August 28–31, 2026
Welcome Weekend is the beginning of many Taylor traditions.

Along with Taylor’s First-Year Experience program, Welcome Weekend can help you meet new friends, make the transition academically, and provide opportunities for you to know yourself and God in a deeper way.

2026 Welcome Weekend Schedule

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Welcome Weekend & Orientation Details

  • Friday, August 28–Saturday, August 29: Welcome Weekend for Students and Families
  • Saturday, August 29–Monday, August 31: New Student Orientation for First-Time and Transfer Students
Early Arrivals:
  • International Orientation begins Tuesday, August 25.
  • Athletes, check with your coach for arrival details.

Important Notes

  • Residence halls and apartments will be open for move-in from 8 am to 6 pm. After your vehicle receives a welcome from the president, please check in with your Residence Life team prior to moving in. Check-in tables are located at each residence hall and a central location for apartments (you will receive an email with these details). We encourage all move-in activity to be completed within those hours.
  • Transfer students are invited to move in on Friday and participate in Welcome Weekend and New Student Orientation.
  • Move-in for upperclassmen starts at 10 am on Saturday, August 29.

Welcome Weekend Information

  • Audition Sign-Up for Taylor Music, Theatre & Dance—Find a time to audition for Chorale, instrumental ensembles, or this fall’s musical.
  • Language Placement Testing—Have questions about testing for Spanish and French? Here's the information you need including contact information.
  • Campus Dining Information—New students will be able to utilize their meal plans beginning Friday lunch. Every student will receive four complimentary meal tickets for guests to use at any of the campus dining venues (Hodson Dining Commons, Boren Campus Center Food Court, and Taylor Food Truck) during Friday lunch, Friday dinner, or Saturday brunch. If you have additional guests who would like to eat on campus, additional meal tickets can be purchased online. Printed meal tickets will be distributed to students when they check in at their place of residence on campus.
  • Departmental Information Meetings for New Students—Meet your professors and other students in your area of study! All new students are required to attend their departmental meeting on Monday at 1 pm, unless stated otherwise. If you are a double major, please attend the major of your first priority. If you are in the Honors Guild, you will have a meeting at 2 pm. A list outlining the locations of these meetings will be posted in August.
  • Information Fair Directory—You don’t want to miss the Information Fair & Welcome Social on Friday afternoon to pick up valuable information. More information will be posted in August outlining departments and vendors who will be present and where to find them. There will be cold treats provided outside on the Horne Patio for students and families to enjoy. During check-in, you will receive tickets to redeem your Welcome Weekend Gift at the fair (one for each student and two for guests).

Other Helpful Links

  • Campus Map—Need help finding your way around? This campus map will provide you with building names and information. You will also be able to find a printed map at the front desk of each residence hall.
  • Computer and Network Registration—Connect your devices to Taylor’s WiFi.
  • Area Information—Lodging, Dining, Maps/Directions, etc.

FAQs

Your entire family is absolutely welcome on campus, but it’s completely up to you who you choose to bring.

You and your family are welcome to stay in the area and participate in all the events on Friday and Saturday morning. These events include an Information Fair and Celebration Service on Friday as well as a Dedication Service and Farewell Brunch on Saturday morning. Parents are then encouraged to say their goodbyes before 1 pm on Saturday as the rest of the programming that weekend will be for students only.

The residence halls open at 8 am and you will have the entire day to move in. The other events on the schedule that day are options for you when you are done moving in. You may want to run to the store with your son/daughter to get any missing supplies they need, go to Ivanhoe’s to get ice cream, check out a local coffee shop, explore campus, walk around Taylor Lake and Taylor Woods, or check out the Campus Store.

There will be a Parent and Family Hospitality Corner at the Memorial Prayer Chapel if you need a space to relax and enjoy a hot cup of coffee. The day will really be what you want it to be. We encourage you to be back on campus in time for the evening Welcome Celebration Service because this is a meaningful highlight of Welcome Weekend. On Saturday morning, we have a special Dedication Service and Farewell Brunch before you say goodbye to your student.

For our international students/families, International Orientation takes place prior to Welcome Weekend starting on Tuesday, August 25. The Office of International Programs oversees this event. Nate Chu is the Executive Director of Spiritual Life and Intercultural Leadership and can answer your questions.

After International Orientation, we would love for you to stay and participate in all the Welcome Weekend events on Friday and Saturday if you are able. These events will include an Information Fair and Welcome Celebration Service on Friday as well as a Dedication Service and Farewell Brunch on Saturday morning.

Parents are then encouraged to say their goodbyes before 1 pm on Saturday as the rest of the programming that weekend will be for students only.

We do not have housing accommodations for parents/families. You will need to make your own arrangements. Find some lodging options in the area.

While proficiency testing is available for all students, not all students will need to take them, which can be determined by ACT/SAT scores. Proficiency testing is offered throughout the spring and summer on an individual basis and at Summer Orientation on June 19. We strongly recommend submitting your ACT/SAT scores or taking the proficiency test prior to June so the Registrar's Office can take it into account when creating your fall schedule.

More information on Academic Testing and Placement is available online. Further questions about proficiency testing can be directed to Cindi Carder. For questions regarding language placement and testing, please contact Melinda Clester.

Returning students can begin moving in on Saturday, August 29, at 10 am.

Classes begin at 5 pm on Monday, August 31, with the first full day being Tuesday, September 1.

Questions?

Email [email protected].

*The First-Year Experience® is a service mark of the University of South Carolina. A license may be granted upon written request to use the term The First-Year Experience in association with educational programmatic approaches to enhance the first college year. This license is not transferable without written approval of the University of South Carolina.