Your Webster Adventure Awaits ...

Webster University is situated in the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area that more than 2.8 million people call home. Here at Webster, you’ll find a diverse, thriving student community made up of locals, out-of-state, transfer and graduate population, and international students like yourself. No matter where you call home, our faculty, staff and student communities are excited to extend a warm welcome to you here on campus. We are dedicated to bringing unforgettable experiences together with academia, creating an exciting, enriching college experience.

While you follow your dreams pursuing your education here at Webster, you’ll forge new friendships, uncover unexpected opportunities, build influential networks, seek adventure and make memories that will last a lifetime. With more than 100 student organizations and a bustling metro area, the hardest part will be deciding how to spend your time outside classes. Get involved with more than just your major by joining an organization covering everything from audio engineering, dance, human rights, martial arts, writing, fiber arts, esports, cricket and so much more!

A group of Webster students pose together for a photo in a classroom.

Our campus is located in the desirable St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves. While you live here you’ll enjoy a walkable neighborhood with historic homes, curated shopping and cafes and restaurants along sidewalks shaded by century-old trees. With easy access to public transportation, our students can enjoy everything the city has to offer.

St. Louis is home to rich history, diverse culture and is famous for it's Midwest hospitality. From world-class sports to stadium-sized concerts and underground art shows to delicious and innovative street food, there is something to satisfy your curiosity.

Throughout the metro area you'll find ample accessibility to recreation promising breathtaking views, hiking destinations, conservation reserves and more. If you prefer to spend your free time canoeing, rock climbing, hiking trails and experiencing the great outdoors, you'll have an abundance of adventure nearby.

The Lore Behind the Webster Gorlok

At Webster, we pride ourselves on creating a campus as unique as you are, and that includes our mascot! The Gorlok is Webster's very own legendary creation and exemplifies the innovation, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking we encourage in our students, faculty and staff.

Get to Know the Gorlok! 

Meet Our Mythical Mascot

The Gorlok is a mythical creature, uniquely created just for Webster University!

It has the paws of a speeding cheetah, the horns of a fierce buffalo and the face of a dependable Saint Bernard.

The myth of the Gorlok represents the high standards, atmosphere of fairness and good conduct that are so important to Webster University.

The name was chosen in June 1984 and takes inspiration from the intersection of Gore and Lockwood avenues, considered to be the heart of “Old Webster."

Webster University ran a contest in October 1984 challenging applicants to submit a sketch and description of what they thought a Gorlok would look like. The winning entry was a photograph of a furry creature holding a hand-held pump sprayer.

 

 

The Webster Gorlok mascot waving to the camera while standing with a bicycle.

The Webster Gorlok mascot posing for a photo with a group of Webster students.

More Lore Unlocked

The Gorlok has evolved over time, continuing to be an important representative of the innovative and creative energy found at Webster University.  

The first life-size Gorlok costume made its debut at a men’s basketball game in February 1988. The mascot stood 6 feet 3 inches and was covered in blue fur. 

Today the Gorlok features golden fur, two horns on its head, and wears a blue letter jersey featuring a large, white “W” emblazoned on the front.

The Gorlok is an elusive creature who brings magic to campus. Keep your eyes open while you’re on campus, at athletic events and student life events, and you just might get a glimpse of the Gorlok in real life!

And don’t worry, the Gorlok is friendly! Don’t be afraid to snap a photo together.

Webster Welcomes You

Webster has plenty of ways to get involved, whether that is through Campus Activities and social media, or utilizing Webster's website for events and student organizations, being social on campus has never been easier!

Check out one of our dozens of clubs and organizations, or attend fun events like murder mysteries, open mic night, afternoon craft events and more. You are sure to find an area that interests you, or perhaps find a new one. Campus involvement can help develop lifelong friendships and create a feeling of belonging, continually adding to the Webster experience.

Welcome Week

We at Webster want to ensure that all students are engaged and thriving during their time at Webster. Every year, Welcome Week brings joy and entertainment to our campus in the hopes of uniting students and offering a warm, accepting environment for all.

Students this year had many campus events to choose from, including a petting zoo, bubble bus and tie-dye T-shirts, the headphone disco, a hypnotist performance and goat yoga — to name a few. Take a look at a recap of our 2023 Welcome Week in the video below.

Transcript

[Music]

[Introductory footage of a person with a shirt that reads CLASS OF 2027]

[Footage reel of a student playing with bubbles, students dancing in neon lights, students on campus painting and hanging out]

[More footage of a student with an alpaca, students relaxing and chatting, while wearing CLASS OF 2027 shirts]

[Footage of arts and crafts, tie dye, more bubbles, another student with an alpaca, and more neon lights with students dancing]

[Music fades out]

Office of Student Engagement

Campus Activities

Campus Activities is a large-scale organization within the Office of Student Engagement, dedicated to fostering a meaningful campus social life for students through large-scale events and activities.

Discover Webster University Campus Activities

Social Media

Campus Activities keeps its social media pages up to date, consistently adding new events and fun activities. The organization utilizes Instagram, Facebook and an Involved@Webster page for ease of access.

Involved@Webster

In addition to the social media pages and the organization website, Campus Activities is accessible through Webster's event and organization site, Involved@Webster.

Testimonial

“The campus is like my home. I finish my classes, go to work, hang out with my friends and participate in club activities. It's like an all-rounded experience. There are multiple events happening on campus that you can take part in.”

Muazuddin Mohammed

BS in Computer Science, ’26

More to Explore

A group of Webster students smile and pose for a photo in a classroom.

Other Ways to Get Involved

If Campus Activities alone isn't enough, Webster's campus experience site involved@webster offers additional events and is home to over 100 registered student organizations.

