Grad Field Day

📅 Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
🕔 Time: 5:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: UH South Lawn (Rain Location: Student Recreation Facility – MAC Gym)
👟 Dress Code: Casual attire (NOTE: Athletic or closed-toe shoes are required. Sandals, flip-flops, and bare feet are not permitted.)

Kick off the semester with Grad Field Day, an exciting evening of friendly competition, food, and networking designed exclusively for UIC graduate students. This Weeks of Welcome event brings together graduate students from across UIC for an opportunity to build connections, meet new classmates, and start the academic year with a little friendly competition.

Whether you're looking to expand your network, reconnect with friends, or simply enjoy some outdoor fun, Grad Field Day offers a unique opportunity to engage with fellow graduate students outside the classroom. Participants will be placed on teams and compete in a series of field day challenges, including a Three-Legged Race, Wheelbarrow Race, Bean Bag Toss, Relay Race, and Tug-of-War Tournament.

No athletic experience is required—just a willingness to have fun, meet new people, and show your team spirit. Teams will earn points throughout the evening, and medals will be awarded to the top-performing teams.

Pizza and refreshments will be provided, and time will be built in before and after the competition for graduate students to network, make new connections, and strengthen their sense of community at UIC.

Event Schedule

5:00 – 5:30 PM
Check-In, Team Assignments & Pizza

5:30 – 5:45 PM
Welcome, Rules & Team Strategy

5:45 – 5:50 PM
Three-Legged Race

5:50 – 5:55 PM
Wheelbarrow Race

5:55 – 6:05 PM
Bean Bag Toss

6:05 – 6:15 PM
Relay Race Challenge

6:15 – 6:25 PM
Tug-of-War Tournament

6:25 – 6:30 PM
Awards & Team Photos

6:30 – 7:00 PM
Networking & Refreshments

Come ready to compete, connect, and celebrate the start of a new academic year with fellow graduate students!