Kansas University officials have long thought Hawk Week — the series of academic and social events at the start of the fall semester — as the first step in keeping students at the university.

Now, they have outside validation.

A team that toured campus as part of the National Survey of Student Engagement earlier this year praised Hawk Week as a way to get students involved and pass down university traditions.

“For students, they’re making critical choices about their future at KU,” said Shanda Hurla, Hawk Week coordinator. “It’s basically a first impression. If they feel connected and belong, then they will be successful, and they’ll march down the hill in four years (at graduation).”

The annual Hawk Week festivities kick off today, as residence and scholarship halls open to thousands of students returning to campus. It will include academic events, mostly during the day, which include personalized class tours for new students, writing workshops and library tours.

Evening events include Traditions Night. The event Monday at Memorial Stadium teaches new students what it means to be a Jayhawk. Convocation is at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Lied Center. There also are several social events, such as dances.

Elisa Zahn, an orientation assistant, said she thought going to Hawk Week events was the best way for freshmen to meet new friends.

“You have nothing else to do,” she said. “No one has anything else to do. You might as well take advantage of the things we have planned.”

Zahn, a senior from Littleton, Colo., also listed getting to know roommates and others on residence hall floors as musts for the week before school.

6News video: KU students will swarm Lawrence this weekend KU Today Hawk Week 2004

Matthew Carazo, another orientation assistant, said he thought the personalized class tours were among the most important of the Hawk Week activities for new students. Orientation assistants will take students to the buildings where they will attend classes.

“It’s so they’re not cluelessly walking around on their first day,” he said.

Carazo, a senior from Salina, said he also urged new students to attend the Information Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Kansas Union.

“There are a multitude of options available,” he said. “I’d just advise them to come in with an open mind, since they will be exposed to a lot of ideas and different ways of doing things. It will enrich their experience if they come in with a willingness to do new things and try new activities.”