Clyde's Kickoff
GENERAL INFORMATION
Leap into your educational experience at UCCS with Clyde’s Kickoff, our New Student Welcome Week! Taking place the week before fall classes begin, Clyde’s Kickoff is seven days of programming dedicated solely to first-year students, including incoming freshmen, international students, transfer students, and graduate students. We’ll introduce you to our vibrant campus community, our various campus resources, other new students, and to the incredible opportunities we have here for you at UCCS. Events held throughout this week offer everything from energizing activities to featured entertainment to learning tips for academic success, as well as the launch of your GPS course. Getting excited yet? We are, too!
We highly encourage you to participate in all Clyde’s Kickoff programming (GPS 1010: Gateway Program Seminar attendance is required), as these fun events will prepare you with important information to help you acclimate to university life!
Have questions about Clyde’s Kickoff Week? We’re here to help! You can call us at (719) 255-3470 or email us at studlife@uccs.edu.
First Year Student Event Schedule
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Sunday, August 14Sunday, August 14
Move-in Day
Time: 12:00pm - 4:30pm
Location: Campus Recreation Center Gym
Residence Life will send your move-in assignments, times, and locations. Please check with Residence Life and Housing for your day, time, and location for your move-in (housing@uccs.edu).
Sunday Dinner
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Roaring Fork Dining Hall
Time: 7-9pm
Location: San Juan Quad
Do you miss your childhood stuffed animals? Come pick out your very own, stuff it yourself, and give it a cute name!
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Monday, August 15Monday, August 15
Breakfast Hours
Time: 7:00am - 9:00am
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
Move-in Day
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Location: Campus Recreation Center Gym
Residence Life will send your move-in assignments, times, and locations. Please check with Residence Life and Housing for your day, time, and location for your move-in (housing@uccs.edu).
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Summit Turf
Create your own DIY Lotion Bar!
Lunch Hour
Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
Champions Are Made
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Mosaic
Dinner Hours
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
Time: 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Location: Alpine Field
A night for first year student to explore and engage with different departments at UCCS! This will be held on Alpine Field and there will be games and food.
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Tuesday, August 16Tuesday, August 16
Breakfast Hours
Time: 7:00am - 9:00am
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
Move-in Day
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Location: Campus Recreation Center Gym
Residence Life will send your move-in assignments, times, and locations. Please check with Residence Life and Housing for your day, time, and location for your move-in (housing@uccs.edu).
Lunch Hour
Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
Club and Organization Field Day
Time: 1:00pm 4:00pm
Location: Alpine Field
Interested in what clubs and organizations are available? Want to get to know them even more? Stop by alpine field and begin to determine what clubs and organizations you want to join, weeks ahead of the annual club fair! This club event is held exclusively for first year students!
Feast at the Fork
Time: 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Location: Roaring Fork and San Juan Quad
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: San Juan Quad and Summit Turf
Escape the summer heat with some tasty treats and meet some of your fellow classmates! Yard games are available, and will be a fantastic event to make some great memories with new friends and roommates!
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Wednesday, August 17Wednesday, August 17
Breakfast Hours
Time: 7:00am - 9:00am
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
Move-in Day
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Summit and VAV Front Desks
Residence Life will send your move-in assignments, times, and locations. Please check with Residence Life and Housing for your day, time, and location for your move-in (housing@uccs.edu). Please note there will be no check-ins available after 12pm on Wednesday. If you have a special request, please contact housing.
Parent Send-Off
Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Location: Ross Lobby - Ent Center
Floor Meetings (Residential Students only)
Time: 1:30pm - 2:45pm
Location: Across Campus
Floor meetings are a chance to meet with other residents on your floor, engage with your RA (resident Assistant) and learn more about the expectations of living in housing. Check with your RA for specific floor times and locations. Your floor meeting will lead you directly to your PlayFair/Welcome event.
Lunch Hour
Time: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
Time: 12:00pm-2:30pm
Location: Upper University Center Plaza (Student Life Lounge)
Are you new to UCCS but won't be living on campus? We didn't forget about you! Join us at our annual Commuter Social to learn about some resources around campus, meet some of your fellow students, and enjoy some delicious treats! All first-year students are welcome!
Time: 3:00pm-4:30pm
Location: Gallogly Events Center and Berger Hall
PLAYFAIR is the most popular campus attraction in history for New Student Orientation Programs. PlayFair is totally unlike anything else you have ever experienced. It's entertainment! It's fun! It's the perfect way to make new campus friendships! And PlayFair is more than just an entertainment event – it is a team-building experience that has a long-lasting effect on the members of UCCS!
Join other student leaders from Fraternity and Sorority Life, RA's, SGA and Club leaders as they take you through the nation's largest team builder to kick off the most exciting week in your college career! The event will be followed by Mountain Lion Rally (parade of faculty and staff that cheer you on), as well as the Class of 2025 Class photo!
Clap Line / Mountain Lion Rally
Time: 4:15pm
Location: Spine
Dinner Hours
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
Time: 6:30pm-9:30pm
Location: Gallogly Recreation and Wellness Center
Join us at the Recreation and Wellness Center for this year's annual RecFest! Tons of free food, stuff, and games!
