The Student Arts and Events Council hosted the spring 2026 semester’s Welcome Week beginning Jan. 28, with on- and off-campus events for new and returning students.
The festivities were originally scheduled to begin Jan. 26, but were delayed after weather-related campus closures. SAEC rescheduled the events, starting with Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco’s morning welcome on the Campus Center’s Upper Level Jan. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. An afternoon welcome was held the following day from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Suárez-Orozco also sent an email to students with his wishes for a productive and safe semester for all Beacons.
Jan. 28 was also the SAEC’s 42nd Birthday Celebration. This event was held in the Campus Center’s 1st Floor Terrace, and participants were welcome to grab treats and little frog toys to commemorate the hard work of the SAEC throughout their years.
Two events were held Jan. 29 to celebrate National Puzzle Day, both also taking place in Campus Center on the 1st Floor Terrace. The first event, which took place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., provided a variety of crossword, math and jigsaw puzzles for attendees and featured students and staff from UMass Boston’s Gerontology department. The second event also provided puzzles but also featured crafts and an enchanted forest themed photo booth, leaning into the theme of this semester’s Welcome Week: “Enchanted to Be a Beacon.”
The SAEC also hosted a variety of game nights, such as the “Into the House of Cards” Casino Night in the Campus Center Ballroom from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Participants played popular card games to win a wide variety of prizes, and the first 100 people who arrived received a special custom deck of cards.
Students also attended a Bingo Night in the East Residence Hall Dining Commons Jan. 30 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and won several prizes. On the same day, the Campus Center game room held an open house from 2-5 p.m. Participants could snack, mingle and choose from a wide variety of games.
To end the week, the SAEC provided participants with free admission and validated parking to the Museum of Science. With a valid UMass Boston ID, students could bring up to nine of their family members and friends for a day of learning and fun.
Throughout the week, the SAEC also held various WOWs — mini events where clubs, departments and organizations on campus hold meet and greets and give away things like snacks and merchandise. WOWs were hosted by groups such as MASSPIRG, Department of Off-Campus Living, U-Access, Student Equity Access & Success, Study Away, University Health Services, Healey Library and the UMass Boston Police Department.
Keep an eye out for upcoming events from SAEC, including some Valentine’s Day-themed activities on Feb. 11 in Campus Center.
