Registration for Destination Iowa State surpasses 5,500

On the heels of successful summer orientations for first-year and transfer students, the enrollment management team is gearing up for a big, back-to-school Destination Iowa State (DIS) Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 21-23. Big, both because more than 5,500 -- and climbing -- new-to-ISU students already are registered and because, in tandem with Welcome Weekend plans, it will include a student-only live watch party in Hilton Coliseum for the Cyclones vs. Kansas Wildcats football game from Dublin, Ireland. The Aug. 23 game watch (11 a.m.-4 p.m.) will include Cyclone Alley traditions, pep band, free lunch, prizes and a video welcome from President Wendy Wintersteen and senior vice president for student affairs Toyia Younger.

"This is a once-in-a-while opportunity for our new students and continuing students to meet at a really fun event the weekend before classes begin -- a blend of Cyclone football and Hilton Magic," said Sarah Merrill, director of new student programs in the admissions office. "We want our Destination Iowa State students to feel, before they even start classes, that they are part of our campus community."

A role for faculty and staff

More than 200  volunteers are needed to assist with several DIS and Welcome Weekend events Aug. 21-23:

• Center of ExCYtement dinner, Thursday evening
• Cookout, Friday evening
• G.O.A.T. breakfast, Saturday morning
• Volleyball exhibition, Saturday morning
• Football game watch, Saturday morning/afternoon

Sign up online. Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt and food and beverages during their shift(s). Adventure2 participants can earn 100 points for completing their service. 

Orientation numbers are strong

Merrill said in-person orientation in June drew 400 more students than last summer. It included just over 5,300 first-year students and just over 700 transfer students who brought 8,634 family members or friends with them to campus. Additionally (so far), more than 700 first-year and more than 525 transfer students have completed the online orientation program, with more partially into the task.

"Students are still thinking about coming to Iowa State, especially students thinking about transferring," Merrill said. "They're realizing Iowa State is the right fit for them and this is where they want to continue their higher education."

Merrill said in-person orientation for international students, hosted by the International Students and Scholars staff, begins Aug. 13, after students arrive in Ames. Some will travel 10, 20 or even 30 hours by air from their home countries to get here. Merrill said she's hopeful the university will welcome about 200 new international undergraduates in the next weeks.

Merrill expressed her gratitude to the "more than 450 staff and faculty who touch orientation in some way and make this transition a positive one for our students" -- including dining and residence hall staff, academic advisors, event management staff at the Memorial Union and building custodians, to name a few. 

"The number of people who wrote in their evaluations that they could feel the support and culture of care at our university, whether their interactions were with staff, faculty or administrators, is remarkable considering the size of our campus," Merrill said. "It really paints a picture that we are a student-centric, leading land-grant university."

Some location shifts

Destination Iowa State's kickoff picnic and festival Thursday evening (Aug. 21) is moving to central campus, with check-in at Beardshear Hall. 

Friday events begin with pancakes on central campus and include:

• Daytime activities for DIS small groups designed to acclimate students to campus and get them prepared for the first day of class.
• Cookout supper at the Lied Recreation Center -- also the first event of the 2025 Welcome Weekend, a lineup of fun activities for all students.
• Late night games, music and food in the Memorial Union. 

"Whether they're new or continuing, we want our students to know there are healthy, safe, community-building activities for them the weekend before school starts," Merrill said.

Saturday DIS events are headquartered at the Iowa State Center. The day starts with a Welcome Weekend tradition, G.O.A.T. burrito breakfast and calisthenics -- with goats -- in the Scheman outdoor courtyard for all students. Preceding the football game watch for students is a free volleyball exhibition match, also in Hilton, between the Cyclones and Drake Bulldogs (9 a.m. start). Hypnotist and comedian Chris Jones' 8:30 p.m. show is in Stephens Auditorium.