Your guide to what’s new in the dining hall, fall events, and exploring Worcester
Welcome to campus and Worcester, first-year students, and hello to our returning Clarkies! We’re excited for the semester ahead.
With summer break coming to a close and the academic year nearly upon us (hard to believe the first day of classes is Aug. 24!), here’s the scoop on what’s happening on campus this fall — and we mean scoop literally, because hard ice cream is now available at The Table at Higgins. There are plenty of events to fill your calendar, and you may want to know that a few offices on campus have changed locations.
Good luck this semester! We hope it’s a great one. These are some things worth knowing:
1. Time to get reoriented
Returning students may notice that some offices have moved. The School of Business has a new home in the Shaich Center (formerly the Shaich Family Alumni and Student Engagement Center). The Bloomberg Trading Lab will also now be in the former campus store location on the building’s first floor.
Speaking of the campus store, it moved to Main Street at the end of the spring 2026 semester. Clarkies can now find apparel and supplies at its location at 918 Main St.
Carlson Hall is now home to the Registrar’s Office, Student Accounts, and the Title IX Office.
The Office of Global Engagement has moved from Corner House to Jonas Clark Hall. The International Students and Scholars Office and Study Abroad are now located in JC Suite 114, and the American Language and Culture Institute is in JC 208.
2. Chicken tinga is back and expanded hours
Harvest Table heard Clarkies’ feedback and has brought chicken tinga back to the menu. The dish will be available at La Sabrosa, one of two new meal concepts debuting this semester. With La Sabrosa, students can build their own burritos, tacos, or bowls. The other new concept replacing Greens & Grains is Tritata, which will feature chopped salad and chopped sandwich offerings.
Dining will be open two hours earlier on Saturdays, now ready for students bright and early at 8 a.m., with a continental breakfast available until 10 a.m. The slushie machine is moving from The Bistro to The Table at Higgins, and hard ice cream will also be available at The Table in addition to soft serve.
Starting this semester, gluten-free pasta will be available at the pasta station, and the chef is currently brainstorming new additions to the dessert menu. Details TBD! Plus, the allergen-friendly station will have expanded options, including fried chicken piccata and treats like ice cream sandwiches.
In line with University sustainability goals, students who use a meal exchange in The Bistro will get a “green” reusable container to take their grub on the run and avoid adding to landfills. Be sure to download the ReusePass app to participate in the program.
Harvest Table will host its Welcome Home event in Red Square on Aug. 27, with local vendors handing out samples. Follow @harvesttableclarku on Instagram for the latest information on dining and upcoming events.
3. Join a club
Whether you like to spend your free time dancing (hit the floor with African Diaspora Dance Association, Hip Hop Collabo, Salsa Encendida, Dance Society, or Variant Dance Troupe) or gaming (check out Diversity in Games, the International Game Developers Association, or Tabletop Games), you can find a group of like-minded friends to keep you engaged and busy outside of class.
Clark has more than 100 clubs and organizations on campus to pique your interest. Visit Clark Engage to peruse a list of student groups and a calendar of events and activities. And, if we’re missing something, you can turn your idea into a club.
4. Game on!
Cheer on your fellow Clarkies! Student-athletes compete throughout the year, and the campus community is always invited to games, matches, and meets.
In the mood for a workout? Clark’s athletic facilities are for the use of everyone in the campus community. Your Clark ID gets you access to the Bickman Fitness Center, Kneller Gymnasium, swimming pool, and racquetball/squash courts. The first time Clarkies visit the Bickman, they must bring their ID and sign a waiver.
5. Check your voter registration
With a general election slated for Nov. 3, eligible voters should check their voting status and update their registration if needed. Current Clark students can register to vote in their home state or here in Massachusetts using their Worcester address. Students registered in their home state can request that an absentee/mail-in ballot be mailed to their Clark address.
Students should visit Vote.org to learn about deadlines and requirements in their home state. To vote in the general election in Massachusetts, register by Oct. 24.
6. Featured fall events
Your calendar will fill up this fall. As the semester starts, check out the Fall 2026 Involvement Fair on the Campus Green on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 2-4 p.m. and the Welcome Back Carnival on Friday, Aug. 28, from 4-7 p.m., also on the Green.
The School of Climate, Environment, and Society will offer pizza and conversation during a Welcome Back event on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 2-3 p.m. in Room 104 of the Geography Building.
The Career Connections Center will host a Career Festival on Red Square on Wednesday, Sept. 9, from 1-3 p.m., where students can learn about career services and support and enjoy snacks and activities (rain location is Tilton Hall). The Fall into Wellness Fair is on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 1-3 p.m. in Red Square. Then, the Fall 2026 Career Fair takes place on Thursday, Sept. 17, from noon to 3 p.m. in the Kneller Athletic Center.
Get ready to tailgate at the Cougar Pit Party at the Dolan Field House on Sept. 26. The volleyball, men’s soccer, and field hockey teams will play at home that day.
Enjoy the first few Fridays on campus with the First FriYAYs! activity series. There’s a popsicle party on Sept. 4, a get-to-know Worcester night on Sept. 11, laser tag and a video game truck on Sept. 18, and DJs and a silent disco on Oct. 2. This series is a reimagining of Clark After Dark.
Campus will be busy for Family and Friends Weekend from Oct. 16-18, with a slate of special events and programming.
Finally, here’s your heads-up to start planning costumes for Halloweekend. Campus will be full of activities.
Check out everything going on throughout the semester by logging into Clark Engage.
7. Wellness comes first
College is fun but can feel overwhelming at times. If you need extra support, visit the Center for Counseling and Personal Growth at 114 Woodland St., which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from noon-1 p.m.), Monday through Friday. Teletherapy is available through UWill.
8. How to get around
There’s a lot to do within a 5- to 30-minute walk of campus, including visiting parks and trails, exploring downtown, and watching the Worcester Red Sox play at Polar Park. Students can also take the Worcester Regional Transit Authority buses around the city and neighboring towns. Buses are currently fare-free through June 2027. At Worcester’s Union Station, students can ride the commuter rail to Boston.
Students can rent Zipcar vehicles on campus. The University will have two cars: One located in the Downing Street Garage and one in the Maywood Parking Lot. New members can get a free one-year membership, with the offer expiring at the end of November. Other promotions and discounts will be available in the app.
9. Explore Worcester
Get to know Worcester by discovering the city’s cultural offerings, restaurants, and parks. Worcester celebrates Pride in September, and the Pride Worcester Festival is on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 2-7 p.m. Students can hop on a WRTA bus (fare is free) in front of the Shaich Center and ride downtown to the festival’s location at City Hall Plaza.
Clarkies can experience local food, music, and art at the Worcester Night Market on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 4:30-9:30 p.m. The market is hosted by RiceMA, an arts and education center that preserves, shares, and celebrates refugee and immigrant cultures in Worcester.
You can also catch a WooSox game before the season wraps up in September.
10. Volunteer and connect
The office of Community Engagement and Volunteering helps students connect with local organizations for academic and co-curricular experiences — a great way to experience Worcester. Visit the Community Engagement Fair at Dana Commons on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 1-3 p.m. to learn more. Organizations from around Central Massachusetts will be tabling to share opportunities for volunteering, internships, and more (rain location is Tilton Hall).
