Converse Welcomes Back Students for Fall 2025

Converse enthusiastically welcomed back new and returning students during Move-In and Welcome Week. Students and their families received move-in support from Converse staff and our student-athletes, who volunteer their time annually to welcome the newest Valkyries to 580 East Main..

Dean of Converse College for Women Dr. Chandra Owenby Hopkins said the camaraderie she sees during move-in is a fun reminder of what it means to be part of the Converse community. She said, “From seeing alumni of all ages welcoming parents on Wilson porch to laughing with my colleagues in the Pell stairwell about ‘getting our steps in’ for the day to chatting with a nervous new student and reminding them that we are all here for them as they find their way at Converse, I loved being a part of move-in and it only added to my excitement for a great year ahead!”

“I loved being a part of move-in and it only added to my excitement for a great year ahead!”

Dr. Chandra Owenby Hopkins

The campus was bustling with energy and bittersweet emotions as families helped their students unpack and watched them start a new chapter in their lives. The Converse community enjoyed sweet treats on Johnson Plaza, and Res Life staff worked tirelessly to help students acclimate to campus life.

We embrace the start of the 2025-26 academic year by celebrating five new faculty members and 262 first‑year students arriving from across the U.S. and 16 countries.

This fall, Converse welcomes:

• 173 First-generation students
• 164 Student-Athletes
• 72 Converse College for Women students

Over the past few months, Converse has supported Limestone and St. Andrews University students during their challenging transition by streamlining the transfer process to Converse. We welcome all the students from those universities and hope they experience a smooth transition to their new home at Converse.

Continuing to make the fall semester more seamless for students, Converse’s First Day Ready program is celebrating its second year. This program ensures that our traditional undergraduates and Converse II adult students have the required textbooks and course materials for classes by the first day of class. This program allows us to include the majority of textbooks and supplies within our tuition structure, ensuring that undergraduate students have the required materials and texts for their courses without added stress or financial strain. The Converse Bookstore staff get all the materials ready, and all students need to do is pick up the items prior to classes.

First-Generation students had an early orientation, giving Converse staff additional time to support both the students and their families with their first college experience. Because being the first in the family to pursue a four-year degree can be intimidating, Converse offers resources and fosters relationships that help First-Generation students and their families feel equipped from the start. Our First-Generation Programs at Converse can take the stress out of transitioning to college.

During Orientation, Taylor Casey, Community Engagement and First-Year Experience Coordinator at Converse, and Lexi Stoneburner, Director of Orientation and Student Engagement, introduced incoming students to the Guidebook app, a new resource to promote student-led events and campus traditions at Converse. Director of Student Programming Dallas Witt will be overseeing the app throughout the semester and plans to share it with the full Converse community. 

Casey, Stoneburner, and Witt feel this app is a modern and valuable way to get students connected and engaged on campus. Stoneburner said on behalf of Student Life, “We’re proud to have advocated for it and are excited to see it moving forward as a meaningful resource for our students.”

Freshman, transfer, and first-generation students, parents and family members attended our “Welcome with President Boone Hopkins and Orientation Leaders” event in Twichell Auditorium, followed by the “Dessert and Family Farewell” on Johnson Plaza, which officially signified the launch of Welcome Week activities for students, which included team “huddles,” social events, snacks, giveaways, movies and more. 

Did You Know?

Converse Commuter students participate in every aspect of Welcome Week! We offer our commuters information sessions, fun activities, and opportunities to become familiar with resources on campus.