Becoming a university student is an exhilarating and sometimes overwhelming prospect. The University of Ottawa and the graduate and undergraduate student federations try to make the transition as smooth as possible by hosting u101 Week for the thousands of new students who will soon be arriving on campus. u101 Week is a week of social and academic events that also offers returning students the chance to celebrate the return of friends and to face new challenges.
From September 1 to 8, a host of activities will take place including the annual President’s Brunch, Fedstock and Shinerama. Some events will make their first appearance including an opportunity for the entire uOttawa community to celebrate the beginning of the school year with a new carnival event that will light up campus with music, food and fun.
More than students need support during the transition to university life. Many parents experience mixed emotions watching their sons and daughters begin university. This year during move-in weekend (September 1 to 3), parents can learn about life on campus during parent orientation sessions, where they will have the opportunity to ask questions about their childrens’ transition from high school to university. (Answer the Gazette Quickpoll on the parents’ role in their children’s education).
The transition for students with learning disabilities can also prove challenging. The University offered first-year students with learning disabilities a one-week Summer Transition Program. The program offered students an opportunity to live on campus so that they could adapt to their new surroundings and attend workshops and presentations on effective learning strategies, such as exam preparation and time management.
Returning students will notice improved study spaces in both the Morisset and Health Sciences libraries. A student mentoring centre is also open in the Morisset Library.
Some students will discover their programs have moved into the impressive new Desmarais Building, home of the Telfer School of Management and the Faculty of Social Sciences.
The success of u101 Week is a collaborative effort with students, faculty and staff all playing important roles in making sure the welcome mat is ready for the newest members of the uOttawa community.
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