The Class of 2028 Arrives: Welcome Week, CONNECT, and the Provost Challenge

As surprisingly cooler weather greeted our University of Advancing Technology (UAT) campus for the Fall 2025 Welcome Week, the energy was unmistakable. The Class of 2028 had arrived, ready to write the opening chapter of their technology-driven journey.

Welcome Week & Move-Ins: The First Chapter Begins

Families and new students poured onto campus for Move-In Weekend, turning tech tanks and our Large Commons into design, fabrication, and innovation labs. Parents were welcomed with orientation sessions designed to guide them through academic expectations and campus life—because the Class of 2028 doesn’t just step onto campus, they step into a community.

CONNECT: Dive Into Campus Life

Then came CONNECT—UAT’s immersive orientation experience. Guided tours and break-out sessions revealed high-tech labs, collaborative workspaces, and hidden gems across campus. Interactive workshops like the Cyber Security scavenger hunt and AI mashup sessions gave students a chance to meet faculty, get key University and tech tips, and build early bonds with peers and mentors. 

Meet the Faculty: Saying Hello to Your Innovation Partners

During CONNECT, students met the faculty and our world-class instructors who blend cutting-edge research with real-world technology challenges. Informative gatherings and casual sessions offered both academic insight and practical advice, creating a warm, encouraging atmosphere to begin the semester. As conversations unfolded, the room came alive. Students grew more confident, asking thoughtful questions and engaging deeply with their Subject Matter Experts across a variety of topics.

The Provost Challenge: Innovating From Day One

In true UAT fashion, the Provost Challenge officially kicked everything into high gear. As Dr. David Bolman, Provost puts it:

“When you're a new student, most, if not all of you, have ideas of something you've always wanted to build—and UAT is your sandbox to build it. What’s really fun about this challenge is that it is very open-ended. You can build anything you like.”

Cross-disciplinary groups—randomly formed from CONNECT cohorts—received playful, creative prompts and had just one week to design and deliver a minimum viable prototype that’s innovative, functional, and new.

This year’s creative themes?

• Kip (Provost Bolman’s dog) 🐾

• Max (UAT’s beloved “Catscot”) 🐈

• Vibe Coding — where rhythm meets code

• Memes — culture meets creation

Against each theme, teams leaped into hacking sessions, design sprints, and rapid prototyping—all before official classes even began.

Day One: Innovators in Action

By the time the first lectures started today, these teams had already bonded, brainstormed, and began building something innovative, proving that at UAT, innovation doesn’t wait for Day One. It ignites before arrival.

From the moment you stepped on campus, you proved it: you’re not just students, you’re creators.

Class of 2028: this is only the beginning. The future you build starts now, and we can't wait to see what you accomplish!

If you'd like to join in on the excitement and dive into a world of limitless innovation with UAT, request more information here or apply today!