Columbus State University Events
Convocation
Convocation is Columbus State University’s signature welcome event for first-year students and the official start to your journey at CSU and your Cougar Tracks experience. This exciting tradition brings together the entire incoming class for a day focused on connection, belonging, and CSU pride as you begin building your path through Cougar Tracks.
You’ll meet your college community, connect with classmates, engage in key traditions, and take part in your first major CSU milestone, including the class photo and Convocation ceremony. Along the way, you’ll receive your Convocation t-shirt, interact with campus resources, and start forming the connections that will support your success.
Attendance at Convocation is required for all first-year students, as it is a key component of your first-year course expectations and marks the beginning of your Cougar Tracks journey and overall CSU experience.
Save the Date
Date: Friday, August 7, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Check-In Location:Student Recreation Center
Registration and more details to come!
Check out photos from 2025: Convocation Fall 2025 | Flickr
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!
Check out last year's schedule below as an example.
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 |
| 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Dinner on Own |
| 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM |
Student Evening Activities: TBD Locations: RiverPark: Livery; Main Campus: Rec MPR |
Additional Information
Campus Bookstore
- Hours: 8 am - 6 pm
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
- 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.
