SLIPPERY ROCK — Like most campus programming in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, Slippery Rock University's annual Week of Welcome will have a different look in 2020.

Along with welcoming a reduced number of residential students to campus, Week of Welcome events, beginning Wednesday, will feature a series of virtual programs to engage first-year students and help them get acclimated to campus life.

In past years, the events centered around assisting first-year students as they moved into their residence halls with in-person programs, but because of physical distancing efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, mostly virtual programs are being offered, varying from educational Zoom meetings about the university to just-for-fun activities, such as an online game show, a hypnotist and a murder mystery event.

There will still be in-person interaction and activities, including “Ask Me” tents around campus, shuttles to the Grove City Premium Outlets and an outdoor movie.

“Ask Me” tents located outside the Vincent Science Center, Weisenfluh Dining Hall and the Smith Student Center will be open the first week of classes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 17 to Aug. 21.