Embarking on a New Journey
All new freshmen and transfer students and their families are encouraged to attend New Student and Family Convocation.
New students and their families will fill Viejas Arena on Saturday, Aug. 25 for New Student and Family Convocation—a 16-year-old San Diego State University tradition that formally inducts new students and their families into the academic community. The pomp-and-circumstance-filled event includes faculty and administrators in academic robes, and it stands with commencement as ritual bookends for the beginning and end of students’ academic journeys at SDSU.
New Student and Family Convocation, organized by the Division of Student Affairs in collaboration with partners across campus, is expected to draw more than 11,000 people. It begins at 10 a.m. All new freshmen and transfer students and their families are encouraged to attend.
Highlights community values
This will be the first New Student and Family Convocation for SDSU President Adela de la Torre and five of the college deans, while Joseph Johnson, Jr. will be participating in his new role as interim provost and senior vice president. Other speakers include Vice President for Student Affairs Eric Rivera and Associated Students President Christopher Thomas. Aztec Parents Advisory Board members Jeffery and Le’Shune C. Clark will lead the pinning ceremony for parents. Kumeyaay bird singers will help open the ceremony.
“San Diego State University is truly unique,” Rivera said. “We believe parent involvement is critical to a student’s success, and we value parents as partners in their student’s educational journey. New Student and Family Convocation highlights our traditions, expectations and the values we hold as a community, and officially welcomes our new students and their families as newest members of the Aztec Family.”
New Student and Family Convocation has served as a model for inducting incoming students and their families into campus communities at other colleges and universities around the country.
Red and Black Forever
Students and parents are encouraged to wear the red and black school colors to the annual Band Run—the morning walk through the heart of campus to the convocation ceremony. Residential students and their families will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the residence halls on the east side of campus for the start of the Band Run, while commuter students will meet in the Goldberg Courtyard of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union before joining. Accompanied by entertainment along the way, the SDSU Marching Aztecs and cheerleaders will lead the procession to Hepner Hall and then on to Viejas Arena.
For more information about Convocation, go to the New Student and Family Convocation webpage or contact the Office of New Student and Parent Programs at 619-594-1509.
