Planning Week, a collection of welcome events, orientations and workshops ahead of the 2025-26 academic year begins on Aug. 18 with Opening Day.
The Elon University community will begin preparing for students to return to campus with Planning Week, a collection of welcome events, orientations and workshops ahead of the 2025-26 academic year.
Below is a selection of events open to the entire Elon community; more can be found on the official Planning Week website below.
Monday, Aug. 18
Opening Day
Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center
Events start at 8:15 a.m.
Planning Week 2025 kicks off with Opening Day on Aug. 18, first with a community-wide reception in Alumni Gym followed by the presentation of Elon Medallions and named professorships and remarks from President Connie Ledoux Book.
Since 2011, the Elon community has collected school supply items for the children in Alamance County, sponsored by the Student Government Association, Staff Advisory Council and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. Faculty and staff can bring supplies to the president’s address or drop them off through Aug. 26 at various locations around campus. More information about specific items and drop-off locations will be emailed to faculty and staff.
Breakout Sessions
Following the president’s address from 9:45 – 10:30 a.m., a variety of breakout sessions will be available for all members of the Elon community, including:
- Admissions and enrollment
- HealthEU
- Elon’s National Campus
- Artificial Intelligence
- Mentoring
- The Evolving State of Collegiate Athletics
- School of Engineering and Computing
- Sport Collaborative
All members of the Elon community are then invited to a picnic on the Lakeside Patio at noon. Members of Elon’s schools and colleges will meet from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 19
Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
Linder 102
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Join the presenters for an interactive session about Artificial Intelligence at Elon University. The presenters will share recent updates on campus-wide AI developments, highlight key findings from the annual AI survey, discuss upcoming AI pilot projects, and provide helpful resources to support the community. Following this 30-minute overview, attendees will participate in an open discussion. During this conversation, participants can ask questions, share ideas, and provide feedback to shape Elon’s AI roadmap.
Elon’s Student Life Five-Year Plan
Sankey 308
2 – 3 p.m.
This session will introduce From Vision to Impact: Student Life’s Five-Year Plan (2025–2030), highlighting the division’s strategic priorities for the years ahead. Presenters will share key focus areas—civic and community engagement, inclusive excellence, integrated health and well-being, leadership development, mentoring and student success, the residential experience, and operational excellence—and discuss how Student Life will partner across campus to deliver a transformative student experience.
Wednesday, Aug. 20
Shared Responsibility, Shared Leadership: Grounding Inclusive Excellence in Our Work
Linder 102
10:45 — 11:45 a.m.
This interactive workshop invites faculty and staff to explore the inclusive excellence connections between Elon’s Shared Responsibility Framework and the Shared Equity Leadership (SEL) model. Participants will reflect on their personal and professional development journeys, examine core values that support inclusive excellence, and identify practices to deepen their commitment. Through guided activities and dialogue, attendees will consider how to align intention with action in ways that foster belonging and well-being across campus.
Campus Safety
Linder 208
1:30 — 3 p.m.
Campus Safety and Police is committed to fostering a safe environment for all who live, study, and work here. Though police and security officers patrol the campus 24/7 all year, no security force can always have an officer present before a crime occurs. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend this session to hear about the latest safety practices implemented by Campus Safety.
Vivvi Childcare and Early Learning Information Session
Oaks 212
2 — 3 p.m.
Learn more about the new Acorn Academy, Elon’s partnership with Vivvi to provide employer-sponsored child care on campus.
Sustainability Master Plan 2025 Information Session
Linder Hall 102
3 — 4 p.m.
Elon University launched the Sustainability Master Plan 2025 in April 2025, which supports the Thrive theme of the Boldly Elon strategic plan. The new plan aims to reduce carbon emissions toward Elon’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2037 and enhance involvement in sustainability efforts. The eight goals outlined in the plan address academics, dining, engagement, facilities, purchasing, technology, transportation and waste. This engaging session will provide an overview of the plan and help you identify how you can contribute to the plan’s implementation efforts. Attendees are encouraged to review the SMP 2025 prior to the session.
Thursday, Aug. 21
College Coffee – Employee Resources Groups
Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain Location: Koury Concourse)
10:15 — 10:45 a.m.
Elon’s weekly tradition of community gathering begins with this year’s first College Coffee. Come (re)learn about the ERGs on campus and pick up some Phoenix swag to show your school spirit! College Coffee continues throughout the year on Tuesday mornings from 9:40 a.m to 10:20 a.m.
ERGs and other groups tabling at College Coffee include:
- Advocates for Diversity and Accessibility
- Amazing Admins
- API (Asian and Pacific Islander)
- Black
- Carpool Connections
- Catholic
- Christian
- Elon Alumni
- Employees with Children
- Jewish
- LGBTQIA+
- Social Media
- Staff Advisory Council
- Supervisors of Student Employees
- Sustainability
- Veterans
- Women’s Forum
- Young Professionals
Unpacking a Decade of Research: What a Meta-Analysis of 12 Elon Studies Reveals About Our Campus Culture
11 a.m. — 12 p.m.
Belk Pavillion
During the 2024-2025 year, the President’s Advisory Council on Inclusive Excellence conducted a meta-analysis of 12 identity and culture-related studies at Elon University since 2014 in support of Thrive of Boldly Elon. This project included examining studies on various topics related to bias, campus climate, global engagement, multifaith, and race. This meta-analysis contains six themes across the 12 studies, areas of institutional growth, and proposed guidance for continuing the trajectory toward creating a campus with high indices of belonging and well-being for all students, faculty, and staff. Attendees will learn about and discuss these findings that may inform colleagues’ teaching and practices in support of the university’s mission.
Friday, Aug. 22
Move-In Day
Students officially return to campus on Friday, August 22. More information about Move-In Day and New Student Orientation can be found online.
Saturday, Aug. 23
New Student Convocation
Under the Oaks (Rain Location: Schar Center)
9 a.m. — 10 a.m.
New Student Convocation marks the official opening of the academic year and welcomes the Class of 2029 and transfer students. Volunteers are needed to greet guests, assist with seating and answer general questions. You can sign up to volunteer by filling out this survey. The survey will close on August 16.
University Directory Photos
All Elon faculty and staff members are encouraged to have their photo included in the university’s online directory. Please make plans to have a new or updated photograph taken. If you are new to Elon, if your photo is missing from the campus directory, or if your photo is more than three years old, please have a new photo taken by the Office of University Communications. No appointment is necessary, simply just drop in during a session that suits you. The portraits are taken from chest up on a gray backdrop in a photo studio.
The photo studio is now located in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, close to West Haggard Avenue. Please enter through the external doors in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, noted by a red star on this map.
- Tuesday, August 19: 2 — 4 p.m.
- Thursday, August 21: 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.