Depth of Field - Welcome Week - Newsroom | University of St. Thomas

St. Thomas kicked off a new academic year with a Welcome Days program that included educational and entertaining programs for first-year students during their first few days on campus.

First-year students attended sessions on academic success, community engagement, diversity and inclusion, and interpersonal relationships. Students also took part in social activities and St. Thomas traditions, all designed to help them feel part of the St. Thomas community.

Move-in

Most of the 1,217 freshmen living on campus moved into their residence halls Sept. 2.

Hauling the essentials toward John Paul II residence.

Furniture assembly is a staple activity of move-in day.

Sully's Crew was on hand to whisk students' belongings to their rooms. — Sully’s Crew was on hand to whisk students’ belongings to their rooms.

Father Patrick Tobin directs traffic in the Flynn Hall parking lot.

President Julie Sullivan poses for selfie with members of Sully's Crew. — President Julie Sullivan poses for a selfie with members of Sully’s Crew.

Most of the 1,217 freshmen living on campus moved in on Sept. 2.

The Great Tommie Get-together

Palmer Field was filled with more than 1,100 first-year students at the Great Tommie Get-together, a fast-paced get-to-know-you event on Sept. 3.

The Great Tommie Get-Together

The average GPA for the freshmen calls is 3.60. — The average GPA for the freshman class is 3.60.

Four students in the incoming class maintained a perfect attendance record in high school.

333 students have a mother, father or grandparent who graduated from St. Thomas. — Students participate in “The Great Tommie Get-together,” a mass ice breaker activity on Sept. 3.

The average ACT score of the incoming class is 27, the first time in St. Thomas history that the incoming class has achieved that average.

There are slightly more males in this year's class - 52% vs 48%. — There are slightly more males in this year’s class: 52 percent men to 48 percent women.

Headphone Disco

First-year students take part in Headphone Disco in which participants dance to two different soundtracks that only they can hear via wireless headphones.

Headphone disco

Roofs were raised, moves were busted. — Roofs were raised, moves were busted during Headphone Disco on the John P. Monahan Plaza Sept. 3.

It was a fight song, a take back my life song, a prove I'm alright song. — It was a fight song, a take-back-my-life song, a prove-I’m-all right song.

Welcome Assembly and Interfaith Blessing, and Academic Convocation

Student, faculty and staff filled Schoenecker Arena during the Opening Celebration and Interfaith Blessing, while just a few hours later faculty processed across the lower quad to President Julie Sullivan's annual academic convocation.

The Welcome Assembly and Interfaith Blessing

This year's incoming class has 52 international students. — This year’s incoming class has 52 international students.

Student a cappella group Cadenza performed during the welcoming assembly. — Student a cappella group Cadenza performs during the welcoming assembly.

New faculty receive applause as they walk past The Arches at the academic convocation procession — New faculty receive applause as they walk past the Arches at the academic convocation procession

Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit

Archbishop Bernard Hebda presided at the Opening Mass in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas on Sept. 8.

Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit

Students filled the chapel balcony. — Students fill the chapel balcony.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda celebrated the mass. — Archbishop Bernard Hebda celebrated the Mass.

The Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas was filled. — Congregants fill the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Hebda greeted students following the mass. — Hebda greets students following the Mass.

March Through the Arches

First-year students walk through the Arches and into the quad while surrounded by St. Thomas community members who applauded them. March Through the Arches is a Tommie tradition that began in 2000. It usually takes place the day before classes begin, but due to inclement weather it was held Sept. 8 in the evening.

March Through the Arches