Aug. 18, 2015
For Immediate Release

By Jordan Antle, communications assistant

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - As the fall semester draws near, Campbellsville University is set to welcome students back to campus to kick off the new academic year in a big way.

College is a time for learning and growing, not only in course studies and traditional knowledge, but in experiences as well. CU is encouraging returning and incoming students to take part in the Welcome Week activities to jump-start and get the most out of their college experience.

With a packed schedule, Campbellsville University has two weeks of activities planned called Welcome Weeks during the first two weeks of school. The weeks of Aug. 22-Sept. 4 are full of activities in which students can participate.

Beginning on Aug. 22, the Saturday before classes begin, Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of the university, and his wife, Debbie, are hosting a President's Drop In from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Betty Dobbins Heilman House (the president's home). During this time, students will have to opportunity to meet Carter and his family while enjoying refreshments.

Later that night, CU will host the Bean and Bailey Show at 7 p.m. in Ransdell Chapel. Bean and Bailey blend jokes, music, comedy and parodies mixed with inspirational stories to shed light on biblical truths.

Trent Creason, director of student activities and intramural sports, believes Welcome Week activities offer many benefits to students.

“Throughout those two weeks, the students are welcomed backed in a big way. They are provided opportunities for fun, lots of free food, ways to connect to the community and the university that benefits them in a myriad of ways,” Creason said.

The events for Sunday, Aug. 23, include the Lowell Avenue Baptist Church Cook Out starting at 6 p.m., followed by the Baptist Campus Ministry Sunday Night Explosion at 8 p.m. and ending the night is an Ice Cream Social. All events on Aug. 23 will take place at Ransdell Chapel.

On Monday, Aug. 24, the Welcome Back Festival kicks off in Finley Stadium at 5 p.m., and is set to feature many booths from clubs and organizations on campus. Dinner is provided with inflatables activities and multiple free giveaways.

Planning for the two Welcome Weeks is a year-long process with a great deal of thought that goes into making sure the students are having the best time, Creason said.

“The dreaming stage of planning takes place as soon as the previous Welcome Week is over,” he said. “The nuts and bolts of the planning begin at the end of the spring semester and continue on through the summer months. During this time we work with many different departments on campus to coordinate and find ways to provide the greatest quality of Welcome Week events that we can,” Creason said.

The Baptist Campus Ministry Cook Out, which will be held Tuesday, Aug. 25, on Stapp Lawn from 5 to 7 p.m., gets activities started with free food provided by the club. Green River Cinema 6 will also be offering students who have a current valid CU ID Free Movie Night from 7 p.m. until close that night.

Dorm Wars, where Campbellsville University residence halls are pitted against each other in various competitive activities, will be on Stapp Lawn starting at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Creason believes campus activities are an exciting chance for students to meet new people and experience new things.

“Activities and events on campus are key to the college experience. They provide the avenue to make connections with people and a place. It is these connections that you make that truly make a difference in your life and help lead you to success,” he said.

On Thursday, Aug. 27, activities get underway as students get pumped up and enjoy free food during the Maroon Goon Tailgate starting at 5:30 p.m. on Stapp Lawn which will lead directly into the first home football game against the University of the Cumberlands. Kick off for the home opener is set for 7 p.m. on Citizens Bank Field at Finley Stadium.

The Welcome Week Challenge will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28 in Winters Dining Hall. Students will have the chance to complete dares, answer trivia questions and sing karaoke to win prizes.
Later that evening, S'mores Night will be at 8 p.m. behind the Student Activities Center. Students can hang out at the SAC and enjoy free S'mores fireside.

Baptist Campus Ministry will be leading a campus retreat that is planed from Friday, Aug. 28 through Sunday, Aug. 30. This retreat will be a great time to make new friends and enjoy a weekend off campus with other CU students, Creason said.

Lake Day is set from 3 to 8 p.m. at Green River Lake State Park on Sunday, Aug. 30. Students will be able to tube, paddleboard, kayak and more. Vans will be available for transportation at 3 p.m. in front of Stapp Hall.

Events for the 31st of August include Night on the Town, a chance for new students to check out Downtown Campbellsville, and the Campbellsville University Hot Dog Eating Contest from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. This will include free smoked hot dogs and more. The night will finish with a campus wide game of capture the flag that will begin on Stapp Lawn at 8:30 p.m.

Karaoke and wings will be available in Winters Dining Hall starting at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1, followed by Tuesday Night Live, the once a month event modeled after Saturday Night Live whit music, skits and monologues, at 7 p.m. in Ransdell Chapel.

Hannah Sadler, Baptist Campus Ministry's Tuesday Night Live coordinator, is excited about the opportunities the event will present to students.

“My dream for this program is that it will encourage students who don't usually participate in Baptist Campus Ministry activities to get involved,” she said.

On Wednesday, Sept. 2, students will have the chance to participate in bumper cars outside the Student Activities Center from 3 until 7 p.m.

Several restaurants from the community will gather on campus to provide students with snack bites of their menu during Snack Attack that will take place at 7 p.m. in the Badgett Academic Support Center Banquet Hall on Thursday, Sept. 3.

And wrapping up the Welcome Week festivities, various businesses from Campbellsville and the surrounding area will offer helpful information on their business and job opportunities for students at the Business Spotlight in Winters Dining Hall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4.

“Welcome Week, I think, communicates to the students that the university cares about them,” Creason said.

There is still time to enroll for the fall semester at Campbellsville University. For more information on enrollment and a list of Welcome Week activates, visit cjpk.net.

Classes start Monday, Aug. 24 for night classes, those 5:15 p.m. and later. Day classes begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25.

“We are excited to welcome our incoming freshmen this fall!,” Paula Caldwell, director of admissions, said.

“We are still working with several students to get their schedules and prepare them for the first day of class in August. Our goal is to always make them feel at home when they get to Campbellsville.”

Caldwell said starting college is a new chapter in their lives, and it's an exciting time, but for many, it can also be a little scary.

“We want our students to feel welcomed here and help make the transition to college as simple (and fun) as possible,” she said.

For admissions information, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@cjpk.net or (270) 789-5220 or 1-800-264-6014.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is cjpk.net.