Georgia State Welcomes Class of 2027

ATLANTA — Georgia State University this week began welcoming nearly 15,000 new students to its Atlanta and Perimeter College campuses, along with more than 35,000 students returning for the start of the 2023-24 academic year.

Of those 15,000 new enrollees, more than 7,200 are attending college for the first time.

The first day of classes on Monday followed Sunday’s First-Year Convocation ceremony, held for the first time in the university’s 8,000-capacity Convocation Center, which opened in 2022 but not in time to host the event that year. First-Year Convocation, with much of the pomp and circumstance of a commencement ceremony, welcomes incoming first-year students to Georgia State with a guest speaker, remarks from university leaders, the first-year pledge and performances of the university fight song and alma mater.

This year’s speaker was Fortune E. Onwuzuruike (B.I.S. ’17), a cybersecurity program manager at Microsoft and co-founder of Tech Is The Wave, which helps promote tech-related careers. He is also a member of the 2022 class of the Georgia State Alumni Association's 40 Under 40, which recognizes Panthers making a difference in their communities and organizations.

“Whether you’re a returning student or joining GSU for the first time, the journey ahead promises to be one of growth, learning and unforgettable experiences,” Georgia State President M. Brian Blake said. “With a new academic year comes fresh opportunities to chart your path towards success.”

In addition to the first classes of their college careers, new students  — and returning students — can participate in a slate of Panther Welcome events designed to immerse them in the Georgia State experience during the first weeks of the semester. From a job fair to open houses to a comedy show, the events help students get to know Georgia State and find the resources they need to thrive in college and beyond, said Michael L. Sanseviro, vice president for Student Engagement.

“Georgia State is a place for everybody and we want students to feel that sense of being embraced and being welcomed, and that they are a valued part of our community from the moment they arrive on our campuses,” Sanseviro said. “The Panther Welcome experience is about much more than fun and T-shirts and pizza. It’s about that too, of course, but when you look at everything we do, the student success message is very clear.”

Throughout the first four days of classes, Georgia State is hosting Ask Me Booths at locations throughout the Atlanta Campus and on each of the Perimeter campuses. At each booth, Georgia State volunteers help students navigate college life and offer maps and other resources.

On Monday and Tuesday, Georgia State’s campuses hosted Welcome Breakfasts sponsored by the Panther Activities Council and Spotlight Programs Board, and all week Recreational Services is hosing Try Me Week, which allows students to explore activities and classes they might be interested in.

University Career Services will be hosting an on-campus job fair today (Wednesday, Aug. 23) in the State Ballroom of Student Center East for students interested in working on campus this semester.

“Employment is a reality for many of our students,” Sanseviro said. “We want them to be connected and we want to help them get the types of employment opportunities that support their success and that help them bridge college to career.”

To help students unwind during the first week of classes, the Spotlight Programs Board is hosting its Welcome Back Comedy Show from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tonight (Wednesday, Aug. 23) at the Rialto Center for the Arts.

The Student Center, the focal point of social, recreational and cultural life at Georgia State, will be hosting an open house Thursday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will include a Fraternity & Sorority Life Expo and CCI Fest hosted by Cultures, Communities & Inclusion.

Returning students will notice the Student Center’s refreshed look, which includes new paint, imagery and logos added over the summer break that help further define the building as part of Georgia State’s Atlanta Campus.

“Our physical spaces define our experiences,” Sanseviro said. “And part of the strategic plan is about making sure that you have a real clear sense that you are on Georgia State’s campuses.”

Another facility upgrade students may notice is aimed at providing a more secure environment on the Atlanta Campus by limiting public access to buildings after 8 p.m.

Beginning Aug. 28, the university will be piloting a program to add PantherCard swipe access to all Atlanta Campus building exteriors after 8 p.m., said L. Jared Abramson, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

“The majority of our Atlanta Campus buildings close to the public at 11 p.m. at the latest,” Abramson said. “This change will limit access to our buildings only to our university community during the hours of 8 p.m. through 11 p.m. Swipe card access will also be required before 7:30 a.m. The Student Center and other buildings that hold evening events open to the public will have protocols in place to allow community access. Buildings that already require 24-hour card access will not be affected.”

Next week, the Office of Student Engagement will host another of its signature kick-off events of the new academic year, Pounce Around Hurt Park, a community block party open to all Georgia State students featuring food, music, games and other activities. Various Georgia State departments will also host informational booths.

The event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 29.