September 20, 2025
President Jones to welcome incoming class at New Student Convocation on Sunday
The University of Washington’s incoming classes will be welcomed on Sunday by President Robert J. Jones at the University’s 42nd annual New Student Convocation inside Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. The ceremony is expected to be attended by thousands of students, family and friends.
Preliminary figures show the incoming freshman class will be about 7,175 students, with around 4,550 from Washington. An additional 1,650 transfer students are expected to arrive this fall, including 1,375 of whom will be from Washington community colleges, according to preliminary university data. All figures are approximate. Official census information is announced later in the quarter.
The ceremony will serve as the University’s official welcoming ceremony for entering students, their families and friends. For undergraduates, this event will precede your undergraduate Connection Meetings and Husky Kickoff.
New Student Convocation is one of two landmark occasions where the University president, the Board of Regents, the deans of the schools and colleges and the faculty gather for an academic ceremony focused on students. The other, of course, is the graduation ceremony, Commencement. These two events are the seminal “bookend” events of a college career.
Following the early morning ceremony, incoming students will form a giant block “W” on the field inside Husky stadium.
For journalists: Downloadable soundbites and b-roll and the “W” formation will be available following each event.
Tag(s): Robert J. Jones • UW convocation
