UW News

September 19, 2019

New student convocation Sept. 22 opens UW’s 2019-2020 school year

UW News

Convocation is the ceremony to welcome incoming students.

University of Washington communication professor Matt McGarrity, founder of the UW Speaking Center, will be the featured speaker at the university’s 36th annual Convocation. The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Convocation welcomes the entering class and officially marks the beginning of the academic year, with classes starting Sept. 25. More than 6,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event, which will be streamed live by UW Video.

The academic procession will be led by Joseph Janes, associate professor in the UW’s Information School and university marshal, carrying the university mace. President Ana Mari Cauce, Provost Mark Richards, members of the Board of Regents, deans, vice presidents, vice provosts and student leaders will march in the procession. The convocation will feature music by the University Wind Ensemble.

After the convocation, Cauce will host the 13th annual President’s Picnic on the Rainier Vista lawn. About 1,500 students, family members and friends are expected to attend.

Fast facts:

  • Preliminary figures show the incoming freshman class will be about 7,000 students
  • Around 4,450 incoming students are from Washington.
  • An additional 1,500 transfer students are expected to arrive this fall, including 1,300 of whom will be from Washington community colleges.
  • UW Bothell and UW Tacoma also welcome their incoming classes, with 857 and 739 incoming students expected, respectively.

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For more information or to attend, contact Jackson Holtz at 206-543-2580 or jjholtz@uw.edu.

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