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Students gathering near a campus quad stage, waiting for an evening performance during Welcome Week.

Somewhere between your fifth committee meeting and another campus portal login, you wonder: Is this still supposed to feel exciting?

It’s okay if it doesn’t...at least not yet.

If you’ve found yourself scrolling LinkedIn or asking ChatGPT, "What actually works for student engagement during Week of Welcome?" you’re not alone. Whether you’re:

• Starting fresh at a new school,
• Taking on Orientation again because “you’re good at it,” or
• Quietly wrapping up your time in this role while still wanting to leave things better than you found them...

This one’s for you.

The Programming Fog is Real

Maybe your predecessor left without a handoff. Maybe the folder titled “WOW” is just a dusty shared drive full of clip art and checkout forms. Or maybe you're being told to "make it more inclusive," with zero budget and too many opinions.

Let’s start with what’s real:

💸 Budget’s Tight. Tariffs Are Real.

Swag costs more. Students care less. You’re not imagining it. Instead of dumping money into branded keychains or imported gadgets, invest in something live. A hypnotist. A magician who helps break the ice. A mentalist who can actually read the room. Entertainment that connects human-to-human and supports working artists right here.

🧠 Students Need Nervous System Support

This generation isn’t just looking to be entertained—they’re looking to feel okay. Events that blend laughter, music, reflection, and breath go further than rule recaps or policy PowerPoints. Start with the nervous system, not the checklist.

🌀 DEI Fatigue is Real, but the Work Isn’t Over

You don’t have to label something as diversity programming for it to do the work. Representation in who you book. Inclusion in how the room is held. Cultural intelligence in what stories are shared. Impact without agenda. That’s how you cut through the noise.

Orientation Energy Without the Overload

You don’t need a packed agenda. You need:

• One moment of belonging
• One moment of unexpected joy
• One moment where students look at each other and say: “Okay, this feels like college.”

Let Metropolis Management help with that. We’ve supported thousands of schools through changing leadership, half-written handoffs, and “we forgot to plan Welcome Week.”

We get it. We’ve been there.

Whether you’re trying to do your best while figuring out what’s next, or anchoring in for the long haul, let’s build something worth remembering.

We don’t send acts. We send moments.

🎭 Comedy. 🎤 Keynotes. 🎶 Music. 🌀 Wellness sessions.

All designed to actually land.

👉 Contact Metropolis to start planning. Email Libby@metropolismanagement.com or michelle@metropolismanagement.com today.

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