Convocation is Columbus State University's signature welcome event for first-year students and the official start to your journey at CSU! This exciting tradition unites the entire incoming class for a day filled with fun, connection, and CSU pride. Enjoy activities such as campus tours, college meetups, and checking off key CSU traditions, along with receiving a free t-shirt and plenty of school spirit. There will be a memorable class photo, and the day will culminate with a huge evening program for all students to enjoy! Attendance at Convocation is required for all first-year students, as it is a vital part of your first-year course expectations and marks the beginning of your unforgettable experience at Columbus State.
Event Details
Date: Friday, August 8, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Check-In Location:Student Recreation Center
Convocation is mandatory and serves as your official welcome into the CSU community. Attendance will be tracked, and CSU IDs are required at check-in.
Convocation will be from Noon-5:30pm. There will be continued optional tours and activities for students through 10pm on both campuses!
Questions? We're here to help! Contact academic_advising@columbusstate.edu
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Check-In & Welcome Activities |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Breakout Sessions |
| 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM | College Meetups |
| 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM | Convocation Ceremony |
| 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Class Photo (students) and Ice Cream Social |
| 5:30 PM | Optional Class Tours |
| 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Dinner on Own |
| 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM |
Student Evening Activities: Silent Disco (Hosted by Residence Life) Locations: RiverPark: Livery; Main Campus: Rec MPR |
Additional Information
Campus Bookstore
- Hours: 8 am - 6 pm
- Discount Code: SPIRIT25 for 10% off your purchase online or in-store (excluding textbooks)
- Order by Thursday, August 7 at 2 pm to guarantee in-stock items are ready for pickup on Friday, August 8.
Campus Dining Options
Make the most of your day—come early and enjoy lunch on campus before check-in begins! It's a great time to fuel up, explore, and meet other incoming students.
- On-Campus Lunch Options (beginning at 11 am)
- Campus Dining Options: Cougar Cafe & Chick-fil-A
- Cougar Cafe - Student Meal swipes will be active and accepted
- Without Meal Plan, all you care to eat for $11.50
- Cougar Cafe - Student Meal swipes will be active and accepted
- Food Trucks @ Clock Tower
- Country's BBQ
- Las Latinas Kitchen
- Lizzy's Sweet Shoppe
- Campus Dining Options: Cougar Cafe & Chick-fil-A
- On-Campus Dinner Options (5 pm - 8 pm)
- Campus Dining Options: Cougar Cafe
- Student Meal swipes will be active and accepted
- Without Meal Plan, all you care to eat for $11.99
- Campus Dining Options: Cougar Cafe
Parking Information
Guests are welcome to park in any designated guest / student parking locations across campus. For ease of access, we suggest parking in the CSU Parking Garage located on Main Campus.
Campus Map
Detailed campus maps of both Main and RiverPark Campuses can be found on our campus maps page.