With autumn in full swing across Jingchu, nearly 12,000 freshmen of the class of 2026 arrived at Yangtze University from September 6 to 7. Traveling from across the country, they gathered at the university with aspirations for the future and embarked on a new chapter of their university journey.
During the two-day registration period, Party Secretary Liu Yongsheng, President Lü Yibing, and other leaders visited the front lines of the university’s welcome activities. They extended greetings to faculty members and student volunteers working at the registration sites and inspected the operation of various services, including registration, college-based support, and the “Green Channel” for students from financially disadvantaged families.
A particularly heartwarming moment during the welcome period was a special group birthday celebration. Liu Yongsheng and Lü Yibing visited the welcome sites at the East and West Campuses respectively, presenting birthday cakes and gift packages to 50 freshmen whose birthdays fell on their registration day. They shared the joy of beginning university life with the students. This thoughtful welcome gift allowed the freshmen to experience the warmth and sense of belonging of Yangtze University from the moment they stepped onto campus.
He Zhiyan, a freshman in the School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, was delighted to receive the birthday cake. “I rarely celebrated my birthday while living at school in high school. This year, my birthday happened to fall on the day I registered at Yangtze University. This special group birthday celebration feels like a truly meaningful coming-of-age ceremony to me. I am deeply grateful to the university leaders for sharing this special moment with us,” he said.
During the welcome period, Liu Yongsheng also visited Student Dormitory Building 25 on the East Campus to meet with freshmen and their parents. He asked about their first impressions of the university and encouraged them to cherish their university days, devote themselves to learning, and grow steadily through practice. Lü Yibing visited Student Dormitory Building 7 on the West Campus, where he inspected dormitory facilities and safety measures and spoke with freshmen in a warm and friendly manner.
The university’s schools and departments also brought their educational activities directly to the welcome sites. The School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering showcased the achievements and stories of the university’s annual “Top Ten University Students” over the years, inspiring freshmen through the examples of outstanding students around them. Many freshmen wrote down their aspirations for university life and their youthful goals for the future on a “Wish Wall.” Before the freshmen arrived, the School of Computer Science organized an essay competition for freshmen, titled “Dedication to the 90th Anniversary of Yangtze University”. At the welcome site, the president presented award-winning students with books on big data and artificial intelligence. The School of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture organized on-site flower-arrangement activities, offering freshmen a vivid introduction to the distinctive features of their academic discipline while promoting a spirit of appreciating nature and learning through hands-on practice. The School of Humanities and New Media set up an experiential area featuring traditional lacquer fans, drawing on the rich cultural heritage of Jingchu and allowing freshmen to experience the appeal of traditional intangible cultural heritage firsthand. The Medical School presented freshmen with customized canvas bags featuring the “Yangtze University Spirit” and the university’s educational philosophy in medicine, incorporating elements of educational guidance into a thoughtful welcome gift. By integrating academic specialties with orientation education, the university’s schools and departments created a distinctive and engaging first experience of campus life for the freshmen.
In 2026, Yangtze University admitted 9,000 new undergraduate students and 2,905 master’s and doctoral students. Among the undergraduate freshmen, 5,392 are from Hubei Province. The university has implemented an integrated online and offline orientation system. Before arriving on campus, freshmen can complete registration, enrollment procedures, tuition payment, and other processes through the online orientation platform. Upon arrival, students can first move into their dormitories and settle their luggage by presenting their admission notice and ID, and then complete on-site registration, significantly streamlining the procedures. The university has also established a “Green Channel” for students from financially disadvantaged families. Free meal vouchers are provided to the students and their parents, ensuring that support and assistance are delivered in a practical and thoughtful manner.
Beginning September 8, the university will organize a 14-day military training program for the freshmen. In addition, all freshmen will participate in the one‑year “Sailing Plan”, which is designed around three goals: understanding the university and embracing responsibility, taking pride in the university and uniting efforts, and contributing to the university’s development through personal achievement. The plan consists of five major areas—ideals and values education, patriotism education, adjustment to university life, habit formation, and mental well-being—with 16 themed educational activities. Through these programs, the university aims to help freshmen adapt quickly to university life and establish clear goals for personal growth and development.
“Carrying forward nine decades of legacy and mission, pursuing dreams and embarking on a new journey”, red banners bearing this message can be seen across the campus. Here, nearly 12,000 new members of the Yangtze University community will pursue knowledge with dedication, strive for excellence, and embrace new challenges. Together, they will write their own answers to the call of youth in the new era.
