Finding a place on campus can begin with something as simple as asking for directions, joining a game or sharing pancakes with a new group of people. North Central State College will offer all of those opportunities as it welcomes students for the 2026 fall semester. A series of main campus events beginning Monday, Aug. 17, will give students nearly three weeks to explore the college, meet classmates and discover ways to become involved.
A Friendly Start
Welcome tables will be available from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Monday, Aug. 17, and Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the Health Science, Fallerius and Kehoe buildings. Students who need help finding a classroom or another campus destination can also look for the college’s Welcome Walkers. The student ambassadors will be stationed around campus to provide directions and help students become familiar with their surroundings.
The broader welcome schedule begins Tuesday, Aug. 25, with Game Night from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the Eisenhower Student Union. A second Game Night will be held there from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Monday, Aug. 31.
Both gatherings offer a casual way for students to meet one another outside the classroom, particularly during the first days of a new semester when many are still learning names, schedules and the daily rhythm of campus life.
Getting Involved
Students can learn more about campus organizations during the Involvement Fair from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Campus Oval. The fair will allow students to explore activities and organizations that can become an important part of their college experience. For commuters and students balancing school with work or family responsibilities, the event also provides a concentrated opportunity to see what campus life offers beyond classes.
Recreational activities take over later in the week. Bucket Golf will be held outside the Campus Rec Center from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM on Thursday, Aug. 27.
The Campus Rec Center will then host an open house from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Friday, Aug. 28. Students can sign up for clubs and intramural activities while enjoying games, prizes and ice cream. On Sunday, Aug. 30, the Campus Rec Center will host a Dodgeball Tournament and Color Run from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Creativity and Community
The welcome schedule also includes opportunities for students interested in theater, nature and creative activities. Pancakes & Pollinators will be held from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at Ovalwood. Later that day, theater auditions will take place from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Ovalwood Founders Auditorium. The series concludes Friday, Sept. 4, with a chance for students to make a stuffed animal at the Campus Rec Center. The activity will be available from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Students must present their college identification, and participation is limited to one stuffed animal per student.
Taken together, the events offer several different doors into campus life. Students can compete, create, explore an organization or simply sit down for a game. Each activity provides another opportunity to become comfortable in a new setting and begin building the connections that can make a college campus feel like home.