The start of the 2012-13 fall semester and academic year for MTSU is fast approaching. The first official day of classes, as set by the Tennessee Board of Regents, isSaturday, Aug. 25. Classes will be in full swing Monday, Aug. 27. 

As this week (Aug. 20-26) progresses, traffic around campus steadily will increase as some students and faculty, who have been away for the summer, return. Most new freshmen will arrive Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24-25.

A swearing-in ceremony for new students in the MTSU military science ROTC program will be held Thursday, starting at 1:30 p.m. At Forrest Hall in the heart of campus.

Friday, Aug. 24, at 7 a.m., the new $65 million, nearly 211,000 square foot Student Union on the east side of campus will be opening to the public. 

University President Sidney A. McPhee will preside at the Fall Faculty Meeting Friday, Aug. 24, starting at 10 a.m. in Tucker Theater. The annual MTSU Foundation Awards to faculty will be presented. 

We-Haul occurs Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24-25 (10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days). We-Haul is where new freshmen and returning students receive armfuls of help from Center for Student Leadership and Life staff, students and many volunteers as they move into campus residence halls. 

University President Sidney A. McPhee will preside at the Fall Faculty Meeting Friday, Aug. 24, in Tucker Theater. The annual MTSU Foundation Awards (for the 2011-12 academic year) to faculty will be presented during the meeting.

Convocation and the annual President's Picnic will take place Sunday, Aug. 26. Convocation will start at 2 p.m. in Murphy Center. 

This year's Summer Reading Program selection for guest speaker is Tori Murden McClure, author of "A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean." She is the first woman to row alone across the ocean. The picnic will follow in Walnut Grove, the area between the Cope Administration Building and Peck Hall.

A printable campus map is available at www.mtsu.edu/parking/Map_2011-2012.pdf.