From January 2 to 6, the Conestoga community welcomed thousands of new students across campuses and virtual platforms, participating in orientation activities ahead of the start of the winter term.
The Conestoga community welcomed thousands of new students across campuses and virtual platforms, participating in orientation activities ahead of the winter term.
Hosted by the Student Engagement team in collaboration with student service areas and faculty, orientation is designed to support a successful transition to Conestoga with social, educational and academic events through a combination of online and in-person sessions.
In-person activities were supported by 160 volunteers and 50 student ambassadors in addition to Conestoga employees and community partners who welcomed students, provided directions to drop-in and meet-and-greet sessions, and assisted with creating connections to key resources on and off campus. Students also participated in online academic orientation sessions to prepare for classes and set a foundation to excel in their program.
"Orientation plays an important role in ensuring a successful transition to the Conestoga community and enhances the student experience by introducing opportunities that foster personal and professional growth," said Amy Baird, Student Engagement manager. "The college is committed to supporting student success through resources that encourage development, connectivity, sense of belonging and inclusivity. It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm as students embark on their Conestoga journey."
In addition to orientation activities, several transition events have also been planned to introduce students to available supports as well as help build relationships with peers, including the Getting Started Series running until January 27; the African, Black, and Caribbean Student (ABC) Welcome event on February 3; and 2SLGBTQ+ Social on February 7.
For more information about student resources and services available to enhance and support the college experience, visit Campus life & services.
Conestoga's Student Engagement team meets the needs of students through innovative programming designed to achieve goals with learning outcomes-based initiatives, including the Co-Curricular Record; Orientation; equity, diversity and inclusion education and programming; the Leadership Workshop series; and various student volunteer and committee opportunities.