Our History

The Arch Ceremony

The Arch Ceremony is one of the oldest college traditions in Northwest Ohio and the most sacred tradition at the University of Findlay. Since its dedication in November 1923, the Griffith Memorial Arch has served as a right of passage for graduating students entering the next chapters of life after their time at Findlay.

New students process through the Arch toward Old Main during orientation weekend while they are being welcomed to campus by faculty, staff, and their loved ones to symbolize the official start of their college experience at Findlay.

According to tradition, students should not walk through the Arch at any point during their time at UF due to superstition that they won’t graduate. In keeping with the superstition, students had worn a path in the grass surrounding the arch to avoid jinxing themselves, so the University installed sidewalks around the outside of the Arch in 1990.

Following the Commencement Ceremony, students process back through the Arch toward Main Street and are celebrated once again by faculty, staff, and their loved ones.

The Dreaded Dots

It’s an academic Bermuda Triangle…or circle. Surrounding the oil derrick fountain on main campus, are faded, but still discernible, concrete “dots.” Tales of unwary students who stepped on a dot and failed their next test. Studies commissioned at great cost, show a correlation between stepping on dots and failing tests. The more dots stepped on, the more failed tests.

Be safe. Study hard. . . and watch where you step.

Homecoming and Family Weekend

Sometimes occurring in late September and sometimes in early October, Homecoming and Family Weekend is a tradition that encompasses other traditions like a bonfire, fireworks, golf cart parade, tailgating and class reunions. Alumni, parents, and siblings of current students and the community are invited to come back to campus and join students, faculty and staff for a steady stream of events from Friday evening through Sunday.

New Student Orientation

Everyone will tell you that the best thing to do on Orientation Weekend is to “dive in” and get to know as many of your fellow students as possible. Feeling a little shy? Building Oiler Nation is a series of icebreakers involving the entire entering class.

New Student Orientation takes the stress out of meeting other students. Before you know it another best friend is giving you a high five!

Helping Hands Food Drive

The Helping Hands Food Drive has been a fall tradition since 2006. The Helping Hands Food Drive helps community organizations feed the hungry and lets students, faculty and staff experience the joy of giving back to the community!

To date, the University community has donated more than one million pounds of food to Chopin Hall, a local charitable organization in Hancock Country.