Brooklynn Sivley, a first-year student from Chandler, and her family move her belongings into Gila Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 18.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
Families move into dorms along Highland Avenue on Wednesday, Aug. 18.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
Pre-nursing sophomore Danitza Molina (center), takes a selfie with Karla Bojorquez (left), a first-year student studying criminal justice and Spanish, and Adelys LaTurco, a sophomore studying pharmaceutical sciences and Spanish, at Bash at the Rec, a back-to-school celebration held on Sunday, Aug. 22.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
Students fill in their own "Wonder" statements on a wall at Bash at the Rec on Sunday, Aug. 22.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
Incoming student Yakyra Carlisi takes a selfie with Wilbur during Bash at the Rec on Sunday, Aug. 22.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
Wilbur tries his paw at ping pong at Bash at the Rec on Sunday, Aug. 22.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
Students enjoy time outside on campus during the first week of fall semester classes.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
Students walk across campus during the first week of classes.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
Students running a booth on the University of Arizona Mall hold up ZonaZoo T-shirts during the first week of classes. This season's football home opener will be on Saturday, Sept. 11, when the Wildcats square off against San Diego State.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
Students walk down the University of Arizona Mall on Wednesday, Aug. 25.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
Members of the university community gathered for a Sunrise Ceremony to welcome a new school year on Wednesday, Sept. 1. The ceremony included a traditional Native blessing.
Chris Richards/University of Arizona
Members of the university community gathered for a sunrise ceremony, which included a traditional Native blessing, on Wednesday, Sept. 1.
Chris Richards/University of ArizonaAs another fall semester kicked off at the University of Arizona, students gathered for back-to-school events, hung out in common areas on campus and attended classes in person. These standard, start-of-year activities had not been available to many since fall 2019, due to COVID-19.
With the availability of vaccines and a host of public health and safety measures in place, campus came alive in the days leading up to Aug. 23, when most students began their classes.
Several COVID-19 mitigation efforts remain in place at UArizona, including a requirement that face coverings be worn in indoor areas where physical distance cannot be maintained. University leaders have urged all members of the university community to get vaccinated and to test regularly for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status.
In the gallery above, check out scenes from the early days of the fall semester in images captured by University of Arizona photographer Chris Richards.