With the arrival of new and returning students, Rochester’s campuses are abuzz with school spirit for the 2025–26 academic year.
The University of Rochester welcomed thousands of new students to campus for the 2025–26 academic year. From first-year undergraduates and transfer students to international arrivals and graduate scholars, these newest Yellowjackets are settling in, exploring campus, and beginning their journeys in a community defined by curiosity, creativity, connections, and the University’s motto: Meliora—ever better.
ALL HANDS ON DECK: Many hands do, in fact, make light work. Across two days, members of Rochester’s incoming class moved into their new homes on the River Campus and at the Eastman School of Music, assisted by family members, friends, and current members of the University community.
A FRESH COAT: Members of the School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Class of 2029 received their white coats during the annual Robert L. & Lillian H. Brent White Coat Ceremony, marking their entry into the medical profession.
STANDING ON CEREMONY: It may have been a drizzly afternoon on the quad, but President Sarah Mangelsdorf and University leaders were in high spirits as they formally welcomed new students, their families, and friends during the Convocation ceremony. Adding to the joyous mood, Students’ Association President John Conduah and Eastman School of Music Students’ Association President Nichole Waligora pose for a selfie with the audience during the ceremony.
ROLL WITH IT: Following Convocation, undergraduate students signed the class roll to symbolically join the University community. Class rolls are preserved in Rush Rhees Library and displayed at Commencement and class reunions.
INTO THE WILD: Each year, the University of Rochester First-Year Orientation Outing Treks (UR FOOT) program leads a group of new students on a scenic hike through nearby Letchworth State Park.
FRAMING FRENZY: The Simon Business School MBA Class of 2027 kicked off their academic journey with the eighth annual David Reh ’67S (MBA) Day of Service in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Together, they helped build the frame of a new home in Rochester. They also heard from Sabrina Lippman ’06, CEO of Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester, who shared powerful insights on purpose-driven leadership and how the organization continues to impact communities worldwide.
WE’VE GOT SPIRIT, YES WE DO: Members of the Class of 2029 sported their personalized Rochester jerseys, handed out during pre-Candlelight Ceremony festivities.
TONIGHT WE’RE GONNA PARTY WITH THE CLASS OF ’29: It’s always a night to remember. The annual Candlelight Ceremony gathers the incoming class on the Eastman Quadrangle for a moment of history and tradition. But the evening wouldn’t be complete without a celebration—DJed by Vice President for Student Life John Blackshear.
LET’S GET IN FORMATION: Incoming students in the School of Arts & Sciences and the Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences posed for the traditional group photo on the Wilson Quadrangle on the University’s River Campus, while members of the Eastman School of Music’s Class of 2029 posed in the historic Eastman Theatre.
LOOK FOR THE HELPERS: A cherished tradition for more than 30 years, Wilson Day introduces community engagement as an important part of the undergraduate experience at Rochester. This year, students volunteered their time at the MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence and the Greenovation thrift store, among other locations.
CELEBRATE US: Celebrate Rochester showcases the best of what the University has to offer outside the classroom. First-year students came together in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre to celebrate with an evening of song, dance, poetry, and music from around the world—including performances from Rochester Bhangra and Eastman Quartet.
GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GOOD (FIELD) DAY: Field Day comes at the perfect time, as Welcome Week winds down and students prepare for the first day of classes. A little friendly competition with lawn games and outdoor yoga filled out a robust schedule of activities.
TUNNEL VISION: Before students arrive, the tunnels connecting Eastman Quad, Wilson Commons, Meliora Hall, and Simon Business School are given a fresh coat of neutral paint. Why? So that incoming students can immediately (and literally) leave their mark on our hallowed halls.
