With the support of the Student Success Office, WUSA, Graduate Student Association, all six faculties and over 1000 student leaders, the University of Waterloo welcomed more than 6000 new students to campus during Orientation. Events for international, exchange, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as parents and supporters, ran from Thursday August 31 to Saturday September 9, 2023.
With lessons learned from last year’s return to in-person events and incorporated student feedback, an engaging roster of events was offered to the newest members of the Warrior community.
New and noteworthy Orientation initiatives included:
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International Orientation Welcome Reception: President and Vice-Chancellor, Vivek Goel welcomed more than 250 new students and their families to Waterloo. Attendees mingled with staff and senior leaders and were introduced to key campus services and resources.
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Dear First Year Me: Keynote upper-year and staff speakers from equity-deserving groups shared the power community and connection played in their post-secondary journeys. Additional breakout sessions focused on important topics like financial readiness, wellness, time management and more.
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Grad House Evening Social: This GSA-led event welcomed nearly half of the incoming graduate student population, with food from local food trucks and live music.
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Peer Connection Sessions: Run in partnership with the GSA, more than 400 new graduate students attended alumni panels and peer speed-networking opportunities. Speakers shared the impact their time at Waterloo had on their professional paths and personal growth.
We thank the Waterloo community for their ongoing support of new student transition initiatives and look forward to beginning planning for 2024 in the coming weeks.