Giving parents a taste of life at the University of Otago is a priority for several residential colleges as they prepare to welcome students for the year.
The colleges are home to about 3500 students and UniFlats can accommodate another 770.
Campus and collegiate life services director James Lindsay said the colleges were "99.8% full'', but there was still room for some change, as applications and withdrawals would carry on for another month.
Arana College is among those offering orientation for parents.
This week, parents have eaten and slept at the college, been shown around campus, had afternoon tea with vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne and visited Otago Museum.
Next door at St Margaret's College, master Dr Charles Tustin said there would be a welcome afternoon tea on Sunday followed by a barbecue for new residents and their families, with a blessing from the University Chaplain Greg Hughson and a Maori welcome.
At Carrington College, 55 residents and 79 parents arrived on Tuesday for their two-day orientation.
Acting warden Robyn Madden said residents were now in their rooms for the year. Parents had been put up in a separate building "to have a taste of student-style living''.
Hayward College head Pauline Donovan said a welcome week for residents would start with a dinner on Sunday, a college sports day next Tuesday and "colour wars'' next Thursday, where each floor "battles it out'' to become the victor.
There are a raft of other welcome activities planned for students next week.
These include Monday's convocation ceremony for first-year students at Forsyth Barr Stadium; a welcome for "local'' or Dunedin students tomorrow in the student union main common room; a powhiri and barbecue for Maori students at the Maori Centre on Monday; the College Sports Day at Logan Park on Tuesday; and the Student Services Expo on Wednesday in The Link.
There will also be International Orientation, to welcome new international students from Monday, and a Pacific students' sports day at Unipol on February 25.
- The Star