Site Last Updated: 9/3/2021
Thank you for an amazing start to the fall semester, Wildcats! Check out our photo gallery of scenes from move-in, Ignite the Night, and the first day of classes!
Congratulations, Wildcats! You should take immense pride in the commitment you’ve made to your education. We’re so excited for this school year and urge you to take advantage of everything JWU has to offer. Check out all info on this page for not just a smooth arrival, but a fun one too. Join us for awesome events during Weeks of Welcome (aka WOW), and never hesitate to seek out & use campus resources or services.
To our Wildcat parents & families, we are here for you as much as we are here for your students. If after exploring this Wildcat Welcome page you still have questions, please be sure to reach out to Parent & Family Relations at 401-598-2895 or family.pvd@jwu.edu or this link to be connected with the appropriate resource on campus.
As a reminder, please visit our COVID-19 Center for information on health & safety protocols and expectations.
- Books, Classes & ID Card
- College Welcome Day
- Student Resource Guide + Reminders
- Local Info
- Weeks of Welcome (WOW) Events
- JWU Athletics Home Games
- Experience It All - Wildcat Experiences
Books, Classes & ID Card
For a listing of required textbooks, go to www.jwubookstore.com and enter your J#. Books can be rented or purchased either online or in person (but go to the bookstore location where your classes are being held, Downcity or Harborside).
Downcity Bookstore Hours:
- Fri-Sat 8/27-28, 9am-4pm
- Sun 8/29, 10am-3pm
- Mon 8/30, 8:30am-6pm
- Tues-Thu 8/31-9/2, 9am-6pm
- Fri 9/3, 9am-4pm
- Sat 9/4, 10am-2pm
- Sun-Mon, 9/5-6, closed
- Regular hours are Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm; Sat-Sun, closed
Harborside Bookstore Hours:
- Sat 8/28, 9am-4pm
- Sun 8/29, 9am-3pm
- Mon-Thu 8/30-9/2, 9am-6pm
- Fri 9/3, 9am-4pm
Other Important Info:
- Review the full academic calendar and plan accordingly for class meeting days, holidays & breaks. Fall classes begin Monday, August 30, 2021!
- To see your class schedule, log in to jwuLink > go to the Academics page > click View Course Schedule (in the Course Registration block). Be sure you know and adhere to class attendance policies.
- Not sure where a building is? Here's a campus map for getting around campus!
- You should clearly display your student ID card while on campus. We suggest using a lanyard or clip. If you need a lanyard, stop by Campus Safety & Security and we'll give you one! If you need a new or replacement card, go to the ID Services area in Student Academic & Financial Services.
College Welcome Day
New students are asked to attend a mandatory welcome session on Sunday, August 29. Each of the colleges - led by their deans and department chairpersons - will be sharing important information you'll need for the start of classes and for having a successful school year. Please monitor your JWU email for detailed information & instructions. A summary of the college welcomes are detailed below.
- Arts & Sciences: 9-11am, John Hazen White building (enter via door on Chestnut Street); an email from your faculty mentor will note your specific meeting location
- Business: 9:30-11:30am, Xavier Academic Complex (Schneider Auditorium)
- Engineering & Design: 9-10:30am, John J. Bowen CSI Building (Presentation Room)
- Food Innovation & Technology: 8:30am, Cuisinart Center for Culinary Excellence
- Health & Wellness: 9-10:30am, Yena Center (D’Amico Auditorium - enter via Gaebe Commons)
- Hospitality Management: 11am-12:30pm, Xavier Academic Complex (courtyard area)
Note: Students in the College of Food Innovation & Technology should arrive to their welcome wearing their chef uniforms. If you did not order or receive your uniform during the summer, please visit the Harborside Bookstore. Shoe, textbook and toolkit pickup will occur at the welcome.
Student Resource Guide + Reminders
Get off to a great start! We encourage all Wildcats to take a look at our super handy Student Resource Guide. It's a summary of key academic & campus resources, what they are, and how you'll access them. Use the guide often: view as a flip book or download as a PDF.
