Take a moment to see what’s happening this week in the Division of Student Affairs!

1. Sign up for Bear Crew and House Calls – It’s never too early to volunteer to take part in Bear Crew and House Calls. Become a member of the Bear Crew and welcome incoming students and their families to campus by helping them move into their residence hall rooms. We are looking for volunteers from our current student body, faculty, and staff to help with Missouri State move-in on August 13-15, 2026.

House Calls 2026 will take place Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from 5:15pm to approximately 8pm. The House Calls program is designed to reach out to residence hall students and give them an opportunity to interact with faculty, staff, and administrators on a more personal level. By visiting individual rooms in the residence halls, volunteers can welcome students, help determine if they need any assistance, and answer any questions they might have.

Sign up here: https://forms.missouristate.edu/view.php?id=1538087

2. Take Me Out to the Ballgame – Join your DOSA friends and cheer on the Springfield Cardinals with free tickets from Staff Senate. Come cheer on the Springfield Cardinals with us on Aug. 28 at 7:05 p.m. courtesy of the Staff Senate Activities Committee. Let’s make it a party! For questions, contact Blanca Mallonee.

Free pregame food
Great baseball
Time to relax and connect with coworkers

Fill out the form to join us!

3. Camp Claw and Papa Johns Fundraiser -Papa Johns has partnered with Camp Claw to raise funds to support the camp. A great way to support Camp Claw, and you don’t have to cook! Win-Win!

Papa Johns promo code for 30% off your entire order and 10% of those sales goes to support Camp Claw!
Promo Code: CAMPCLAW
Ends July 31st

4. New Student Convocation Volunteers Needed: Get excited for the fun academic welcome to the university. Convocation will take place on Sunday, August 16^th, 2026, at 2:00pm. However, we need volunteers who want to help usher students in and seat them. If you are interested in helping and can arrive around 1:15pm, please email andreaweber@missouristate.edu.

5. Bear Bash Volunteers Needed – We are quickly approaching Week of Welcome and with it comes Bear Bash! This year’s event will be on Saturday, August 15th, from 7-10 pm. Bear Bash is one of our largest events and takes a lot of volunteers to make it a success. If you are interested in helping out with this event, please fill out this form or contact Ryan Santoni (ryansantoni@missouristate.edu)!

6. Week of Welcome 2026 – It’s hard to believe, but the 2026 Week of Welcome will kick off on Thursday, August 13th with the start of Move-In for our new students, and the first of a week’s worth of fun events that will engage our students across the campus. The Office of Student Engagement has been working hard with many areas across campus including Campus Rec, Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services, Family Programs, the Bookstore, the Plaster Student Union, Magers Health and Wellness,  Athletics, the Counseling Center, SAC, TC, FSL, Dean of Students Office, and more, to plan a fantastic slate of events for our students to enjoy! Events include Bear Bash, New Student Convocation, Room Decor Bingo, 417 Street Fest, Grab a Scoop with FSL Transfer Student Popcorn Social, the 2030 Class Photo, Campus Fest CMA, Student Organization Festival and so much more! Take a look at the full schedule now.

Download the Week of Welcome flyer!

If you are interested in volunteering at any of the events, reach out to Desmond Dunklin at DesmondDunklin@MissouriState.edu!

7. Inspire the Roar 5K hosted by Campus Rec – A Family Weekend Event – Join us for the Inspire the Roar 5K, September 20th, a spirited run/walk through the beautiful Missouri State University campus! Whether you’re a Bear looking to set a personal record, a family member wanting to explore campus, or someone who just loves a good fun run, this event is for YOU. All fitness levels are welcome!

This Family Weekend tradition is more than just a race—it’s a celebration of Bear pride, wellness, and community. Participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt (while supplies last), and awards will be given to top finishers in multiple categories!  Don’t delay, register today at https://runsignup.com/Race/MO/Springfield/Inspiretheroar! 

Start/Finish: Foster Recreation Center
🗓 Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Time: 8:00am

For more information, visit the Inspire the Roar 5K website

8. Upcoming Public Affairs Events – It’s never too early to add events to your calendar, especially when we are all so incredibly busy! Here are Public Affairs events you definitely want to be aware of and attend.

Public Affairs Events Citizen Bear Alert – Tuesday, Aug. 4^th is an important election day for Missourians.  Check out our blog for access to your ballot, issues at a glance, and more.

The 2026 Public Affairs Conference schedule is now available to view online.  We are proud to announce an exciting line-up of 5 in-person speakers, 18 live virtual panels and 3 pre and post events!  Our 60+ expert speakers represent 17 different states, 6 countries and 12 MSU alumni!  Don’t miss attending this year’s opening keynote, Rainn Wilson, actor from The Office.

9. New Point•C Member Portal and Mobile App Launching August 1 – Beginning August 1, 2026, Point•C will launch a new Member Portal and Mobile App, providing Missouri State University health plan members with an improved, more convenient way to manage their health benefits.  The updated portal offers the features you’ve come to expect while introducing a refreshed user experience and the added convenience of mobile access.

Because this is a new portal, all members will need to register as a new user, even if you previously had an online Point C account. Visit the Human Resources blog to get started.

10. Missouri State Vendor Expo – The Office of Procurement Services is excited to host its first-ever Vendor Expo, bringing together university departments and valued supplier partners for an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and learn about products and services that support the university’s mission. The event will provide attendees with direct access to vendors, insights into available resources, and opportunities to build relationships that foster innovation, efficiency, and value across campus.

When: Wednesday, August 5, 2026. 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: PSU 313