–35)
📍Pick up food in A-Town Cafe, take plates out to the Atherton Mall and Butler Way Mall tents (inclement weather location: A-Town Cafe)
Please bring your Butler University ID.
Identity + Me and Collective Unity (Groups 36–72)
📍 Orientation Group Rooms
Explore your own identities and how an awareness of them can lead to opportunities to establish and maintain belonging for yourself and others. This engaging session will build skills of self-reflection, communication, trust, and appreciation for diversity. Regardless of one’s identity, each student will participate in this experience by acknowledging several different components of their own identity and reflecting on their experiences of them.
6:15–7:30 PM Student Orientation Group Meetings (Required for all first-year, transfer, commuter, and Founder’s College students)
📍The location of your orientation group has been emailed to your Butler email.
7:30–8:00 PM Men’s Soccer vs. Bradley
📍Sellick Bowl
Come cheer on the Dawgs!
7:30–8:00 PM Commuter Student Center open
📍Atherton Union, Commuter Student Center, Room 011
Commuter students can hang out in this gathering space before the next required program. Commuter students will have access to meals in A-Town Market.
7:30–9:00 PM (immediately following Student Orientation Group Meetings) Ice Cream Social: Build Your Sundae, Find Your Community
📍Compass Center (blue house across from Schrott)
Join The Compass Center for a favorite Welcome Week tradition. Students are invited to enjoy ice cream from a local shop, build their own sundae with toppings hosted by Butler’s religious and spiritual communities, and learn how to get connected with campus ministries and other meaning-making communities at Butler.
9:00 PM–11:30 PM Rave-Yard Shift!
📍Atherton Union, Atherton Mall, & Holcomb Observatory
Join new students to dance the night away at the Glow Rave in the tent. Head to the Observatory to watch a planetarium show and look through the telescope at the stars. Play on an 80s arcade game or the VR roller coaster, tie-dye a T-shirt, and ride the train! Dig in the dirt and plant a mini plant for your room. Head to the firepits to build a s’more, and enjoy other outdoor exciting activities!
Orientation Week: Campus Locations and Hours of Operation
8:00 AM–4:00 PM Bookstore open
📍Atherton Union
Online order pick-up available on the landing between the bookstore and A-Town Market.
8:00 AM–4:30 PM Office of Parking Services open
📍4702 Sunset Avenue (Parking Garage, Suite 500)
8:00 AM–5:00 PM Starbucks open
📍Atherton Union
8:00 AM–2:00 PM A-Town Cafe open
📍Atherton Union
Brunch is available by credit card (Visa and Mastercard accepted). Meal plans are accepted.
10:00 AM–5:00 PM A-Town Market open
📍Atherton Union
Visa and Mastercard accepted.
11:00 AM–2:00 PM Midtown Provisions open (lunch)
📍 Residential College (ResCo Dining)
Visa and Mastercard accepted.
11:00 AM–11:00 PM Health and Recreation Complex open
📍Health and Recreation Complex (HRC)
Normal hours of operation begin.
4:30–8:30 PM A-Town Cafe open (returning students)
📍Atherton Union
Meal plans are accepted.