
M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan Schedule
Schedule of Events
All participants will receive a personalized, detailed schedule, which outlines all events, times, and locations through the iWKU app. Download the app now to be prepared.
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Students will be assigned to a small group that will attend Cluster Blocks and various events together. Event details will vary by group (time, location).
Social events are optional but highly encouraged to help you meet other students and get involved!
M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan 2023
Tuesday, August 15 - Saturday, August 19
8 AM - 8 PM
Welcome home! Be sure to check your move-in timeslot on the WKU Housing Portal and pick up your key at Parking Structure 3. Once your belongings are in your room and your vehicle is moved to a perimeter parking lot, you can get unpacked, settle in, and get ready to meet new people and learn what it means to be a Hilltopper!
6-8 PM | Raymond B. Preston Health & Activities Center
The Preston Center is a 140,000 sq ft facility dedicated to serving all the fitness and recreational needs of the WKU Community. Take a break from your residence hall move in and see what the Preston Center has to offer!
9-11 PM | Downing Student Union (DSU) Auditorium (due to rain)
Grab a blanket and join us on the Freshman Village Lawn for an outdoor movie! We're celebrating 30 years of M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan and throwing it back to the 90's! Come watch The Parent Trap, enjoy free food, and meet some new friends.
Drinks and popcorn provided.
Sponsored by Abound Credit Union
8 AM - 4 PM
Welcome home! Be sure to check your move-in timeslot on the WKU Housing Portal and pick up your key at Parking Structure 3. Once your belongings are in your room and your vehicle is moved to a perimeter parking lot, you can get unpacked, settle in, and get ready to meet new people and learn what it means to be a Hilltopper!
4:00 - 5:30 PM | DSU Nite Class | First Generation Students Invited to Attend
WKU is proud to welcome hundreds of first-generation college students to WKU! Meet fellow First Gen M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan students, First Gen alumni, and WKU staff who are ready to support you on your college journey.
Dinner provided.
WKU defines first generation as “neither parent graduated from a traditional four-year college.” Contrary to popular opinion, it does not mean that you are the first one in your family to attend college. In addition, a student is considered "first generation" if his/her parents graduated with an associate's degree (two-year degree), attended college but failed to graduate or had a sibling graduate with a bachelor's degree.
6-7 PM
On-Campus Residents - Meet on your residence hall floor
Commuter Students - Meet in DSU, Room 2081 (Student Government Assocation Chambers)
Kick off MASTER Plan activities with your residence hall peers! Plus, grab some WKU & MASTER Plan swag to prep for the evening activities.
7-8 PM | First Year Village Lawn
Kick off M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan on the First Year Village Lawn with fellow members of the Class of 2027! Enjoy free food from local dessert food trucks, prizes, games, music, new friends, and Big Red!
Presented by Abound Credit Union
8-8:15PM | First Year Village Lawn Houchens-Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
Begin with the end in mind! The ceremonial walk to WKU’s Commencement is known as "Topper Walk." M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan students will start their Hilltopper Journey with the same tradition, led by Big Red!
8:15-10:30 PM | Houchens-Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
It's your official Class of 2027 photo! Afterwards, you'll get to meet other Hilltoppers during Playfair, the ultimate icebreaker!
9-11 PM | Fresh Food Company
It's been a long day...you’re probably hungry! Swing by the Fresh Food Company in Downing Student Union and grab some breakfast with new friends!
A M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan meal swipe will be used for entry, so have your WKU ID card ready!
9-11 AM | Check iWKU App for Location
Get to know yourself, your peers, and WKU. In this session, you’ll talk about why you chose WKU and how to set yourself up for academic success.
11 AM - 1 PM| Check iWKU App for Details & Locations
During this time, you’ll eat lunch, take a campus tour with your small group, and learn about how to be financially smart in college.
1-1:30 PM | Centennial Mall
Unsure about which College Kickoff event to attend? Meet in Centennial Mall (located next to the Downing Student Union) and a M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan Mentor will point you in the right direction.
1:30-3:30 PM
Potter College of Arts and Letters: Russell Miller Theatre (Second Floor of FAC)
Gordon Ford College of Business: Grise Hall Auditorium room 235
Ogden College of Science and Engineering: Van Meter Auditorium
College of Health and Human Services: DSU Auditorium
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences: Gary Ransdell Hall Auditorium
Exploratory Students: DSU 3rd Floor
Meet your college faculty, learn about resources your college offers, and get ready for classes to begin!
4-5 PM | Check iWKU App for Location
Recap the morning’s discussion, ask questions, and spend some more time learning how to get involved at WKU.
6-8 PM | First Year Village Lawn
Come meet students like you, get to know allies, meet members of the Bowling Green community, and learn about resources on WKU’s campus for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Food, games, and music provided.
Sponsored by the Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC)
7-8 PM | Centennial Mall
It's another opportunity to MAKE A FRIEND at M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan!
Make a stuffed animal to help you remember this week! Lots of different animals to choose from! Limited quantities available. First-come, first-served.
