Welcome Back!

Written by Pat Pemberton July 15, 2023

After a quiet summer, campus was once again teeming with activity as returning students, incoming freshmen and transfer students arrived in San Luis Obispo for the 2023-24 academic year.

The Orfalea College of Business welcomed 991 new students this year, which includes 764 first-time freshman and a record 227 new transfer students.

As students moved into dorm rooms — carting bins full of clothing, musical instruments, books and other belongings from home — they were greeted with a series of fun and useful activities during SLO Days, an orientation, the Week of Welcome (WoW), events designed to introduce students to Cal Poly and each other.

Orfalea College of Business students Zoe De Young, left, and Viviana Lopez helped put on both SLO Days and Week of Welcome Events (Photo: JP Vega)

Business students Zoe De Young (Marketing) and Viviana Lopez (HR and Management) were responsible for planning and organizing operational aspects of both SLO Days and WoW Week events, supervising other students as part of their role. The two both serve on the Orientation Leadership Team, with De Young acting as administration and logistics chair and Lopez as training and programming chair.

The events included swag giveaways, Movie Night, Silent Disco, and speakers, including President Jeffrey D. Armstrong.

Meanwhile, Orfalea College of Business students were formally greeted the day before classes began with a presentation by improv group On Your Feet. After that, they met with faculty and Student Services staff outside the Business building. (Speaking of, feel free to drop by Student Services for academic advising, peer mentoring, help with changing majors, internship questions and more. Student Services also includes the Multicultural Business Program.)

Check this site for more interesting and useful stories throughout the year. Meanwhile, peruse our photo gallery at the top to get a glimpse of the first week back. (Photos by Pat Pemberton, Jahan Ramezani and JP Vega).