New students at Texas A&M University-Texarkana will be welcomed to campus this fall at Hatch Camp 2015, which promises to be an “eggciting” new first-year experience program for incoming Eagles.
Hatch Camp will get underway Thursday, Aug. 20, with freshmen move-in from 10 a.m. to noon at Bringle Lake Village. From 6-7 p.m. that day, there will be a Bringle Lake Village meeting for new students living in the residence hall. From 8-11 p.m., there will be a welcome party sponsored by the Residence Hall Association and the Residence Life office. There will be food, games, swimming and music for new students living in Bringle Lake Village.
On Friday, Aug. 21 from 8 a.m. to noon, there will be a mini-SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising and Registration) session for new freshmen who were not able to attend one of the summer SOAR sessions. Hatch Camp check-in is from 11:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, Aug. 21, in the University Center. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 1-4 p.m. there will be an advising and first-year experience (FYE) welcome in Eagle Hall. The interactive session is designed to acquaint students with university expectations, policies and procedures. From 5-9 p.m., there will be a sand volleyball tournament and grill-n-chill at Bringle Lake Park West.
On Saturday, Aug. 22, there will be a continental breakfast from 9-10 a.m. in the University Center from 11 a.m. to noon, the John F. Moss Library will sponsor an information session. From 12-3 p.m., there will be a freshmen meet and greet on the University Center lawn. Lunch will be served, and there will be games, a kickball tournament and other activities. There will be a freshman assembly in Eagle Hall from 3-5 p.m. Students will learn about the history of the university, will learn the the alma mater and will hear from deans and faculty members about classroom expectations, leadership opportunities, services offered and other important information.
From 5-6 p.m. that day, dinner will be served on the first floor of the University Center. From 6-7 p.m., there will be Bringle Lake floor meetings. From 7-9 p.m., there will be a Playfair icebreaker at the Eagle Soccer Field. A street dance is set for 8:30-10 p.m. in front of Bringle Lake Village.
Freshman Convocation is set for 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23. While parents are allowed to attend the convocation reception from 4-5 p.m. in the University Center lobby, only incoming freshmen and faculty may attend convocation. From 7-9 p.m., there is an A&M-Texarkana bowling night at College Bowl in Texarkana, Texas.
On Monday, Aug. 24, Hatch Camp will conclude with attendance at “Take Back College” with speaker Ryan Penneau from 7-8:30 p.m. in Eagle Hall. The presentation is mandatory for all new freshmen.