Staff Onboarding Experiences
The University of Waterloo is a unique organization which thrives on collaboration and collegiality. It is more than a place to work, it's your new community! To strengthen your knowledge of the University, Human Resources (HR) and Organizational & Human Development (OHD) have developed experiences to help you get well-oriented to your new workplace:
Staff Orientation Day
We welcome you to join us for an all-day orientation session designed just for you.
This one-day learning event aims to share informative, cultural, historical, structural, and strategic contexts about our institution in a dynamic and interactive way. The goal is to provide you with insights, tips and resources that support the development of your own sense of place, space, connection and purpose so you can make the most of your working life at the University of Waterloo. The day is divided into two parts:
Part I: Morning (9:30 am – 12:00 pm)
- Learn about the unique nature of the University: our history, mission, structure, strategy and supports
- Meet your UW Staff Association and hear from experts from Human Resources
- Get your questions answered with a live Q&A session.
Part II: Afternoon (1:30 – 3:30 pm)
- Explore the perks and benefits of being a University of Waterloo employee
- Discover the many opportunities for personal, professional, and career development
- Discuss our university's values and how we create a healthy workplace experience and learning journey.
Next Staff Orientation
The next Staff Orientation will be held virtually (MS Teams) on:
- Thursday, June 20, 2024
Registration opens on Portal at least one month before Orientation. Although anyone is welcome to join, we encourage all new staff to join an Orientation session within your first six months at the University of Waterloo.
*Please note these dates may be subject to change. If you have registered for these events, you will be contacted about any date changes.
Staff Campus Tours
The Waterloo Staff Orientation Team is delighted to partner with the Visitors Centre ambassador team to offer these 90-minute tours. Register on Portal to learn more and reserve your spot.
What you can expect:
- A guided tour for new UWaterloo staff, led by one of our talented student ambassadors who will share insights, stories, and wayfinding tips about the University campus
- An opportunity to learn about Waterloo's history, students, buildings, eateries, reputation, academics, campus life, and more
- One of our Staff Orientation Team members will join the tour to answer staff-related questions as well as share beneficial tips and insights from a staff perspective
- An opportunity to connect with other new Waterloo staff members
Dates Offered in 2024:
- Wednesday, May 15, 12:30-2:00 pm
- Monday, June 24, 12:30-2:00 pm
- Tuesday, July 16, 12:30-2:00 pm
- Thursday, August 15, 12:30-2:00 pm
Accessibility:
Should you have accessibility considerations you'd like us to be aware of, please contact dana.evanslaity@uwaterloo.ca at least one week before your scheduled tour. We will do our best to accommodate or provide you with alternate tour options.
Contact us
For questions about staff orientation experiences, please contact us at: ohd@uwaterloo.ca or hr.partner@uwaterloo.ca