The First 56 Celebrates Record-breaking Growth and Rich Tradition in 2025

How do we build something bigger than Welcome Week for students?

This is the question the Auburn University Student Affairs’ departments of Health Promotion and Wellness Services (now Recreation & Wellness) and Student Involvement teamed up to ask in 2019.

Driven by data linking the first six weeks of the college experience to overall student success, the team explored ways to help Auburn students thrive during their first days on campus.

The First 56 was their answer.

Organized by the University Program Council (UPC) in Student Involvement, The First 56 is eight weeks of special programming, initiatives, and events that promote engagement, community building, healthy decision-making, and academic achievement for Auburn students.

The initiative occurs during the first 56 days of the fall semester—a special nod to Auburn’s founding year of 1856—and ensures each Auburn student begins their college experience with a sense of belonging, support, and connection to campus resources.

“Through The First 56, we help students find their people, passions, and purpose as members of the Auburn Family,” says Brad Smith, Director of Student Involvement at Auburn.

In just six years, The First 56 has seen monumental growth and buy-in from university leadership and campus partners.

The 2025 First 56 was the most successful yet.

Through 550 registered events and opportunities, 27,046 unique students were engaged during The First 56 this year, representing 76.9% of all Auburn students. Additionally, 21,986 unique students were members of a campus organization during this period, marking a 7% increase from 2024.

Notably, 247 host organizations participated in this year’s First 56, marking a 107% increase from last year’s 119 host organizations.

Key First 56 events include Convocation, a pep rally in Jordan-Hare Stadium the night before classes start; Waffles with Woodard, free Waffle House on the Haley Concourse with Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Bobby Woodard; and the Involvement Fair, an exhibition of more than 200 student organizations on the Campus Green.

“For many, getting involved in a campus organization is a turning point—a chance to find their place in the Auburn Family,” Smith states.

Student Involvement’s biggest piece of advice for incoming students?

Join two student organizations upon starting classes at Auburn. One organization should align with the student’s academic major or career goals, and the other should be for fun to build community around shared interests.

By joining two organizations, students affirm their professional pathways, connect with faculty and industry leaders, gain leadership experience and real-world skills, form lifelong friendships, and develop productive habits that prepare them for success well beyond the classroom and beyond Auburn.

Student Involvement and the UPC celebrate not only the record-breaking engagement numbers from this year’s First 56, but the overwhelming support and spirit of collaboration between campus partners.

“This growth has come about because The First 56 has become a tradition at Auburn, and because we’ve seen an increase in both campus units and student organizations participating,” Smith says.

As Student Involvement looks ahead, it is more energized than ever to help Auburn students find their place on the Plains through The First 56.

Together, the Auburn Family is committed to engaging, educating, and empowering students from the moment they step onto campus, one “War Eagle!” at a time.

Visit the First 56 website to learn more about First 56 special programming and events.