7:30-9:30 PM | DSU Auditorium
Are you a karaoke rockstar? Are you a wanna-be comedian? Do you have tricks? Whatever your talent or dream, bring it to the DSU stage and perform for the crowd. Get on stage or hang out in the audience but get ready to be entertained!
9-10:30 PM | Centennial Mall
It’s a dance party... but silent! Come dance while listening to different stations on wireless headphones.9:30-10:30 PM | DSU Auditorium
We’re slowing this party down! Come play a nice, relaxing game - or two - or three - of old school bingo. Kick back and relax and hope to have the lucky board because these prizes are GOOD.
9-11 AM | Check iWKU App for Location
College life includes a lot of "adulting." Today, we’ll talk about how to manage your goals, your finances, your stress, and your time.
11 AM - 1 PM | Check iWKU App for Location
Today’s rotation includes lunch, an interactive session on how to protect yourself on campus and an opportunity to learn about employment opportunities. Check your iWKU app to know where you start your rotation.
1:30-2:30 PM | Check iWKU App for Location
Recap the morning’s discussion, ask questions, and spend some more time getting to know your neighbors.
3-4 PM | Your residence hall pod or floor
Head to your pod/floor for a meeting with your Living Learning Community Fellow. Learn about important dates and the expectations of participating in the LLC.
Required for all LLC students.
4-6 PM | First Year Village Lawn
You’ve met fellow students in your Living Learning Community. Now, visit with the all the other students, faculty, and staff participating in WKU’s Living Learning Communities.
2:30-6 PM | WKU Store, DSU Ground Floor
The WKU Store is open and ready to serve you! Check out what all the WKU Store has to offer.
If you reserved your books, this time is set aside for you to pick those up and be ready for the first day of classes.
5-6:30 PM | PFT Courtyard
Come and learn more about the Why Knot Us Black Male Initiative while enjoying free BBQ and games!
Sponsored by the Intercultural Student Engagement Center (ISEC).
5-6 PM | Meet at Centennial Mall
In the end, just like the TV show, only one team will be left standing. To win, teams will travel the Hill using clues, teamwork, bread crumbs, and a little bit of luck. The first team to arrive at the final destinationwill be receive a prize, but unlike the TV show, it will not be $1 million dollars (but still pretty awesome)!
6-8 PM | Zacharias/Meredith Hall Lawn
Join us for an LGBTQIA+ social to meet new people and create new connections! All are welcome and encouraged to join!
Sponsored by the Queer Student Union, Topper Pride Alumni, and the WKU Pride Center
6:30-8:30 PM | Centennial Mall
Do you want to be part of a community where you can grow in your faith? Come meet our Campus Ministries at the Lawn Party. Enjoy food, music, lawn games and getting to know each other!
Sponsored by Student Activities-Campus Ministries
7:30-8:30 PM | DSU Auditorium
Calling all pop-culture fanatics! Buzz in when you know the song, movie theme, TV theme or movie quote played.
Everyone in the audience gets to participate, and there are lots of prizes up for grabs!
8-9 PM | Preston Center Blue Courts
Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge! Bring back your elementary school skills with a fun game of dodgeball with new WKU friends.
9-10:30 PM | Van Meter Hall
Are you ready for a frightening good time?
Join Creepy Campus podcast hosts Doug Tate & Jeremy Cloyd as they explore the ghost stories, urban legends, & true-crime mysteries that surround WKU.
It’s all good, clean fun, but you might want to bring your flashlight for the walk back home! Participants will receive a free glow-in-the-dark WKU sticker!
9-11 PM | First Year Village Lawn
Grab a blanket and join us on the First Year Village Lawn for Super Mario Bros.*
With help from Princess Peach, Mario gets ready to square off against the all-powerful Bowser to stop his plans from conquering the world.
PG, 1h 32min. Drinks and popcorn provided!
Rain Location: DSU Auditorium
9-11 AM | Check iWKU App for Location
In this session, you’ll learn what it means to be a member of the WKU Campus Community and learn about campus resources
11 AM - 1 PM | Check iWKU App for Location
You'll have a chance to eat lunch and attend a session to answer any last-minute parking or dining questions. Check your iWKU app to know where you start your rotation.
1-3:30 PM | Preston Center
There is a place for everyone at WKU! Learn about the many organizations WKU has to offer. Presented by Student Activities.
4-4:40 PM | Residence Hall Floor
Get ready to stand up and cheer!
Our final small group will allow time to answer any questions and walk as a group to Diddle Arena for Topper Traditions.
5-6 PM | Diddle Arena
T-O-P-S TOPS-TOPS-TOPS!
It’s time to Stand Up and Cheer! Learn the fight song, how to wave the Red Towel, and meet your WKU Coaches and BIG RED!
6 PM - Dark | DSU South Lawn
M.A.S.T.E.R. Plan goes out with a BANG, literally!
Food and entertainment provided, plus the evening concludes with a fireworks display at dark.
The first 2,000 guests in attendance will receive a free Topper Fest t-shirt.
Topper Fest is open to all members of the WKU Community.
9 AM - 2 PM | You will receive information about where to meet
It's WKU's largest community service event! Volunteer your time at a local non-profit organization and connect with the Bowling Green community.
T-shirt and lunch provided.
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