Waterloo's student life 101 offers two-day preview for first-year students
Incoming first-year students will have an opportunity to visit the University of Waterloo for two-day overnight sessions this month or next for a preview experience of campus life
WATERLOO, Ont. (Wednesday, July 13, 2011) - Incoming first-year students will have an opportunity to visit the University of Waterloo for two-day overnight sessions this month or next for a preview experience of campus life.
Now in its 16th year, the student life 101 program helps both students and parents with the transition to university before classes begin on Monday, Sept. 12. The first two-day session takes place on Thursday (July 14) and Friday (July 15), followed by seven other sessions every week until Aug. 8 and Aug. 9. More than 1,000 students are expected to take part in the revamped orientation program.
"This expanded orientation event was created to help prepare students for university life by giving them the tools so that they are successful throughout their time here," said Gabrielle Finnie, student life co-ordinator of first-year experience. "Students attending the program will be able to stay overnight in a traditional style residence community, attend a lecture designed just for them and start their personalized success plans."
The two-day session will allow students to become familiar with their specific faculty buildings, attend a lecture and tutorial, and meet professors, staff and upper-year students.
They will also learn about student services to assist them during first-year, focusing on the first six weeks of university life. These services include student awards and financial aid, health services, career planning and co-operative education.
The orientation program, organized by Waterloo's student life office, includes 16 experience leaders, who are upper-year students serving as peer mentors.
A separate one-day session for parents and supporting family members will offer a campus tour and a presentation on what parents can expect in a student's first year. “We’ve created a one-day program that will educate parents on their new role in supporting student success,” Finnie said.
In previous years, the student life 101program offered students and parents a one-day orientation. This year's expansion of the program is the result of recommendations from a special student transition project.
