Largest incoming first-year class at UOIT takes in Orientation Week events

The 10th academic year at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) began on Tuesday, September 4 as first-year students participated in activities designed to ease their transition to the campus community.

As one piece of the Student Experience Centre’s overall Orientation framework, the September Orientation program was developed based on the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) standards and guidelines for orientation programs. Opportunities for students to form connections were created through engaging activities and sessions facilitated by upper-year students, faculty and staff and designed to inform students about the services and programs in place to support their success while helping them with their physical orientation to the campus and the community.

September Orientation is marked by such programs as University 101, Top Tips for Success, and Single and Sexy which ran for its second year at the Regent Theatre. This theatrical production introduces students to some of the experiences and attitudes that students may face and demonstrates how they can utilize campus services and resources to support themselves and each other.

Congratulations to the Faculty of Health Sciences for winning the coveted Great Goose Award – Stanley for the first time in UOIT history. During the Wild Goose Chase, first-year students from all six faculties compete in a variety of activities which familiarize students with campus resources, their locations and institutional history while demonstrating the value of team work.

Following the Wild Goose Chase, students convened at Vaso’s Field to take part in the Campus Cup organized by Athletics. In this annual soccer challenge between the men’s and women’s teams from UOIT and Durham College, the Ridgebacks women’s team surrendered a late goal in a 3-2 decision to Durham College. The men’s team took honours in the nightcap; defeating Durham College 2-0 for the UOIT’s first-ever win in Campus Cup history. The overall crowd at Vaso’s Field was estimated at 2,000, creating a terrific campus atmosphere and capping off a great day of activities. Events on Friday included the annual CampusFest Concert organized by the student association and headlined by AVICII.

“Following our successful iBegin summer transition program, which focuses on addressing student and parental expectations of the university experience, our team is grateful for the support from the faculties and the service units and is pleased with the positive response we’ve had from students throughout September Orientation,” said Donna Robbins, director, SEC. “Part of our mission is to help our students make a smooth transition to the university environment and provide them with the information they will need to be a successful student and a participating member of our UOIT community.”

The energy generated by Orientation will carry over into UOIT’s annual Homecoming celebration Bring It, set for Thursday, September 20 through Saturday, September 22. The UOIT Alumni office has teamed up with the Advancement office to put together an amazing program of fun activities for UOIT’s ever-growing community of alumni, now more than 6,700 strong.