OWeek to take blended approach

This year’s OWeek will be, just like the fall semester classes at King’s, taking a blended approach, with many activities held online or as small, in-person events. Events during OWeek will focus on academics, community building, diversity, charity, and resources on campus. 

“We know some new students will be living on campus, some plan to be on campus some of the time, and some will be valued virtual members of our community this fall,” says Jenna Taylor, the 2020/2021 Head Soph.

Currently, organizers are working on a rotation model providing new students with an onsite OWeek experience on Monday, September 7 (Orientation Day A) or Tuesday, September 8 (Orientation Day B). Students will register to be on campus for one of those days

The King’s Orientation 2020-21 OWL page has all the details on OWeek including Zoom links, schedules for virtual and on-site events, pre-registration for in person events. Go to https://owl.uwo.ca/portal and look for the O-Week site. All students who paid the O-Week fee and completed their fee arrangements by August 17 will have access to the OWL site.

Those who are eligible for OWeek, but who were not automatically assessed the fee (transfer, part-time, or January 2020 arrival students) and students who did not complete their fee arrangements by August 17 can email dvautour@uwo.ca to have the OWeek fee added to their account and be able to participate in the activities.

Events will include Opening Ceremonies, Faculty Breakout Sessions, Kings 101 information sessions, Campus Tours, and other fun and informational events, held both on campus and online. Guidelines including limited group sizes, social distancing, and limited contact movement on campus will be maintained.

A couple of updates regarding OWeek events:

• On Sunday, September 6 at 7:30 p.m., there will be Playfair, an interactive, engaging online event with other King’s students. There will be some larger group activities, some smaller groups, all of which will be a fun way to get know each other with a little competition to keep things interesting.  Register for Playfair on the OWL site.
• The Quad Squad will be a welcome tent set up in the Quad area outside the library. It will be staffed by Student Affairs and student leaders along with representatives from Central Services and Enrolment Services. The goal is to help direct those in attendance and answer questions that students and visitors may have about the King's experience. It will operate weekdays from first day of classes until September 19. 

“Safety is the main concern. However, the fun of OWeek will not be forgotten. We are all so excited to welcome the class of 2024, whether that be in person or online,” says Taylor.

Students and other members of the King’s community are asked to watch for Orientation updates on the King’s Orientation 2020/2021 Facebook page, Instagram, the Events Calendar page and at oweek.ca (for events at Western and the affiliates).