Ready to join the herd? Orientation programming for 2025
September can be exciting and sometimes daunting for first-time university students, but the University of Manitoba wants to make the transition as smooth as possible. Student Affairs facilitates a wide array of programming that spans from summer through to fall, aimed specifically at new Bisons. Starting university should be exciting and enriching! Here’s the range of programming at a glance:
Ready to Roam provides new students with an idea of what to expect in their first days on campus in the fall. This year, the event took place on July 30, with over a thousand students attending! New students familiarized themselves with the environment by joining tours, got a feel for classes with a Mini Lecture, learned academic success strategies, and broke down the differences between high school and university.
UM Essentials is a set of online modules that new Bisons can complete at their own pace, from home. The content features a wide array of topics, so students will discover strategies for taking on their first classes, university resources to help them succeed, wellness advice, tips on getting involved in student life, and the values and guidelines that keep the university a respectful and safe community. All incoming students are automatically enrolled in UM Essentials in August, so they can complete it at any time and refer back throughout the year. The online resource is also a great way for new students to familiarize themselves with the UM Learn interface, as the site also hosts all course homepages.
Prep Week is the best way to immerse yourself in the campus community! On August 26 and 27, all new students are invited to the Fort Garry campus where they can participate in university skills workshops, attend a special panel presentation, play games, and meet peers! The main component of Prep Week is a series of workshop sessions led by Student Affairs staff who specialize in supporting students by building their academic skillsets. Topics will include writing, academic integrity, study tips, and self-care. The panel discussion, titled “What I Wish I Knew,” features upper-years students providing the advice they would’ve liked to have when they started their journeys at UM. Additionally, there will be a Zoom webinar on August 28 about essential research and writing skills.
Welcome Day is the day before the start of classes, and it’s the grand finale of our orientation programming! To start, students are assigned homerooms for the day. Next, students will make their way to the Pep Rally to celebrate joining the herd! In the afternoon, students can enjoy the Carnival with new and old friends. Look forward to food, inflatable games, a photo book, a DJ, and more! If students still have questions before starting classes the next day, there will still be campus tours running through the afternoon, and they can stop by the Welcome Day Info Fair for more information on campus resources.
Are you starting your university journey with us this September? Ogechi Agba, Transition Events Coordinator, has a few words of advice:
“This is your first year at UM! Make the most of orientation by taking part in opportunities that have been created just for you. Meet new people with common interests and get an advantage by becoming familiar with the expectations and resources available to you.”
Participating in orientation programming is the best way to start off the new academic year on the right foot. That means knowing your way around, strengthening your academic skills, discovering resources to support your success and wellness through the year, and getting to know your peers. Check out the Fall Orientation website to discover more programming details and register for the events!
We are so excited for new Bisons to join the herd!