September 21, 2025
UW’s incoming classes welcomed by President Robert J. Jones at New Student Convocation
President Robert J. Jones welcomes the incoming class at New Student Convocation. (Photo: Sara Coulsey)
The University of Washington’s incoming classes were welcomed Sunday at the University’s 42nd annual New Student Convocation inside Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. The ceremony was attended by thousands of students, family and friends.
Welcome, Huskies! Thousands of incoming @uofwa.bsky.social students gathered for an annual 'W' formation today after kicking off the school year with a convocation ceremony. #newhuskies2025 #uwdawgdazeMedia assets: drive.google.com/drive/folder…
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Download ‘W’ timelapse, soundbites and B-roll from 2025 Convocation event
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.
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 formed a giant block “W” on the field inside Husky stadium.
Tag(s): Robert J. Jones • UW convocation