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Welcome home, Tar Heels!

Back on
the Hill

This week, Carolina welcomes its largest class ever and thousands of returning students back to Chapel Hill for the start of a new semester.

The excitement began before classes did, as students moved into residence halls and off-campus house and apartments. They attended Weeks of Welcome events like New Student Convocation and FallFest, reunited with old friends and made new ones.

Keep scrolling to learn more.

“None of us knows what the future holds. But that’s the beauty of college: There is so much to learn and discover, and this University will give you the time and the space to do that.”

Chancellor Lee H. Roberts

Chancellor Lee H. Roberts speaks at Convocation in 2025.

“Being a Tar Heel means carrying forward a tradition of excellence, integrity and service. It means understanding that ‘Here Comes Carolina’ isn’t just a fight song – it’s a declaration that wherever you go in life, you represent this University and its values. You’ll discover that being a Tar Heel means pushing yourself academically, supporting your fellow students and understanding that your success is intertwined with the success of this entire community.”

—Tyler Hansbrough ’09, men’s basketball national champion and New Student Convocation speaker

Tyler Hansbrough speaks at Convocation in 2025.

While FDOC brings its own level of excitement, campus has been buzzing for the past week. Read about all the activities and meet some of the new faces arriving on campus.

Summer fit check

Students may just be returning to campus, but Chancellor Lee H. Roberts has been out and about all summer — in his Commencement regalia.

See why in this video, and read a Q&A with Roberts about his summer, favorite campus spots and what he's looking forward to this semester.

    Press the play button above to watch the video

A Carolina tradition

First day, first sips

The first day of classes at Carolina has arrived, and as Tar Heels know, that means it’s also time to drink from the Old Well for good luck in the semester ahead. Thousands of students took part in the tradition, caught up with friends and had the chance to grab a bagel from Chancellor Lee H. Roberts and his wife, Liza. Tar Heels also were treated to LocoPops near the Pit and ended the day at Sunset Serenade, another FDOC tradition showcasing Carolina’s beloved a cappella groups.

Photos by Johnny Andrews and Jon Gardiner, University Communications and Marketing. Published Aug. 18, 2025.

    Summer highlights

    Explore Carolina