What is Convocation?

New Student Convocation is the official welcome to campus. All new students are invited to join Interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots, campus leadership, faculty, and staff for this kick-off to the fall semester. This Wisconsin Welcome event is hosted by Interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots and the Office of Student Transition and Family Engagement.

Note: This event is intended for new first-year and transfer students only.

Thank you for joining us!

W Project Photo

Download this year’s “W” photo taken at The W Project: Bucky’s 5th Quarter.

Campus Traditions

“Our Shared Future”

UW–Madison occupies ancestral Ho-Chunk land. Today’s “Our Shared Future” introduction will not only encourage you to be good stewards of the land, but of one another as well. Both people and place create our multifaceted community.

The flag of the Ho-Chunk Nation dances in the wind.
Members of the UW Marching Band perform led by associate director of bands Corey Pompey.

UW Marching Band

Whether at a Badger game or the famous 5th Quarter, you can find the UW Marching Band performing for 50,000+ fans each week. You’ll get a taste of this tradition before Convocation begins!

“Varsity”

Badgers have sung our famous school song for over 100 years. Then, in the 1930s, former Wisconsin Band Director Ray Dvorak introduced the iconic arm swaying. You’ll sing this song with your new classmates today and again at Commencement.

Students sway together to “Varsity” during the Chancelloru0027s Convocation for New Students, a Wisconsin Welcome event held at the Kohl Center
The cover of Custodians of Wonder by Eliot Stein

Go Big Read

The University of Wisconsin–Madison invites you to participate in its common book program, Go Big Read.

Get your FREE copy of Custodians of Wonder by Eliot Stein following the New Student Convocation! Custodians of Wonder tells the stories of the last custodians preserving age-old rites on the brink of disappearance.