Panther Welcome

Click here for resources to start the semester.

All students are invited to join the POUNCE Rewards Program for fall 2022. For more details about the program, click here. 

Throughout the first five days of classes, Georgia State volunteers will staff Ask Me booths to help students navigate college life. Monday through Thursday booth hours will be 9 a.m. - 5 p.m unless otherwise noted. Friday hours will be 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Daily hours may vary based on the availability of volunteers.) Maps, Panther masks and other resources will be available for pickup at the locations listed below.

The Ask Me booth locations will be as follows:

• Atlanta –
  • 25 Park Place entrance from plaza
  • Library North entrance; with extended hours until 7 p.m. Mon.-Thur.
  • Corner of Courtland St. & Gilmer St.
  • Student Center West 3rd floor Information Kiosk
  • Urban Life Building entrance from Decatur St. (Mon.-Thur. only)
  • NOTE: SC Information Center on the first floor of SC East is available to answer questions from 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. every Monday-Thursday, and 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Fridays.
• Alpharetta – AA Building lobby
• Clarkston – CN Building lobby near café seating
• Decatur – SC Building lobby near café seating
• Dunwoody – NB Building lobby, lower level
• Newton – 1N Building, lobby near open seating
• Look for additional volunteers wearing Ask Me buttons on the Perimeter campuses. These roving volunteers will be ready with answers if you need assistance.
• Not on campus? Panther Answer is your one-stop shop to ask questions and set up appointments with admissions, academic advising, financial aid and the registrar’s office.

Thu., Aug. 18, 3-5 p.m. Urban Life Plaza, (between Sports Arena, SCW and Urban Life Building)

All new and returning international students and scholars are welcome to come to enjoy food and have fun! Register to attend the Global Grillout in PIN.

Sat., Aug. 20, 6 p.m., Center Parc Credit Union Stadium

Join Spotlight Programs Board and Athletics at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium for a Pep Rally at 6:40 p.m., open football practice at 7 p.m. and to watch "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" starting at 9 p.m. from the field.

Sun., Aug. 21, 2:30 p.m., Georgia State Sports Arena

First-Year Convocation is a formal event that welcomes new students to campus. Faculty and staff attend in their regalia, and Evan Malbrough, a 2022 40 Under 40 award recipient and founder of The Georgia Youth Poll Worker Project will deliver the keynote address.

Sun., Aug. 21, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Unity Plaza, Collins St. and SCE

Kick off the new year the day before classes begin! Immediately following First-Year Convocation, all students are welcome at the Atlanta campus for food, music, fun and socializing on campus! Catch a selfie with Pounce or pile your friends into a giant blue Georgia State armchair. Grab a snack. Dance to the music. Hang with old and new friends! The event will be held rain or shine! RSVP to attend the Welcome Back Block Party in PIN.

Join Panther Activities Council and Spotlight Programs Board for a free breakfast (while supplies last) on your way to class on one of the dates below as we welcome Panthers back to campus. Must have a current Panther ID.

• Newton – Mon., Aug. 22, 9 a.m., 1N Patio and Tues., Aug. 23, 9 a.m., 1N Patio
• Atlanta – Mon., Aug. 22, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., SCE East Lobby
• Clarkston – Mon., Aug. 22, 9 – 10:30 a.m. CN Cafe and Tues., Aug. 23, 9 – 10:30 a.m. CN Cafe
• Alpharetta – Mon., Aug. 22, 8 – 11 a.m. AA Building Lobby and Tues., Aug. 23, 8 – 11 a.m. AB Building Lobby
• Dunwoody – Mon., Aug. 22, 9:30 a.m. NB 2000 Student Center and Wed., Aug. 24, 9:30 a.m. NB 2000 Student Center 
• Decatur – Tues., Aug. 23, 9:30 a.m. SC Student Center and Wed., Aug. 24, 9:30 a.m. SC Student Center

Tues., Aug. 23, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Hurt Park

President M. Brian Blake & First Lady Bridget Blake invite you to the Hurt Park Ribbon-Cutting to celebrate the reopening of the park at 25 Courtland Street NE. There will be light refreshments after the ceremony. Please RSVP here. Information on how registered student organizations and departments can reserve Hurt Park for their event is available on the Student Center's website.

Wed., Aug. 24, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., State Ballroom, SCE

Want to work on campus? Join University Career Services for our On-Campus Job Fair. Explore opportunities within Georgia State University departments, and gain communication and leadership skills. Sign up today, and come and enjoy a live DJ, free swag, and more!

Join Panther Activities Council and Student Life for a free ice cream social (while supplies last) on your way to class on one of the dates below as we welcome Panthers back to campus. Must have a current Panther ID.

• Newton – Wed., Aug. 24, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., 1N Patio
• Dunwoody – Mon., Aug. 29, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. NB 2000
• Alpharetta – Tues., Aug. 30, 12 p.m., AA Lobby Entrance
• Clarkston – Tues., Sept. 6, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. CN Building

Wed., Aug. 24, 7 p.m., Speaker’s Auditorium, SCE & online

Spotlight Programs Board wants to welcome students back to campus with some laughs!

Thu., Aug. 25, 11:30 a.m.- 3 p.m., Unity Plaza & SCE 2nd floor 

Join Cultures, Communities & Inclusion (CCI) as we welcome new and returning students to campus! Learn about our programs, services, and resources, while meeting students and staff of diverse cultures and communities!

