Blugold Experience Day
Welcome to campus, Blugolds! See below for information about parking and the schedule of events. Use this printable map to navigate campus, and click here if you would like a printable version of the details below.Parking Information
Parking is available for Blugold families in one of the following two lots from 7:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. on the day of your visit.- Human Sciences and Services (HSS) Parking Lot (GPS Address: 239 Water St.)
- Water Street Parking Lot (GPS Address: 101 Chippewa St.)
- Visitor Lot A (GPS Address: 1702 Park Ave.)
Note that there is construction on several streets near this parking lot, but the lot should remain accessible. If you have any difficulties, please proceed to one of the other parking lots below. - Hibbard Lot (GPS Address: 1515 Park Ave.)
- HHC Lot (GPS Address: 124 Garfield Ave.; located next to Hibbard Hall)
Campus Accessibility
The Risk Management, Safety and Sustainability department has created campus accessibility maps for upper campus and lower campus. These maps provide helpful information for navigating campus and identify accessible locations. They also include details such as access levels, elevators, ramps, automatic doors, accessible parking spaces and more.Schedule of Events
East Entrance, Davies Center 1st Floor
Participants can check in, grab their BGE swag bag and folder, eat breakfast, and access other resources as needed before the Welcome Program begins at 9:15 a.m.
A complimentary breakfast and coffee/tea service will be served 8:00-9:15 a.m. All students and guests will receive a breakfast ticket during check-in that can be used to grab breakfast in the Marketplace on the first floor of Davies. Gluten-free, vegetarian/vegan, and dairy-free options will be available.
Ojibwe Ballroom, Davies Center 3rd Floor
Your day will begin with a Welcome Program featuring keynote speakers and a general rundown of the day.
Various Locations
Students will break out into smaller groups and meet with members of our Orientation Assistant team and UW-Eau Claire faculty to discuss the transition from high school to college (or college to college for our transfer students). Guests will attend an interactive session focusing on the Blugold degree, how to be a good partner with the university, and how families can help support their student to stay on campus and be successful.
Various Upper and Lower Campus Locations
BGE participants will be broken into smaller groups and will participate in rotating activities during this timeframe. Specific schedules will be provided at the event.
Lunch: Participants can take part in our Dining Showcase during BGE. We’ll have six food stations offering a variety of meals, and you’re welcome to choose one, choose a few, or choose all six! We’ll have dining resources and support staff available to answer any questions about Dining Services and/or meal plans throughout the timeframe.*Gluten-free, vegetarian/vegan, and dairy options will be available.
Campus Resource Fair: Participants can take a walk through our campus-wide resource fair, which will be comprised of 26 campus partners sharing information about their department and lots of fun swag items.
Housing Tours: Participants can take tours on upper campus and will meet at the lobby area of their assigned hall to begin the tour. Afterward, will be able to meet and connect with Housing staff at a social event located in Suites (our second-year residence hall). *We will have a special session during this time designated for our commuting and transfer students.
Choir Auditions: Students who have indicated they’d like to audition for choir should be aware that auditions will be held in the Mohican Room (3rd floor of Davies Center). When it’s time for your audition (between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.), you’ll make your way to the Mohican Room.
Students and families will have multiple activity options throughout the afternoon session – outlined below.
1:30 - 2:10 p.m. | Student Experience Panel
A panel of current Blugold students will answer your questions about getting involved, living and working on campus (and off), connecting with your community, and feeling at home at UW-Eau Claire.
1:30 - 2:10 p.m. | Supporting Your Blugold
Connect and explore a variety of activities and resources – gain advice from Parent Ambassadors, connect regionally with other families, and more. Plus, enjoy a complimentary tasting of our famous Blugold Roast coffee!
2:20 - 3:00 p.m. | HIPS Live Session: Study Abroad + National Student Exchange
CIE and Study Abroad will lead this live, interactive session on the importance of participating in exchange and abroad programs while in college.
2:20 - 3:00 p.m. | HIPS Live Session: Creating Knowledge and New Meaning as an Undergraduate Researcher
Staff from ORSP will connect with students and share all of the unique ways in which scholarly research can help set students apart and help to build confidence in applying what they learn in the classroom to real world situations.
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Individualized Classroom Tours *Availability will be limited and will be first come, first served
Students can walk their class schedule with an OA staff member and learn all about academic life. If students do not have their class schedule solidified yet, they can walk an alternative schedule that includes many typical classroom buildings that students will access in their first year.
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Lawn Games (weather permitting)
Free play of outdoor yard games throughout the afternoon – Spike Ball, Kubb, Life-size Jenga and Connect 4, Bag Toss, and more! These yard games are available to rent throughout the year for Blugolds.
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Downtown Trolley Tour *Sign-up will be available on the day of your event and will be first come, first served.
Participants can take a trolley tour with our friends from Volume One of Downtown Eau Claire! Pick-up will be from the Davies Center, and sign-up will occur on the day. Trolley times are 1:50 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
Ojibwe Ballroom, Davies Center 3rd Floor
Students and families will close the day with a session focused on the ‘Greater Eau Claire’ community; we’ll have a speaker from Visit Eau Claire to talk about how you can get involved with the community, and we’ll be offering raffles and giveaways throughout!
Additional Opportunities
Get Information about your Blugold ID
The Blugold Card Office (Davies Center, 1st floor) will be open 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Student should complete the Mobile ID credentialing process at least 24 hours before arriving for BGE. (Note that if this is not completed, students will not be able to pick up their textbooks while on campus for BGE.) There are two steps to this process:
- Step 1: Online photo submission
- Step 2: Setting up Mobile ID
Note: Once the online photo submission is submitted, students will receive an email about downloading the app that will serve as host for the student’s mobile ID card.
If students have questions, the Blugold Card office will be available throughout BGE as needed.
Pick up your Textbooks
Textbook rental pick-up (Davies Center, 2nd floor) will be open 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
If students have registered for classes and have completed the Mobile ID credentialing process at least 24 hours before their BGE date (see steps above), they will be able to pick up their rental textbooks on campus. Students will need their mobile Blugold ID handy for pick up. If students have not yet registered for classes or completed the Mobile ID credentialing process, they’ll still be able to pick up their textbooks later, likely when they arrive for move-in.
Visit US Bank
US Bank / the Blugold Card Office (Davies Center, 1st floor) will be open 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.Students can connect with US Bank staff at any point throughout the day to discuss opening a checking account. Students can earn up to $200 when they open accounts with our UWEC-based branch.
Visit Starbucks
The Cabin (Davies Center, 1st floor), which serves Starbucks beverages, will be open 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.Specialty drinks will be available for purchase in the Cabin (our on-campus coffee shop in Davies Center) until 2:00 p.m. *Please note that corporate Starbucks cards are not accepted.