The 2023-24 academic year will kick off with the Monarch Experience, a four-week extravaganza of events designed to introduce incoming students to campus culture, traditions and values and welcome returning students back to campus.

Organized by the Office of Student Engagement and Traditions, the Monarch Experience kicks off on Aug. 22, the first day of move-in. Among the highlights that day are the Learning Communities Welcome Dinner at 5 p.m. at Chartway Arena and game night at 7 p.m. in the North Café at Webb Center.

The Monarch Experience, which runs through Sept. 17, will be held throughout campus and includes more than 100 events, said Katie Winstead Reichner, executive director of student engagement and traditions. Most are free except for ticketed athletic events and Panhellenic recruitment.

Activities include:

Aug. 25: New Student Convocation, 4 p.m., Chartway Arena, and the Monarch Way Street Festival at 5 p.m.

Aug. 30: Monarch Beach Bash, 4 p.m., Whitehurst Beach

Aug. 31: Student Organization Fair, 11:30 a.m., Kaufman Mall (rain date, Sept. 7)

Sept. 2: Spirit rally and watch party for ODU’s season-opening football game at Virginia Tech, S.B. Ballard Stadium, 8 p.m.

Sept. 5: Welcome back luau, 5 p.m., Broderick Dining Commons

Sept. 9 and 16: ODU’s first two home football games, vs. Louisiana (6 p.m.) and Wake Forest (noon), Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium

Sept. 13: Meet the Greeks, 7 p.m., North Café at Webb Center

A complete schedule, which will include any updates, can be found at this link.