Welcome Week leaders greeted the Class of 2027 upon their arrival on Hofstra’s campus. // Photo courtesy of Hofstra University Relations.
The 2024 fall semester kicked off on Aug. 31, with Welcome Week orientation leaders cheering on new first-years and transfer students as they drove onto campus for the first time. Hofstra’s class of 2027 was welcomed with a week-long schedule of events designed to introduce them to campus and make friends.
“We really try to allow students to meet their peers from the start. We want them to learn, grow and thrive during their first semester, not stress,” said Hannah Grynberg, a senior public relations and Spanish major who is also the Welcome Week coordinator for the Explore Next Door (END) trips. “Specifically with trips to the city and other social events such as [the] Silent Disco, we want students to become acclimated with each other.”
All undergraduate first-years and transfer students are advised to sign up for Hofstra’s END program, allowing new students to go on free trips to various New York City and Long Island locations for their entire first year. The fall semester END trips are reserved for newly registered freshmen and transfer students and range from interactive museums to ballpark games that capture the heart of New York City. Some trips include Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, the Bronx Zoo, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and a Mets game.
“[First-years] seemed really excited to attend all of the non-mandatory events during Welcome Week, and the students I took on my END trip were a delight,” said Welcome Week leader Tal Heyman, a senior public policy and public service and English major with a minor in psychology said.
Other activities included a student involvement fair that hosted over 200 of Hofstra’s clubs and organizations for all students to explore. From sports clubs to Greek life to academic-based clubs, there was something for every student to join and further their passions.
Carly Schwarz, a freshman mass media major, found the student involvement fair her favorite event during Welcome Week. “I loved being able to express my interest in new activities and see what the school had to offer!”
For many students, this week is the first step to meeting new friends and engaging in activities designed to make every student feel welcome at Hofstra. Some highlighted events included a pickleball tournament, trivia night, a 360 photo booth and a soccer block party to kick off the men’s soccer team as they played against the University of Pennsylvania.
“The involvement fair is always a highlight of the fall semester,” Heyman said. “I also thought there were a lot of fun and interactive events this year, like tarot card reading and ramen tasting.”
Along with the wide range of activities, there were mandatory events for new students, covering topics such as Title IX and drug awareness.
“The mandatory events are to help educate students on college situations they may come across. All of this together helps students feel more comfortable at Hofstra,” Grynberg said.
“I think Hofstra’s Welcome Week activities were just right,” Schwarz said. “There wasn’t an overwhelming amount, so we were able to adjust to our new lifestyles, but just enough to acclimate us into the school.”
Last year, Heyman volunteered to become one of Hofstra’s global mentors during International Welcome Week and wanted to continue her leadership at Hofstra. “It was an amazing feeling assisting all the parents or new students with any questions they had and offering a warm welcome to Hofstra,” Heyman said.
“I love the thought of being one of the helpers for the freshmen class and having an opportunity to meet other Welcome Week leaders,” Heyman continued. “I also wanted to give back to the Hofstra community that gave so much to me and helped me come out of my shell.”
