Despite any fears, the common feeling was one of excitement. 

“I fell in love with UD the first time I came,” said first-year student Erica Hager from Wilmington, Delaware. “I’m excited to meet new people and find new activities to do. I think I might try out for club lacrosse.” 

Parents and family helped new students unload cars in a process choreographed by UD officials to ensure safety and efficiency. Blue Hen Helpers (upper class students) were scattered about in gold and blue T-shirts, representing a variety of UD clubs, organizations and athletic groups. University staff and faculty members pitched in to help students move into their new homes.

“We want to welcome all of our students back to campus and the new students to the Blue Hen community,” said UD Provost Robin Morgan. “It’s a great day. It brings back the life to campus and we love having them here.” 

José-Luis Riera, vice president for student life, echoed Morgan’s enthusiasm. 

“We’re really excited,” he said. “I think, overwhelmingly, we received some really positive feedback on the way the day is going. Everybody is just working together so well to get cars in and out. It’s very exciting. I think students are really ready to start their new experiences.” 

Slightly cooler temperatures than in recent years helped smooth the process of unloading cars and filling rooms. 

This year’s incoming first-year class includes more than 4,000 students from about 32 states and 42 nations. UD officials expect the class to be among the most diverse in terms of racial and gender make up. More than 350 of those students will begin their time at UD in a different location, as World Scholars or participants in the Delaware in DC program or as part of other fellowships. UD will release official data in the future. 

Returning students began arriving on campus Thursday, Aug. 22, and will continue to return to campus through Monday, Aug. 26. On Friday, the first set of students moved into the newly acquired University Courtyard Apartments. The residence hall will house more than 800 upper class students.

Academics, campus beauty, size and affordability are among the top reasons new Blue Hens gave for choosing UD. As a Delaware native, Olive Twum-Danso said she was surprised once she toured the campus.

“I wanted to go far, but then I visited and I did a tour and I ended up really liking it,” Twum-Danso said. “I never came to UD and toured before. I just like the sense of community and how welcoming everyone was.”

She began building that community when she met her roommate, Sachi Gupte, via a Facebook group for incoming students. The two clicked and decided to take the leap and live together.

Gupte, originally from Germantown, Maryland, chose UD for the pre-veterinary medicine program. Community was also a high priority for her. 

“I’m really excited for my major,” Gupte said. “I’m also excited to make new friends and to just be independent, because I feel like my whole life I haven’t been independent. So that’s going to be really new for me, figuring out how to do things on my own.”

That new-found independence is also what Gupte is most nervous about. 

Incoming students Connor Dorney, from Lewes, and Sarah Buoni, from Millsboro, shared Gupte’s feelings. Buoni and Dorney recently shared their excitement and concerns with UDaily in the weeks before move-in day.

Parents also had a mix of emotions. Joe and Kathryn Bianco described the moment as exciting, but sad. Their daughter, Victoria Bianco, is the first in the family to go to college. They said they hope she finds her way on campus and ultimately toward her dream career. Their advice for their daughter is to make the most of this time. 

“Take every opportunity to meet friends and get involved, because it comes once,” Kathryn Bianco said. “She’s heard that from us 50 times.”   

Christine McAndrews, mother of Kate McAndrews, said she was relieved to get to this moment, after a hectic week of preparing. Christine said Kate did a lot of her shopping at the last minute. Like other parents, Christine said she hopes her daughter enjoys her time at UD.

“Obviously, I want her to be safe,” McAndrews said. “I really want her to go outside of her comfort zone and I want her to take advantage of everything she can to grow and explore and have fun.” 

Other Activities for 1743 Welcome Days

Below is a select list of 1743 Welcome Days activities during the move-in weekend, including Monday, Aug. 26 and Tuesday, Aug. 27. Click the link for more details on each event. The full schedule for UD 1743 Welcome Days is available within the Guidebook app on Android and Apple smartphones as well as on the website. 

Saturday, Aug. 24

• Family Send-Off from 4 to 8 p.m. Multipurpose Room in the Trabant University Center

• Residence Hall Meetings and “Meet and Eat” Welcome Picnic from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Religious Services and Welcome Events from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

• Welcome Home, Commuters and Transfers from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Harrington Engagement Center

• The Preview of Perkins Live from 8:30 p.m. to midnight in Perkins Student Center

• Headphone Disco from 10 p.m. from 1 a.m. on the Central Green

Sunday, Aug. 25

• Brunch in the dining halls from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in various dining halls 

• HENSforth from 10:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the Trabant University Center 

• Coffee and Conversations from 2 to 3 p.m. at Brew Haha (45 East Main St.) 

• Come as you are yoga from 3 to 4 p.m. at Christiana Commons

• “Where’s My Class?” Tours from 3 to 5:30 p.m. meeting on the steps of Gore Hall

• Journaling with tea and coffee from 4 to 5 p.m. in Trabant University Center

• LGBTQ+ Welcome from 4 to 6 p.m. in Perkins West Lounge

• Lil Bob RecFest from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Carpenter Sports Building

• Wellness Hour - The third annual puppy meet-and-greet from 6 to 7 p.m. on the North Green 

• Game of Life Plinko from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Collins Room of the Perkins Student Center  

• Residence Life and Housing Engagement Fairs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

• Transfer and Off-Campus/Commuter Dinner from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Caesar Rodney Dining Hall 

• The Blue Hen Carnival from 7 to 8:15 p.m. in the Barnes and Noble UD Bookstore 

• Gameday 101 from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Athletics Complex 

• Hen Zone from 9:30 p.m. to midnight in the Hen Zone of Perkins Student Center 

• Late Night Cosmic Ice Skate from 10 p.m. to midnight at the Fred Rust Ice Arena 

• Movie Screening: Spiderman into the Spider-Verse from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the Rodney Room of the Perkins Student Center 

Monday, Aug. 26

• Academic Orientation from 8 a.m. to noon

• Fraternity and Sorority Life at UD from noon to 12:45 p.m.  and 1 to 1:45 p.m. in room 100 of Wolf Hall 

• Transfer and Off-Campus/Commuter Lunch from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in the Caesar Rodney Dining Hall 

• Involvement Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. on the Central Green 

• Transfer Edition: Fraternity and Sorority Life at UD from 2 to 2:45 p.m. in room 100 of Wolf Hall 

• Finding your Balance: How to Stress Less from 2 to 3 p.m. in Rooms 209 and 211 of the Trabant University Center

• Promoters of Wellness: Meet and Greet Ball Pit from 2 to 4 p.m. at 196 South College Ave.  

• First Day Workshop and Tour of Morris Library from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. in Morris Library 

• Why, When, Where and How to Study Abroad from 3 to 3:45 p.m. in room 140 of Smith Hall 

• Recovery at UD: Coffee with the Collegiate Recovery Community from 3 to 5 p.m. at 231 South College Ave.  

• First Generation Welcome from 4 to 6 p.m. in Perkins West Lounge 

• Marketing Majors Welcome from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Atrium of Lerner Hall  

• Transfer and Commuter 101 - dinner and student panel from 6 to 7 p.m. in the lounge of Trabant University Center

• Twilight Induction Ceremony from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. on the Central Green 

Tuesday, Aug. 27

• Latinx Welcome Reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Multipurpose Room C of the Trabant Student Center

• Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi-American (APIDA) Welcome Reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Multipurpose Room C of the Trabant Student Center

For more photos of Move-In Weekend 2019, visit UD in Photos.