Please visit the following department sites and review the reminder notes for additional important info:
- Academic Success Center
- Accessibility Services (John Hazen White Center & Friedman Center offices will be open Sun 8/29 for our scheduled intro meeting; registered students will receive invitations a few days prior via Wildcat email)
- Catalog & Student Handbook (students should read and fully understand JWU policies, provisions, requirements and rules)
- Counseling Services
- COVID-19 Center
- Dining Services
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Experiential Education & Career Services
- Fitness Centers
- Health Services (offices will be open Sat 8/28, 9am-2pm; Sun 8/29, 10am-2pm; Harborside office will be open until 7pm on Mon 8/30)
- JWU Mobile Apps
- Library
- Off-Campus Student Services (commuting students: join us for our Meet & Greet in The Den on Sun 8/29 from 5-7pm)
- Parking Permits & Wildcat Wheels (masks must be worn by all persons on JWU buses, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status; parking permits will be available for pickup Sat 8/28, 9am-2pm, and Sun 8/29, 10am-2pm, in the Student Services Center and the Friedman Center Safety & Security Substation)
- Res Hall Move-In (move-in day for resident students is scheduled for the morning of Saturday, August 28; monitor your JWU email for detailed instructions; note that many families bring hand trucks, rolling containers or other means to make the process easier; and remember to plan ahead for the weather, dress for the day, wear comfortable shoes, expect to do some walking between buildings & parking areas)
- Safety & Security (Weybosset St ofice open 24/7; Friedman Center substation open M-F, 8am-4pm)
- Student Academic & Financial Services (offices will be open Sat 8/28, 9am-2pm, and Sun 8/29, 10am-2pm)
- Student Employment (office will be open Sat 8/28, 9am-2pm, and Sun 8/29, 10am-2pm)
- Student Engagement
- Technology Help (if you have a JWU technology question, concern or issue, contact Information Technology for real-time assistance)
Local Info (Start Exploring!)
- Art, Music, Dining, Recreation & Theatre – The city is filled with a bounty of amazing restaurants along with rich art and entertainment, from live music venues to big screen multiplexes, small art house cinemas and an IMAX. There are also many outdoor and sports options, too. A great place to start learning the city is at goprovidence.com.
- Banks – Students can bank at any institution of their choice. The following banks, listed as a convenience, have full-service locations in the Downcity area: Bank of America, Bank Newport, Bank Rhode Island, Citizens Bank, Santander, and Washington Trust.
- Discounts – Many attractions & retailers provide a discount to college students, typically after showing a student ID. Be sure to ask or look for offers!
- Shopping – Nearby shopping destinations include Providence Place Mall, Garden City Center, and Warwick Mall. National chains like Target, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s and others are close as well.
Weeks of Welcome (WOW) Events
Below is a quick look at some of the activities & events we have planned for the start of the semester. For time, location & more info, follow JWUPVDInvolved on Instagram and look for upcoming announcements in jwuLink, JWU Mobile, and the Involvement Network. We look forward to seeing you there, Wildcats!
- 8/28: Welcome (Back) to JWU (Harborside Corner Lot Grass @ 7pm)
- 8/29: Paw Print Meet & Greet (Gaebe Commons, 1-3pm)
- 8/29: Commuter Meet & Greet (The Den, 5-7pm)
- 8/29: Ignite the Night (Gaebe Commons @ 7pm)
- 8/30: First Day Freeze (Bowen Center @ 5pm)
- 8/31: Paint Night (Wildcat Center Lounge @ 8pm)
- 9/1: Karaoke (Wildcat Center Lounge @ 8pm)
- 9/2: Headliner Comedian (Schneider Auditorium @ 8pm)
- 9/3: Student Involvement Fest (Gaebe Commons @ noon)
- 9/3: UIB Outdoor Movie Night and Food Trucks (Harborside Corner Lot Grass @ 7pm)
- 9/4: Bingo (Wildcat Center Lounge @ 7pm)
- 9/6: Build-a-Bear (Wildcat Center Lounge, 1-5pm)
- 9/8: Meet the Greeks (Gaebe Commons @ 4pm)
- 9/10: JWU at the Zoo (Roger Williams Zoo @ 5pm)
- 9/16: Poetry Night featuring Carlos Andrés Gómez (Wildcat Center Lounge @ 8pm)
- 9/17: UIB Movie Night “Coco” (Wildcat Center Lounge @ 7pm)
- 9/18: Block Island Trip (Block Island @ 8:30am)
- 9/25: Wildcat Wahoo (Harborside Lot F @ 1pm)
- 10/8-10: Save-the-date for Homecoming & Family Weekend!
JWU Athletics Home Games
JWU Athletics will be hosting a series of home games at the start of the semester and throughout. Stop by and check out the action! Visit providence.jwuathletics.com for more info.
- 9/1: Field Hockey vs Eastern CT, 3pm
- 9/1: W Soccer vs Babson, 5pm
- 9/1: M Soccer vs Bridgewater, 7:30pm
- 9/3: W Volleyball, JWU Tourney, 4:30pm/7pm
- 9/4: W Volleyball, JWU Tourney, 11am/1:30pm/4pm
- 9/4: W Soccer vs RWU, 7pm
- 9/8: Field Hockey vs Westfield State, 7pm
- 9/11: M Soccer vs Colby Sawyer, 1pm
- 9/11: W Soccer vs Colby Sawyer, 4pm
Whether it's the Res Life Rumble or Wildcat Madness (both in fall), Winter Week, or Founders Week (in spring), there are many Wildcat Experiences to enjoy throughout the year!
