September 23, 2019

Welcome, Gauchos

New Student Convocation marks the beginning of a new academic year

Andrea Estrada

The first official day of the fall quarter, Monday, September 23, brought thousands of incoming freshmen and transfer students, as well as many faculty and staff, to the Faculty Green for New Student Convocation. The university's official induction ceremony for freshman and transfer students, the event is meant to promote the values of a UC Santa Barbara education and to build excitement about becoming part of the campus community.

With a welcome by Jeffrey Stopple, dean of undergraduate education, remarks were also delivered by Chancellor Henry T. Yang; Pierre Wiltzius, executive dean of the College of Letters and Science; Jeffrey Stewart, Pulitzer Prize-winning professor of Black studies; and Associated Students President Alison Sir, among others. This year’s even also featured a performance by the campus’s all-male a cappella group, BFOM.

Instruction begins Thursday, September 26.

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About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.