New Student Convocation
Since 2007, the New Student Convocation has been an annual celebration of learning, collaboratively planned by Student Affairs and Academic Affairs for the new students entering CSUN each fall. This event serves as a formal welcome extended to the entering class by the President, administration and campus community. This program has been one of the primary mainstays of the university’s welcome programs signaling the start of each academic year.
This year New Student Convocation will be hosted on Thursday September 25th 2025 from 10:00am-11:00am at the University Library Lawn. Please complete the New Student Convocation form to RSVP!
New Student Convocation RSVP Link
| Students |
Gather on Matador Walk (near Matador Square) between 9:30AM and 10AM Event staff will organize students into lines and lead them into University Library Lawn for the ceremony. Click the "MAP: Student Gathering/Line-Up Location" tab below to learn more. |
| Staff, Faculty, & Key Administrators |
Please gather in front of the University Library Lawn at between 9:30AM and 9:50AM and event staff will meet with you for further instructions. |
| Platform Party |
Direct messages will be sent to you on robing location and arrival time. |
New Student Convocation, Thursday- September 25, 2025
| Time |
Component |
|---|
| 10:00 A.M |
Ceremony Begins |
| 10:10 A.M |
Opening Remarks & National Anthem |
| 10:15 A.M |
President's Welcome & Remarks |
| 10:25 A.M |
Provost Introduction/ Keynote Speaker |
| 10:35 A.M |
College Dean's Welcome & Roll Call |
| 10:40 A.M |
AS Presidents Greetings & Alma Mater |
| 10:45 A.M |
Concluding Remarks |
| 10:50 A.M |
Rose Ceremony & Pep Rally Reception |
Event purpose: New Student Convocation is an annual celebration of learning that marks the official start of the academic year for all new freshmen, transfer students, and international students. Since 2007, this cornerstone event has brought together the Divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs to highlight the connection between in-classroom and out-of-classroom learning, centered around the Freshman Common Reading. More than just a tradition, Convocation serves as a formal welcome from the President, administration, and the entire campus community—inviting students to begin their academic journey at CSUN with pride, purpose, and a shared commitment to learning.
Event structure: The New Student Orientation leaders guide the freshman class on a symbolic journey that attempts to unify the class and teach them the campus symbols and rituals. The freshman class is assembled in Matador Square and led down Matador Walk to the University Library Lawn by a processional of Associate Deans, faculty and student leaders. The campus executives and Deans await the students at the top of the University Library steps which serve as a symbolic ascent to the campus center of learning at the programs conclusion.
This program is distinguished by its past keynote speakers and by its recognition by the campus receiving the CSUN Team Award in 2008 which noted the campus-wide collaboration and involvement required to plan and to execute the event annually.
| YEAR | KEYNOTE SPEAKER |
| 2007 | Robert F. Kennedy Jr. |
| 2008 | Barbara Ehrenreich |
| 2009 | Steve Lopez |
| 2010 | Holly Robinson-Peete |
| 2011 | Jeannette Walls |
| 2012 | Chitra Divakaruni |
| 2013 | Edward Humes |
| 2014 | Drew Magary |
| 2015 | David Levithan |
| 2016 | Jon Ronson |
| 2017 | Bree Newsome |
| 2018 | Nicole Maines & Wayne Maines |
| 2019 | Lauren Markham |
| 2021 | Patrisse Cullors |
| 2022 | Dr. Mary Beth Walker |
| 2023 | Dr. Amanda Quintero |
| 2024 | Julio César Ortiz |
| 2025 | TBD |
2024 New Student Convocation
Thursday, Sept 29, 2024
5:30 p.m. - University Library Lawn
Keynote Speaker - Julio César Ortiz
Video Link: 2024 New Student Convocation
2023 New Student Convocation
Wednesday, Oct 4, 2023
5:30 p.m. - University Library Lawn
Keynote Speaker - Dr. Amanda Quintero, CSUN Senior Advisor for Inclusive Excellence & Equity Innovation Officer
Video Link: 2023 New Student Convocation
2022 New Student Convocation
Thursday, Oct 13, 2022
5:30 p.m. - University Library Lawn
Keynote Speaker - Dr. Mary Beth Walker, CSUN Provost
Video Link: 2022 New Student Convocation
2021 New Student Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 30, 2021
6 p.m. - Zoom Webinar
Keynote Speaker - Patrisse Cullors
Video Link: 2021 New Student Convocation
2020 New Student Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 17, 2020
6 p.m. - Zoom Webinar
Video Link: 2020 New Student Convocation
2019 New Student Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 12, 2019
6 p.m. - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - Lauren Markham
Video Link: 2019 New Student Convocation
2018 New Student Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 13, 2018
6 p.m. - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - Nicole Maines
Video Link: 2018 Freshman Convocation
*this video is not captioned, but will be very soon and we apologize for this inconvenience*
2017 Freshman Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 14, 2017
6 p.m. - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - Bree Newsome
Video Link: 2017 Freshman Convocation
2016 Freshman Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 15, 2016
6 p.m. - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - Jon Ronson
Author of So You've Been Publicly Shamed - the Freshman Common Reading for 2016
Video Link: 2016 Freshman Convocation
2015 Freshman Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 10, 2015
6 p.m. - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - David Levithan
Author of Every Day - the Freshman Common Reading for 2015
Video Link: 2015 Freshman Convocation
2014 Freshman Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 4, 2014
6 p.m. - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - Drew Magary
Author of The Postmortal - the Freshman Common Reading for 2014
Video Link: 2014 Freshman Convocation
2013 Freshman Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 12, 2013
6 p.m. - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - Edward Humes
Author of Garbology - the Freshman Common Reading for 2013
Video link: 2013 Freshman Convocation
2012 Freshman Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 6, 2012
6 p.m. - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - Chitra Divakaruni
Author of One Amazing Thing - the Freshman Common Reading for 2012
Video link: 2012 Freshman Convocation
2011 Freshman Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 8, 2011
6:00pm - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - Jeannette Walls
Author of The Glass Castle – the Freshman Common Reading for 2011-2012
Video link: 2011 Freshman Convocation
2010 Freshman Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 2, 2010
6:00pm - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - Holly Robinson Peete
Actress, Author, Activist & Philanthropist
Video: 2010 Freshman Convocation
2009 Freshman Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 3, 2009
6 p.m. - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - Steve Lopez
Author of The Soloist - the Freshman Common Reading for 2009-2010
Video link: 2009 Freshman Convocation
2008 Freshman Convocation
Thursday, Sep. 4, 2008
6 p.m. - Oviatt Library lawn
Keynote Speaker - Barbara Ehrenreich
Author of Nickel and Dimed
Video link: 2008 Freshman Convocation
Hail to the Matadors
By Richard Kaufman
Hail to all the Matadors
And to our school so dear.
As we move along the road of life,
let us keep from doubt or fear,
For the knowledge which we find here,
for all who urge us on.
The spirit of the red and white
Will brighten every dawn.
Where the sun is shining
And where truth leaves an open door,
to honor Strong and Courage Tall
We hail our Matador!
You may listen or download the MP3 file below:
To download the MP3 to your computer, right click on the following link, CSUN Alma Mater Music, and choose "save link as" to save to your computer.
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