Thursday, August 1, 2019

Campus prepares to welcome the incoming class

A message from the Student Success Office. 

Throughout July, more than 2,000 incoming first-year students, and 1800 of their family members, visited campus to participate in Faculty 101 Days. Attendees represented approximately 25 percent of the Fall 2019 incoming students.

Each of the Faculty 101 Days included sample lectures, information sessions with study skills and note-taking tips, and expert panels. Students, and their parents or family members, were also able to drop in at services around campus, like The Centre, WatCard Office, and AccessAbility Services, or to purchase black and gold gear from the W Store.

Feedback from a student who attended their Faculty 101 Day indicates how successful the events were: “It was so much fun while still being educational. It is really making me look forward to starting in the fall.”

A parent who attended shared that their favourite part was “hearing about all the things my daughter did and people she connected with during our drive back home.” This parent went on to say, “Thank you for providing it. I wish all universities did this. It was well organized and the student guides/leaders were friendly and helpful.”

A sincere thank you to the many campus partners, student volunteers, staff, and faculty who collaborated and contributed in the planning and delivery of these important events.

As we prepare for Orientation, here are 3 ways you can help to support the incoming class:

1. Volunteer for Airport bus pick-up – Sign up to volunteer

From August 29 - 31 there is a free airport pick-up service from Toronto Pearson International Airport to campus for new students and up to two family members. Volunteer to play a key role in greeting international students, supporting them in feeling welcomed, and acting as a guide for students as they make their way to campus.

2. Volunteer for Canada House – Sign up to volunteer

On August 29, you can welcome incoming students to campus at Canada House, in V1 and UWP, by greeting and directing students, answering questions, and engaging in Canada-themed activities and trivia.

3. Wear a Here-to-Help button – Order Here to Help buttons

Please wear your Here to Help button during Orientation and the first few weeks of classes to help students feel welcomed, supported, and more comfortable in their transition to UWaterloo. We encourage you to check in with students by asking open-ended questions and to download UWaterloo Portal as a tool to assist students (especially the map for navigating campus).

This fall, classes will start on Wednesday, September 4 and Orientation programming continues through to Saturday, September 7.

• International Orientation – August 29 to 31;
• First Year Undergraduate Orientation - August 31 to September 7; and
• Graduate Student Orientation – September 7.

There is also Orientation programing for Parents and Families, Exchange and study abroad students, and Transfer students.

Follow along with our social media photo contest for incoming students in August to see how they’re getting #UWready. In late August and September, you’ll see Orientation coverage on the @UwaterlooLife social media channels and tagged with #UWOW19.

It's official: farewell Feds, welcome WUSA

A message from the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association.

Effective today, Federation of Students (Feds) will now officially be known as the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA). As students are adjusting to this change, please refer to us by our full name to help them make the connection between who we are and who we’re here for.

As we first let you know in June, this name change is only one aspect of our rebranding. We have revamped our entire marketing strategy to better clarify who we are, what we do, and who we’re here to serve. This means a new logo and an updated brand promise where students can read about what to expect from us moving forward.

We have begun introducing ourselves as WUSA to our incoming first-years and have updated our social media handles to reflect the change. You can find us there now as @yourwusa. Give us a follow if you haven’t already!

Should students come to you with questions about their student association, please direct them to wusa.ca or have them visit us in the Student Life Centre in Room 1116.

We would love your help as we change over communication from Feds to WUSA. If you come across any print or web materials we may have missed, please make us aware so we can include them in our updates.

Should our rebrand affect any student communications that are developed by your department that have not yet been addressed, or you have any additional questions, please connect with Director of Marketing and Communications Melissa Thomas.