Residential First Year LUTE Welcome (New Student Orientation) Schedule @ a Glance

LUTE Welcome Week is packed with Lute traditions that will help you transition to PLU and meet faculty, staff and peers. All Fall 2025 New Students (including new International Students) will be assigned to a peer-led LUTE Group; individual LUTE Group locations will be available on your LUTE Welcome name tag, which new students will receive at Check In.

Required Session?FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2025 - EVENTSTIMELOCATION &/or how to ACCESS
LUTE Welcome (LW) Headquarters & Recharge Room
Optional: Your one-stop-shop for all-things LW; stop by if/when you have any questions!
8:00AM-5:00PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Grey Area (Main Floor, North Side of Building)
Required (Residents)Move In & LUTE Welcome Check-In for Residents
REQUIRED for Residents: First stop for new first-year and transfer residential students!
9:00AM-2:00PMResidence Halls
(check your PLU email for details)
Student Financial Services Drop-In Hours
Optional: Have questions about your financial aid? Student Financial Services is available to drop in for questions!
9:00AM-4:00PMHauge Administration Building, Room 102
Center for Student Success Drop-In Hours
Optional: Have questions about your schedule or registration? Drop by the Center for Student Success to speak with Academic Advisors!
9:00AM-4:00PMMortvedt Library
Required
(Veteran
Students)
Veterans Community Meeting
REQUIRED for all new Lutes who are Veterans!
10:00AM-11:00AMHong Conference Room - Hong 246B (Wellbeing Services & Resources)
HUNGRY?
Optional: Residents lunch on your own
10:30AM-1:30PMOptions for Residents: 208 Garfield, Anderson University Center (AUC) Commons, & Old Main Market (OMM)
Required
(Residents)
BECOMING NEIGHBORS:
REQUIRED for Residents: Dinner & Residential Wing Meetings hosted by Resident Assistants (RAs)
5:00PM-8:00PMLearn your individual wing meeting location & dinner time from your RA when you move in
LUTE Tradition: PLU Trivia
Optional: All new Lutes encouraged to attend!
8:00PM-9:00PMAnderson University Center (AUC) CAVE (lowest level)
Required Session?SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 2025 - EVENTSTIMELOCATION &/or how to ACCESS
LUTE Welcome (LW) Headquarters & Recharge Room
Optional: Your one-stop-shop for all-things LW; stop by if/when you have any questions!
7:30AM-4:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Grey Area (Main Floor, North Side of Building)
Snack Shack
REQUIRED for Commuters: Stop by to snag some scones and coffee & tea before the first session. Free and open to all Residential New students.
8:30AM-9:15AMAnderson University Center (AUC) 2nd Floor Grey Space
Required
(All)
Welcome to PLU: Opening Keynote
REQUIRED: Learn what it means to join the Lute Community: Diversity, Justice, & Sustainability (DJS), Vocation, and Lutheran Higher Education.
9:30AM-10:40AMOlson Gym
Required
(All)
LUTE Group Time, First PLUS 100 Class Session & New Student Group Picture
REQUIRED: Meet your LUTE Guide & Group

During this time, Family & Supporters are encouraged to attend Navigating the Transition or ¡Bienvenidas, Bienvenidos, Bienvenides!
2:15PM-4:30PM Meet your LUTE Guide on Foss Field
Throughout LUTE Welcome, find your individual LUTE Group meeting location(s) printed on your name tag, which you received at Check In.
Required (All) LUTE Group Lunches
REQUIRED: Lunch Rotations with your LUTE Groups & Guides
11:30AM-1:30PMAUC Commons & Old Main Market (OMM)
DJS Desserts
Optional: Swing by the DJS Lounge to meet and mingle with Center for Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability staff, students, and other new students and families. Students of Color and LGBTQAI2S+ students are strongly encouraged to stop by.
11:30AM-12:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) DJS Lounge (AUC Lower Level)
Required (Transfers)Transfer Lunch w/ Campus Supporters12:00PM-1:00PMTBD
Required (All) Rotating Sessions
REQUIRED for all new Lutes!
Rose Window Group: Starts with Wellbeing Services & Resources;
Black & Gold Group: Starts with Sounds of Solidarity
1:30PM-4:30PMWellbeing Services & Resources -- AUC CK (AUC 214); Sounds of Solidarity -- KHP
Required
(All)
Welcome to the Neighborhood: Connecting with Community
REQUIRED: A fun block party-style introduction to the Parkland community. Reception open to New Students, Families, Supporters, & Parkland Community Members
4:30PM-6:30PMFoss Field (Lower Campus)
Required Session?SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2025 - EVENTSTIMELOCATION &/or how to ACCESS
LUTE Welcome (LW) Headquarters & Recharge Room
Optional: Your one-stop-shop for all-things LW; stop by if/when you have any questions!
7:30AM-1:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Grey Area (Main Floor, North Side of Building)
Trinity Lutheran Service
Optional: Meet Pastor Jen Rude in PLU’s Red Square at 9:40am and walk over as a group to Trinity Lutheran for 10:00am worship that will include a special welcome to students.
9:40AM-11:00AMMeet in Red Square at 9:40am
HUNGRY?
Optional: Brunch on your own
11:30AM-1:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Commons
PLU Community Garden
Optional: Many hands make light work! Join us in harvesting produce to be donated to the Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry and light garden maintenance. Volunteers are encouraged to wear closed toe shoes and bring a water bottle.
12:00PM-01:30PMPLU Community Garden (811 121st St, across the street from Ingram Hall on 121st St.)
Required
(IHON
Students)
IHON New Student Orientation
REQUIRED: For new International Honors students only
1:30PM-2:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Room 133
Scavenger Hunt
Optional: Explore campus on a scavenger hunt! Folks who finish finding all the secret locations can turn in their completed clue sheets for a prize. Instructions for how to join the hunt will be provided to participates at the Headquarters table on the 2nd floor of the AUC anytime between 2:00pm-4:00pm.
2:00PM -4:00PMGet your scavenger hunt sheet at Headquarters (2nd floor of AUC)
BBQ & Field Games on Foss Field
Optional: Join us for a BBQ and field games hosted alongside music by DJ Sol. PLU's Ultimate Frisbee teams will be hosting a pick-up game for anyone to join.
4:30PM - 6:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Commons
Required Session?MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 - EVENTSTIMELOCATION &/or how to ACCESS
LUTE Welcome (LW) Headquarters & Recharge Room
Optional: Your one-stop-shop for all-things LW; stop by if/when you have any questions!
7:30AM-1:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Grey Area (Main Floor, North Side of Building)
Mashel Falls Hike
Optional: Join Outdoor Rec for an off-campus hiking opportunity! Sign up ahead of time, as space is limited to the first 20 students!