The organization tab allows interested students to explore the variety of organizations, each with a brief description. Meanwhile, the event tab is where student organizations and official groups, such as the Athletic Department or the Residential Housing Association post upcoming events or activities.

Webster's event calendar is another way to see what's new on campus. The calendar often lists sports games, concerts, art exhibitions and film series, but there is much more to choose from, as well.

Featured events, upcoming events and trending events are all available on the front page. Site visitors also have the choice to browse by All Events, Places to Go, Departments or Groups. A second option is to search by tag under Event Types or Categories, which will also tell you how many events are currently listed under each tag.

Webster University athletic programs have a record for attracting and nurturing student athletes. Webster athletics allows players to achieve success both on and off the playing fields with a combination of academic achievement and athletic grit. At Webster, 16 athletic programs are offered, divided into Men's, Women's and Co-Ed.

Men's Sports — Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field

Women's Sports — Basketball, Cross Country, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, Track and Field

Of course, fans are welcome, too! There's always a place on the bleachers for Gorlok fans who cheer the athletes on to victory. The more the merrier. Check out the athletic schedule.

Getting into film and theatre is another great way to become involved. Webster offers students different options with new events in multiple venues. The Art & Performance tag on Webster's event site is a comprehensive calendar to see upcoming events. Other events can be advertised on social media through Campus Activities or on flyers posted around the campus.

Webster has two organizations that often host these type of events. Webster's Film Series  is designed to be a genuine cinematic alternative, mainly presenting  non-commercial films created by artists working outside the mainstream. Webster's Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts offers multiple productions, such as musicals, plays or dance performances.

The Journal is an online newspaper platform that provides Webster University and the Webster Groves community with the most current news and information with relevant context. The Journal achieves its visibility using copywriting, photography and other multimedia, such as videos, podcasts or magazines, and also offers culture and lifestyle editorials, opinion columns and a sports section.

The newspaper is run by students. If you are interested in becoming a part of The Journal's editorial staff or other positions, such as writer or multimedia editor, please contact us.

The Multicultural Center and International Student Affairs at Webster University exist to provide programs and services to our students and faculty that recognizes social differences, respects cultural uniqueness and facilitates collaborative interactions. This organization achieves this goal by hosting multiple programs throughout the year. These include: Culture Chat, International Friendship Program and International Festival.

Gateway to a Good Time

Broaden Your Horizons

While Webster University does host and plan plenty of fun activities, Student Life isn't just about staying on campus and studying. Get out of your comfort zone and take some time to get to know the area around you, including the long list of everything that the St. Louis area has to offer.

As an attempt to sum up the infinite possibilities, the list below is just a fraction of the opportunities available. Adventure, beauty, history, knowledge and good food await you.

For many University students, pricey experiences may be out of reach. However, St. Louis offers many attractions that are both high quality and free or have no admission fee.

Endless Adventures

There are some attractions that are well-known beyond the city's borders, critically acclaimed or famous in some way. In St. Louis tourism, these experiences are often recommended first, and they are considered impossible to miss.

The Gateway Arch is a cultural icon of St. Louis, allowing tourists a bird's eye view of the city from the 630-foot tall national historic landmark. The Gateway Arch National Park grounds that surround the Arch are home to the visitor's center and museum, with a bank of the Mississippi running along the edge of the park.

Some other famous tourist locations include:

Whether it's from a neck-and-neck sports game or a roller coaster, St. Louis gives us something to cheer and shout about all year long. Most of the following activities are seasonal, but there is always something fun to do in St. Louis — you just have to find it. In the mean time, check these out:

The St. Louis region boasts several exciting animal attractions which offer a diverse range of species to visit. Whether you're looking for farm animals, exotic species, sea creatures, domesticated friends, insects or birds, there is something for everyone!

Consider one of these destinations when planning your next animal adventure:

If you look hard enough, art and beauty can be found anywhere in St. Louis. However, if you would prefer something more high quality, check out these museums, gardens, greenhouses, parks and installations:

Educational journeys are easy to fulfill in St. Louis with new knowledge at every corner, ranging from science to history to geology. Some are more interesting than others, but as a Webster student, these are all unique learning opportunities to take advantage of:

In the first half of the 20th century, St. Louis was a mecca for music. Legends like Scott Joplin, Chuck Berry, Albert King and many others pushed the music scene forward. Originally, St. Louis was a major player in the blues scene, but over the years other genres and influences have molded the unique St. Louis music scene into the one that we know today.

Additionally to music, St. Louis also boasts a large amount of theatres. Check out some of the diverse venues available:

*The attraction or event is free or does not have an admission fee.

 

The Saint Louis Art Museum illuminated at night with "Webster University 100 Years" shining on the building.
A front view of the World Chess Hall of Fame and a giant chess piece sculpture.
A colorful art exhibit by Webster students.
The Gorlok meets a St. Louis Cardinals pitcher and the Cardinals' mascot, Redbird.
Missouri Botanical Garden's main pond and greenhouse.
A giant crowd dancing with their hands in the air during a concert.
Several hot air balloons for the Balloon Race in Forest Park.

It's Time for 'New'

Webster University is a place to grow, experience different things and become the best person you can be. Living on campus gives students endless "new" experiences, whether that be by living in a new place, getting involved in a new club, starting a new hobby, meeting new people, having a new adventure or visiting a new St. Louis location.

As a Webster student, there is so much to experience and everything listed is only the beginning. It is important to note, however — new experiences aren't always good. Maybe you'll be homesick or struggle adapting to the environment. Webster will support you during those times, as well, offering counseling and other student assistance.

Good or bad, new or old, Webster is here for you the entire way. Why not give Campus Life a chance?

 

Take a Virtual Tour

Explore our beautiful Webster Groves campus from anywhere in the world.

Virtual Tour

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