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We all know school starts soon — some of us can feel it in the air!

But pay close attention to the following, because the dates have changed for some of our traditional events to start the year:

• — 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, , 10 College Park
• New Student Celebration — 3:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, The Pavilion at the Activities and Recreation Center (followed by dinner on Hutchison Field)
• — 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, Hutchison Field
• — Hosted by �ٺ���Ƶ Student Life, 6-10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, Quad
• Transfer Fall Welcome — 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, Ballroom
• Fall Convocation — 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, Jackson Hall,
• — For all new staff members and their supervisors, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, ARC Ballroom (RSVP deadline Oct. 1)

This year’s convocation, “�ٺ���Ƶ in the 21st Century: Educating for the Future of California and the World,” will be followed by a Student Research Expo (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) on the , across the street from the Mondavi Center. Refreshments will be served at the expo.

Students, faculty and staff and the general public are invited to join Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi in this ceremonial start to the new academic year. Release time with supervisory approval is appropriate.

State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, of Sacramento, a 1984 graduate of the �ٺ���Ƶ School of Law, will deliver the keynote address.

The program also includes:

• Suad Joseph, distinguished professor, Department of Anthropology, Women and Gender Studies Program, and Middle East/South Asia Studies Program; recipient of the 2014 �ٺ���Ƶ Prize for Undergraduate Teaching and Scholarly Achievement; and faculty adviser to the chancellor.
• Alejandra Ramirez, fourth-year student double majoring in environmental policy and Spanish.
• Grace Davis, director of corporate affairs, Intel Corp.

The Demeter String Quartet will perform as a prelude to the ceremony. The group comprises three �ٺ���Ƶ students — Devon Bradshaw, violin (third-year music major); Christopher J. Liao, violin (senior, food science major and music minor); and Nathan Leber, cello (senior, psychology major) — and, from the University of Pittsburgh, Michelle Mazanek, viola (communications and rhetoric major).

�ٺ���Ƶ’ Alice Del Simone, a third-year student, double-majoring in music and plant science, will sing the national anthem.

John Owens, associate professor, electrical engineering and computer science, will be the master of ceremonies.

More than 50 students are expected to participate in the research expo, involving the Undergraduate Research Center, Graduate Studies, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Education, Graduate School of Management and School of Law.

Welcome events

Want to know more? Check out the , or the for graduate, postdoctoral and professional students.

New this year: , 4:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, as part of the Davis Farmers Market at Central Park, Third and C streets. Discover Davis, presented by the Davis Chamber of Commerce and Davis Downtown, replaces Chamber Day on the Quad.

Discover Davis “is a free event to welcome new and returning �ٺ���Ƶ students,” Davis Downtown declares on its website. “Learn about the city of Davis, its quaint downtown, the farmers market and the amazing Davis businesses that are here to serve you.”

University Farm Circle

As the new year begins, the University Farm Circle invites new and prospective members to its Newcomers Welcome, 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the home of Bonnie Lam, 1524 Arena Drive, Davis.

Founded on campus 101 years ago, the University Farm Circle now extends into the greater community, “connecting campus and community through scholarship, enrichment and friendship.”

The Univertsity Farm Circle’s new year begins in earnest with the Fall Tea, Oct. 8, where members can learn more about and sign up for general programs and interest sections. The tea also features the presentation of scholarships to �ٺ���Ƶ students.

For more information about the Newcomers Welcome, call co-chairs Karen Fess, (713) 504-5113, or Bonnie Lam (530) 756-6473. More information about the University Farm Circle is available online.