Welcome back, Wildcats! U of A begins 2025-26 academic year

A pair of women wearing University of Arizona branded t-shirts sit the front desk of a student housing building. Standing in front of the desk are three female students wearing casual clothing.
A man wearing overalls and a white t-shirt walks next to a man wearing white shorts and a red t-shirt, along a sidewalk on a university campus. There is grass, desert trees and other students in the background.
A man wearing a white, long sleeve button down greets a family outside of their vehicle. There is a large cardboard cart in front of the group containing a collection of dorm room decorations and supplies.
A woman wearing denim jeans and a black t-shirt poses for a selfie next to a person wearing jeans and a light green jersey. They duo is standing on a college campus as other students walk by in the background.
A middle aged man and woman help a pair of students push a large cardboard cart full of bedroom apparel and supplies into a college dorm. A large, glass-front building is in the background, with a large block "A" logo at the top.
A young woman with curly brown hair poses for a selfie with an older woman wearing a light blue button down and grey slacks and a man wearing jeans and a blue t shirt. They are standing outside of a brick-built, college dorm building.
A man wearing black pants and a blue polo shirt and backpack walks next to a man wearing tan slacks and a red t-shirt that says "Bear Down." The two men are walking on a university campus with trees and seating in the background.
A woman wearing navy shorts and a white sleeveless top walks a white and grey dog near trees and bushes on a college campus. In the background is a red and blue sign that says "BEAR DOWN"

Whether first-year, postgraduate or somewhere in between, Wildcats from all walks of life kicked off the 2025-26 academic year Monday morning, ready to take the next step in their academic experience.

Students began moving into their dorms on the University of Arizona campus on Aug. 19, the week before classes started. 

At the beginning of their Wildcat journeys, students are formally welcomed to campus at Destination Arizona, a two-day, on-campus orientation event that helps familiarize new students with campus resources and provides opportunities to network with other new students. 

Read more about University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella's commitment to student success and other strategic imperatives ahead of the fall semester in this news story.

Aug. 26, 2025