Editor’s note: Afternoon rain and the forecast for more through the evening of Monday, Aug. 30 forced the postponement of the University of Delaware’s Twilight Induction Ceremony until Tuesday, Aug. 31.

The 2020 ceremony was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so this is another test of Blue Hen resilience. Nonetheless, the UD Community will plan to celebrate the incoming first-year students in the Class of 2025 with a candlelight ceremony Tuesday evening. Students will plan to gather on The Green outside Memorial Hall to hear from UD President Dennis Assanis and student speakers.

The Twilight Induction Ceremony caps 1743 Welcome Days, which precede the start of classes on Aug. 31. To learn more about the Twilight Induction Ceremony, read a recap of the 2019 event.

The earlier version of the UDaily story published on Aug. 24 follows:

The start of the University of Delaware’s fall semester for 2021 is upon us and that means a jam-packed schedule of events to welcome new and returning Blue Hens back to campus. Here’s what’s happening before the first day of classes on Tuesday, Aug. 31.

Move-in days

First-year students will move in on Thursday, Aug. 26, and Friday, August 27. Upper division students including rising sophomores, juniors and seniors will move in Saturday, Aug. 28. All students were notified in early July about their move-in time; appointments are between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. For more details on move-in instructions, what to bring, what to leave at home and more, visit the Residence Life and Housing portal.

1743 Welcome Days

Named for the founding year of the University, 1743 Welcome Days offer a variety of activities to celebrate the start of the semester. Kick things off with the Perkins Live preview on Aug. 27 to get a glimpse of the Fall 2021 lineup of free Friday night entertainment including magicians, comedians, bingo and more. Join the first annual Blue Hen Flock Party on Aug. 28 for live music, free food, photo booths and more. On Sunday, Aug. 29, students can gear up for football season with Game Day 101. Meet in The Barn — the student-only tailgate space before football games — for food trucks, games and music, then head into the stadium to receive a free T-shirt and learn the fight song. For the full schedule of welcome events and details, download the Guidebook app; once you’re in the app, tap the “Find Guides” icon on the bottom right, type in “2021 UD 1743 Welcome Days” in the search box and download the guide.

Involvement Fair

Learn more about UD’s 200-plus Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) at the in-person fair on Monday, Aug. 30, on the Central Green from noon to 3 p.m. Take this opportunity to connect with campus leaders and make new friends. You can find more information about the fair, read about the attending organizations and watch introductory videos from RSO leaders on the fair website.