King's ready to support 2022's first-year and first-time students

July 12, 2022 Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

While the fall 2022 term may still be nearly two months away, a cross-university effort involving multiple offices and student leaders is already beginning to bring together programming and support for 2022’s first-year and first-time students’ orientation and transition to King’s.

Joe Henry, Dean of Students, says the outcome King’s is working towards is “for students to BE welcomed authentically for who they are and the individual gifts that they bring to King’s, BECOME engaged so as to thrive inside and outside the classroom and BELONG to our community, showing respect for themselves, each other and our neighbours. These initiatives help build a strong foundation so students can effectively transition in and through their first-year and first-time experience.”

King’s is using multiple opportunities to engage with first-year and first-time students. In addition to Summer Academic Orientation and Transition Hub, these are some of the events currently planned: 

Campus Connection -  August 17 - 19 and August 22 - 23

Bridging Week for International Students - August 31 - September 4

O-Week - September 4 - 11

Quad Squad Welcome Tent - September 6 - 16

Welcome Week - September 12 - 16

Pre-arrival sessions for International students are also planned for August; more information will be shared directly with International students through the King’s International Office.

Full details about this all transition activities are located at the King’s Edge Transition Website and through the online First Year Hub located on Owl.  An important note, all first year and first-time students must complete two modules on Gender-Based Sexual Violence and Consent prior to participating in Orientation Week.

Parents and supporters can also find support through a virtual session in August, an in-person session on move-in day, an event planned for October, along with quarterly newsletters.

“Our parent and supporter programming is critical as part of our efforts in supporting students’ success. Research shows that family and close friends are the people who students turn to with questions and advice. The more we can equip parents/supporters with information, the better they can guide students to the services, supports and programming we have at King’s,” says Doreen Vautour, Associate Dean of Students.

A well-connected, trained and functioning teams of diverse student leaders, student employees and staff will be able to assist King’s efforts by providing a supportive and enthusiastic welcome for first-year and first-time students and their families. They will have received training to ensure they understand the range of programs, services and policies of the university so they can refer to them effectively. This includes mandatory Gender-Base Sexual Violence Training for all student leaders. 

“We are investing a significant amount of time training our student leaders and working with staff/faculty to provide the best welcome possible,” says Vautour.

Even after the first-year and first-time students have settled in at King’s, they will continue to be supported by the following groups and initiatives:

 

“Preparation and an investment in learning about what is available to help a student succeed is crucial for the transition to university. That doesn’t matter if you are right out of high school or coming back from an extended time away from school. More importantly, these programs help build community which, after several years online, is more important than ever,” says Henry.