[061] MTSU fall semester classes begin Aug. 24

MURFREESBORO — Middle Tennessee State University’s fall semester will get underway Saturday, Aug. 24, with the first day of classes.

The Tennessee Board of Regents establishes the academic calendars for its two- and four-year colleges and universities and designates Aug. 24 as the first official day. For many students, their first day of class will be Monday, Aug. 26.

MTSU enrollment officials anticipate more than 25,000 students will be taking regular and online classes this fall. Final fall enrollment totals will be submitted to the TBR sometime after Friday, Sept. 6, which is the 14-day census date for schools to report.

Traffic and congestion in and around the MTSU campus steadily will increase this week. This will parallel the rise in activities, including:

• New faculty orientation starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, in the east lobby of the Business and Aerospace Building;

• The Military Science department will conduct its annual swearing-in ceremony for new cadets at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, on the front lawn of Forrest Hall, the building that houses the ROTC program in the heart of campus;

• The Office of International Affairs will hold its annual New International Student Welcome Picnic at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, in Pavilion One at Old Fort Park just off Old Fort Parkway. For more information, contact the Office of International Affairs at 615-898-2116 or email international@mtsu.edu;

• Students can begin moving into campus housing Friday, Aug. 23. We-Haul, the first of a number of Week of Welcome activities that run through Thursday, Sept. 5, occurs from approximately 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24;

• The annual fall faculty meeting takes place starting at 10 a.m. Friday in Tucker Theatre. President Sidney A. McPhee will deliver his annual address. MTSU Foundation President Bill Mooningham will present the 2012-13 Foundation Awards, including the Career Achievement Award;

• Convocation will be held starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, in Murphy Center for the university’s entering freshman class. Guest speaker will be R. Dwayne Betts, author of “A Question of Freedom — A Memoir of Learning, Survival and Coming of Age in Prison.” The book is a required summer reading assignment for the students;

• The President’s Picnic will follow in Walnut Grove between Peck Hall and Cope Administration Building;

• Stand-up comedian Chris Hardwick will perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, in Murphy Center;

• Using their IDs, students can attend the Blue Raiders’ football season opener against Western Carolina at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, in Floyd Stadium. Visit goblueraiders.com to see the rest of the schedule and the fall schedules for the other men’s and women’s teams; and

• For more on Week of Welcome activities, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/nsfp/welcome_nsfp.php.

Academic calendar for fall semester 2013

• Saturday, Aug. 24 — Classes begin

• Monday, Sept. 2 — Labor Day holiday (university closed; no classes)

• Saturday-Tuesday, Oct. 12-15 — Fall break (no classes)

• Thursday-Friday, Nov. 28-29 — Thanksgiving holidays (university closed; no classes)

• Wednesday, Dec. 4 — Last day of classes

• Thursday, Dec. 5 — Study day (no classes)

• Friday-Thursday, Dec. 6-12 — Final examinations

• Thursday, Dec. 12 — Last day of term

• Saturday, Dec. 14 — Commencement

• Monday, Dec. 16 — Deadline for final grades