Geneseo Traditions
100 Volunteers:
In accordance with our commitment to community service, Geneseo has a volunteer program exclusively designed for new transfer and first year students. Fall incoming students who sign up for 100 Volunteers will spend a morning (Labor Day or September 11) at locations around Livingston County, helping out people in need. Projects include yard cleanup, painting, trail clearing, or serving a senior citizen. For more information, check out the 100 Volunteers website.
All Campus Picnic:
President Dahl, faculty, staff and their families welcome all new students to Geneseo in the fall with a big picnic in Sturges Quad on the weekend that first year students arrive.
All-College Free Hour:
The all-college free hour is a time once a week where no Geneseo student has a commitment to being in class. No classes are scheduled on Wednesdays at 2:30 to 3:30 pm. With this available time, students are encouraged to attend workshops or lectures, as well as club and organization meetings, to aid in their personal development of skills, understanding of the broader world, and participation within the Geneseo community.
Cultural Harmony Week:
During this week of transformative and engaging programs, Geneseo challenges all students to think about the value of diversity within our campus community. With events put on primarily by student organizations, Geneseo shows its commitment to diversity through such interactive programs as experiential dinners, intercultural nights, and lively debates.
Day of Caring:
Hundreds of Geneseo students head out into Livingston and Monroe counties to clean up, build, sort things and otherwise help out in this annual campus-wide day of community service. The Day of Caring occurs on a Saturday in October.
G.R.E.A.T. Day:
G.R.E.A.T. (Geneseo Recognizing Excellence, Achievement and Talent) Day occurs near the end of the spring semester as a day-long college wide celebration of student creativity, research and scholarship. Geneseo students take pride in the hard work that they have accomplished throughout the year.
MidKnight Breakfast:
Want to see your professor in an apron? Come to MidKnight Breakfast! To celebrate the last day of classes each fall, the first-year class sponsors this evening event in Red Jacket or Mary Jemison dining hall. In this Geneseo tradition, faculty, staff and administrators cook and serve breakfast to the students. Crafts, games and live entertainment make this a lively party.
New Student Convocation:
The New Student Convocation marks the official start of the academic year at Geneseo. Faculty and staff attend in traditional robes, while new students are formally welcomed into the Geneseo community by learning the Alma Mater and beginning the next stage of their academic life.
Parents’ Weekend:
Geneseo hosts concerts, exhibitions and performances on a weekend in the fall semester as students throughout campus welcome their family members to their Geneseo community.
Siblings Weekend:
Siblings Weekend is a chance for students to bring their brothers and sisters to campus to see the place where they now live and study. Activities Commission hosts a variety of different programs and events that aim to entertain both younger and adolescent siblings.
Summer Reading Program: (on hiatus for 2011)
As part of the first year experience, Geneseo sponsors a summer reading program in which all new students read the same book. Each new student receives a copy of the book during Summer Orientation and is encouraged to read it before returning in the fall. On the first weekend of the fall semester, students meet in discussion groups with participating faculty and current students to discuss their impressions and thoughts on the themes of the book.
Weeks of Welcome (WOW):
So you’re finally settled into your residence hall, classes are just starting up, and you’re looking for something fun to do. Weeks of Welcome, or WOW, is a series of fun events and activities that give students not only the opportunity to meet new people, but also a chance to create a sense of community during this transition period. Past events have included comedians, concerts, flag football, and interactive game shows. Check out theWOW website to see the complete schedule.