Thu., Aug. 25, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., State Ballroom, SCE 

All 30 chapters from the Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Panhellenic Council will be tabling to provide information about their chapter as well as recruitment and intake events.

Fri., Aug. 26, 7 - 11 p.m., State Ballroom, SCE

Kick off the fall semester at the first Panther Prowl of the year! For over three hours, audience members get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to control the music. This event puts you in the mind of an old-school DJ competition, but with students competing. If students play the best songs, students advance and win prizes on the spot.

Tues., Aug. 30, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hurt Park & Gilmer Street

Join your fellow Panthers at this outdoor block party for ALL students. The event will include food trucks, interactive attractions, departmental resource displays and music provided by DJs. Details will be in the PIN link.

Each Perimeter College campus will be hosting a similar event to the Pounce Down Piedmont festivities listed above. Pounce Around Perimeter will be using the Action Bound app – “Pounce Around Perimeter Quest” (login will be available Aug. 29-Sept. 9). Details and site locations coming soon.

• Decatur – Tue., Aug. 30, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Alpharetta – Wed., Aug. 31, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Dunwoody – Wed., Aug. 31, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Clarkston – Thu., Sept. 1, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Newton – Thu., Sept. 1, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wed., Aug. 31 -Thu., Sept. 1, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., SCE & SCW 

Stop by the Student Center on the Atlanta campus on these two days to get a Road Map of the offices and services. Prizes are available to Atlanta campus students based on the number of offices visited. Details are available in the PIN event.

New to campus or just looking to expand your social network? Join us for a fun afternoon of speed friending where you will have the chance to meet fellow students.

• In Person - Wed., Aug. 31, 3 - 5 p.m., Court Salon of the State Ballroom, SCE 
• Virtual - Friday, Sept. 2, Noon - 1 p.m. via Webex

Wed., Aug. 31, 7:20 - 10:30 p.m., Truist Park

Join us at Truist Park as the Braves welcome all Georgia State alumni, staff and students when they face the Colorado Rockies. When you purchase this specialty ticket package, you’ll receive a Braves/Georgia State co-branded stadium seat and $3 of every ticket package sold will go back to the GSU Foundation.  Register here for the game.

Thu., Sept. 1, 3–5 p.m., Veterans Memorial Hall, Dahlberg Hall

Join the Multicultural Center and International Student & Scholar Services to welcome Georgia State’s international students for the fall semester! This will be an opportunity for American students of all cultures and international students to get to know one another and build relationships that will build community at Georgia State!

Thu., Sept. 1, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Area between CA, CB, CC & CG buildings (rain site: CN Cafe) 

The Panther Activities Council is hosting a Foamalicious party where students can play and dance under black lights to live music on a dance floor covered in suds or bubbles. Food and glow sticks will be provided to students who attend while supplies last. The foam solution is non-toxic and biodegradable. It will not stain clothing and completely disappears within hours after the party.

Multiple involvement fairs will be held in-person and virtually via PIN to connect students with the resources offered by various student organizations across all campuses. Watch for listings in PIN with the kinds of organizations that will be featured at each event. 

• Alpharetta – Thu., Sept. 8, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.,  - AB 105 & AB Lobby
• Decatur – Thu., Sept. 8, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., SC 1st floor
• Newton – Thu., Sept. 8, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Campus Lawn
• Atlanta – Mon., Sept. 12, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Sports Arena 
• Clarkston – Tue., Sept. 13, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., CN Café
• Dunwoody – Tue., Sept. 13, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., NB Student Center
• Virtual - Thu., Sept. 8, 5 - 7 p.m., in PIN

• Atlanta – Thu., Sept. 8, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., West Exhibit Hall, Urban Life Building
• Dunwoody – Mon., Sept. 12, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., NB 2000
• Clarkston – Wed., Sept. 14, 1 – 3 p.m., CN 1000
• Newton – Thu., Sept. 15, 12 - 1 p.m., 1N 1000
• Decatur – Mon., Sept. 19, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., SC 2100
• Alpharetta – Wed., Sept. 21, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., AB Lobby

Fri., Sept. 9, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Cinefest, SCW & online

Learn about opportunities to get involved with Album 88 (radio station), The Signal (campus newspaper), Underground (undergraduate literary journal), New South (graduate literary journal) and Neo Network (video production).

Sat. Sept. 10, 12 p.m. Center Parc Credit Union Stadium

Come cheer on your Panthers as they take on the North Carolina Tarheels at the first home game of the season! Join the student tailgate an hour before kickoff with free food and giveaways! Remember student tickets are FREE! You can claim them through the GSU Athletics App on your phone!

Come out and learn about different safety aspects of your campus while getting free snacks and giveaways.

• Alpharetta – Tue., Sept. 13, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.,
  AA Lobby & Patio (rain: AB 105 & AB Lobby)
• Newton – Wed., Sept. 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.,
  1N Patio & Campus Lawn
• Clarkston – Tue., Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.,
  CN 1300 & CL Quad
• Dunwoody – Wed., Sept. 21, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.,
  NB1000 & NB Patio
• Decatur – Thu., Sept. 22, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.,
  SC Plaza and Roundabout
• Atlanta – Tue., Sept. 27, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Hurt Park