New Student Lunch & Convocation

The 2026 Convocation Ceremony welcomes all new undergraduate and transfer students.

Convocation is one of two seminal ceremonies that bookend the academic year. Whereas Commencement celebrates graduates, Convocation celebrates new Oregon State University students - in Corvallis and online. Each fall, the university welcomes new students at the New Student Convocation ceremony. Convocation, which literally translates to "come together," is a ceremony in which we welcome OSU's new students to the university. Ecampus students may participate via the live stream.

This year, the event is bigger than ever! Convocation kicks off with a community lunch at 11:30am in the MU Quad. Faculty and Staff are invited to join us and sit amongst our new students. At 12:30, faculty and staff are invited to cheer on OSU's incoming students from the sidewalk as they walk in the processional from the MU Quad down 26th Street. Afterward, all faculty and staff are welcome to join new students in Reser for a combined Convocation and Orange & Black Rally. After the class photo is taken, students will be led to their college's afternoon event.

Convocation will be streamed on live.oregonstate.edu.

New Student Lunch, Processional, Convocation and Orange & Black Rally Schedule for all new to OSU students

Community Lunch: 11:30 a.m. | Student Experience Center Plaza

Students who are living on campus are recommended to arrive during the following times based on your residence hall location: 11:20 a.m. | West side of campus11:35 a.m. | South side of campus11:45 a.m. | East side of campusTransfer students are invited to grab your lunch, and join us for a Transfer student social in the Memorial Union Commons!Student Line-up: 12:45 p.m. | Memorial Union Quad

New Student Walk Processional begins: 1:00 p.m. | 26th Street and SW Jefferson way

Convocation and Orange & Black Rally: ~1:30 p.m. | Reser Stadium *timing dependent on processional.

Annual OSU Class Photo: ~2:15 p.m. | Reser Stadium *timing dependent on processional.