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Thursday, August 18Thursday, August 18
Breakfast Hours
Time: 7:00am - 9:00am
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
GPS Gateway Days - DAY 1
Time: 9:00am-5:00pm
Location: Locations vary- Check the GPS website: https://gps.uccs.edu/gateway-days
GPS 1010 is your first official class at UCCS, either online or in person. Check your portal for times, locations, and other information. Please note if you are a first year student, you are REQUIRED to take this class and be present in person. Day 1 course programming includes:
- Class of 2025 Convocation
- Smart-move Training
- Lunch provided
- CollegeFest Resource Fair
Convocation
Time: 9:30am - 9:45am
Location: Virtual from Classrooms
Open Lawn Time/GPS Lunch
Time: 11:30-1:00pm
Location: Berger, Upper Plaza, West Lawn, Summit Turf
Rec Center Activities
Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Location: Rec Center and across campus
Dinner Hours
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
The Dating Doctor
Time: 8:00pm - 10:30pm
Location: Berger Hall
Hitch is back for his ninth year in a row! The date doctor David Coleman, the inspiration for the movie Hitch (starring Will Smith), is hosting an event for UCCS. David Coleman is known worldwide as The Dating Doctor.™ He has been honored thirteen times as The National Speaker of the Year— 10 times by Campus Activities Magazine and 3 times by The National Association for Campus Activities and was honored as the 2011 National Entertainer of the Year! He is a highly sought after speaker, author, entertainer, radio and television personality. David has spoken to more than 2,000,000 people in all 50 states, Canada and Europe and another 20,000,000 through his appearances on radio, television, and in print. You don't want to miss his joyful and energetic personality!
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Friday, August 19Friday, August 19
Breakfast Hours
Time: 7:00am - 9:00am
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
GPS Gateway Days- DAY 2
Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Location: Locations vary- Check the GPS website: https://gps.uccs.edu/gateway-days
GPS 1010 is your first official class at UCCS, either online or in person. Check your portal for times, locations, and other information. Please note if you are a first year student, you are REQUIRED to take this class and be present in person. Day 2 course programming includes:
- Chalk the Walk
- Smart-move Training
- Lunch provided
- Exit Parade
Time: 9:30-11:30am
Location: Spine from Library to Columbine
Take a break from sitting in class all day and show your GPS class spirit with a fun chalk design on the sidewalk!
Open Lawn Time/GPS Lunch
Time: 11:30-1:00pm
Location: Berger, Upper Plaza, West Lawn, Summit Turf
Rec Center Activities
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Location: Rec Center and across campus
Dinner Hours
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Roaring Fork and Lodge
University Center Premiere Night
Time: 7:30pm-9:00pm
Location: University Center
Premiere Night is like no other event at UCCS! Imagine the best state fair or carnival, combine that with college life, as well as scavenger hunts, and you have one of the most fun and swag-filled events you will ever attend at UCCS. Premiere Night features offices and departments who will share a little about themselves in a fun, interactive, and carnival-esq way! you will visit with each one and participate in their activity!
At this event, you will also sign your class banner, a tradition that has been in place at UCCS for 5 years! After completing premiere night and visiting with all of the departments, you will have an opportunity to win some of the largest prizes around to include airpods, ipads, flat screen tv's, fire sticks, and more!
Time: 9pm-midnight
Location: Berger Hall
Grab your lucky charm, it's Bingo time. Join your peers for a night full of Bingo with the opportunity to win some great prizes!
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Saturday, August 20Saturday, August 20
Clyde’s Adventure Excursions: Summit Bowling Excursion
Time: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Meet in Student Life Lounge and take bus to Summit
Student Life will be taking a group of students to Manitou Springs! Students will meet in the Student Life Lounge and from then take a bus to Manitou! Students are required to RSVP for this event. Although this event is open to all students, there are limited spots, so RSVP here now!
Clyde's Adventure Excursions: Manitou Springs
Time: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Meet in Student Life Lounge and take bus to Manitou Springs
Student Life will be taking a group of students to Manitou Springs! Students will meet in the Student Life Lounge and from then take a bus to Manitou! Students are required to RSVP for this event. Although this event is open to all students, there are limited spots, so RSVP here now!
Clyde's Adventure Excursions: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Time: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Meet in Student Life Lounge and take bus to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Student Life will be taking a group of students to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! Students will meet in the Student Life Lounge and from then take a bus to the zoo. Students are required to RSVP for this event. Although this event is open to all students, there are limited spots, so RSVP here now!
Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Summit Village Turf
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Start your college experience off right, relaxing on the lawn with friends, snacks, and an outdoor movie!
Time: 10:30pm - 12:00am
Location: Berger Hall (auditions held from 3:00pm -5:00pm)
Show off your talents and skills in the annual UCCS Class Talent Show and represent the class of 2026! Enjoy live entertainment, UCCS celebrity judges, free snacks, prizes, and much more at this event!
Auditions will be held from 3-5 pm August 20th (location TBD). The live performance will follow that same evening from 10:30pm-12:00am in Berger Hall!