Register on imleagues.com or the PLU Rec App under the Outdoor Rec Tab. Registration: Open Until Sep 1st '25 at 11:00AM

Waiver & RSVP coming soon.
11:00AM-5:00PMMashel Falls (meet Meet at the Columbia Center)
HUNGRY?
Optional: Brunch on your own
11:30AM-1:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Commons
PLU Community Garden
Optional: Many hands make light work! Join us in harvesting produce to be donated to the Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry and light garden maintenance. Volunteers are encouraged to wear closed toe shoes and bring a water bottle.
12:00PM-01:30PMPLU Community Garden (811 121st St, across the street from Ingram Hall on 121st St.)
Wang Center Info Session Optional: Come learn about studying away during your time at PLU. It's never too early to start planning for your study away trip(s)!1:30PM-2:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) 203
Scavenger Hunt
Optional: Explore campus on a scavenger hunt! Folks who finish finding all the secret locations can turn in their completed clue sheets for a prize. Instructions for how to join the hunt will be provided to participates at the Headquarters table on the 2nd floor of the AUC anytime between 2:00pm-4:00pm.
2:00PM -4:00PMGet your scavenger hunt sheet at Headquarters (2nd floor of AUC)
HUNGRY?
Optional: Dinner on your own.
11:30AM-1:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Commons
Required
(Residents)
Love Where You Live: Community Building
REQUIRED for all Residents
Gathering for residential students in their communities
Check for emails & posters in your residence halls for specific starting timesCheck for emails & posters in your residence halls for specific starting times
Required Session?TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 - EVENTSTIMELOCATION &/or how to ACCESS
HUNGRY?
Optional: Breakfast on your own
7:00AM-9:30AMAnderson University Center (AUC) Commons & Old Main Market (OMM)
LUTE Welcome (LW) Headquarters & Recharge Room
Optional: Your one-stop-shop for all-things LW; stop by if/when you have any questions!
8:00AM-9:45AMAnderson University Center (AUC) Grey Area (Main Floor, North Side of Building)
Required (All) LUTE Group Energizers
REQUIRED Warm up for the day with your LUTE Guide and new friends!
8:30AM-9:00AMFind your individual LUTE Group meeting location printed on your name tag, which you received at Check In
Required (All) Academic Advising Meetings
REQUIRED: Meet with your advisor to get off to a great start!
9:00AM-9:30AMFind your individual Advising Group meeting location printed on your name tag, which you received at Check In. If you don't have your nametag, stop by LW Headquarters!
Required (All) Gather for Bell Ringing
REQUIRED: Congregate in Red Square for the annual tradition of ringing the bell & processing to Convocation
9:35AM-10:00AMRed Square
Required (All) LUTE Tradition: Convocation
REQUIRED: A PLU tradition to open the academic year!
10:00AM-11:00AMOlson Gym
HUNGRY?
Optional: Lunch on your own
10:30AM-2:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Commons & Old Main Market (OMM)
Required (Transfers)Transfer Coffee Mingle with Faculty
Required: Come meet with faculty & departmental leadership in your academic programs! This is a chance to ask questions about your intended major, make sure you're on track with your academic plans, and get to know the faculty who make PLU a great place to learn.
11:15AM-12:00PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Atrium (Lower Level)
First Day of Fall 2024 Semester
You got this, Lutes!
Starting at 12:15PMTip: check out your classroom locations during LUTE Welcome weekend ahead of your first day so you know where to go!
HUNGRY?
Optional: Dinner on your own
4:30PM-7:30PMAnderson University Center (AUC) Commons & Old Main Market (OMM)

We Look Forward to Meeting You

LUTE Welcome Week – New Student Orientation is an exciting series of experiences designed to welcome new students to PLU’s vibrant community and allow you to get connected, to be involved and to stay informed.

Interested in finding a job, studying abroad, and/or joining a club? Your LUTE Group guide will connect you to these resources and more, while you make friends with fellow Lutes.