It’s a day to meet the Indigenous community and enjoy some games, snacks and other activities. Get familiar with UM Indigenous programs and meet student groups. External units such as the Manitoba Inuit Association will be in attendance.

All activities are open to the public – everyone is welcome!

At the University Quad:

Tipi raising – 11 a.m.
Assist in the raising of a tipi.

Celebration stations – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Meet new people, have fun and learn about the Indigenous community at UM at these interactive stations:

• Indigenous games
• Join the Circle to sign up to get access to Migizii Agamik after hours
• Popcorn station
• Information booths

In Migizii Agamik – Bald Eagle Lodge:

#ideclareindigenous photo booth – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Lunch provided by Daily Bread Café – 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Musical guest Patti Kusturok – 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

“The Indigenous Student Centre is thrilled to be able to offer an in-person orientation again. It’s open to everyone and our way of greeting students, staff and faculty to the new academic year and showcase Indigenous programs on campus,” said Carla Loewen, Director of the Indigenous Student Centre. She added, “We love being able to celebrate our community and this is a fun way to do that. We look forward to seeing you there!”

If you have questions about Indigenous Orientation, contact the Indigenous Student Centre at isc@umanitoba.ca or 204-291-5257.

Share your photos and join the conversation with #umorientation and #umindigenous on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

At Welcome Day student leaders, academic advisors and support staff will fill you in on what you need to know.  We will help you get familiar with your new space, highlighting valuable resources and must-visit spots on campus.

Student attendees will be assigned a Homeroom to start their day. We’ll send you the location, but you’ll also see lots of signs on campus as well as Meeters and Greeters to help point you in the right direction. Prior to lunch, UM community members will come together for the Welcome Ceremony and formally welcome you to the herd! Following the ceremony, you’re invited to join us for a free barbecue lunch  on the pedway. See the full schedule for more details.

We’re excited to announce that Brody Jackson, Morning Show personality from QX104 will be joining us at the Welcome Ceremony! You may also recognize his voice from his work at the Jets games as the Game Host.

Here are even more reasons why you should join us for Welcome Day:

• To gain confidence: Going somewhere new is overwhelming, but being introduced to these spaces and exploring them beforehand will do wonders. Learning about supports and services can also be intimidating, so we’ll show you how to get connected.
• Meet experienced students and future classmates. Hearing from students about university life will give you insight on some things you can expect. It’s also a good opportunity to meet future classmates as your Homeroom will have students registered in the same courses or program as you.
• Leaders can answer questions. It’s hard to know what information you’re missing until you get to campus and see it for yourself. Welcome Day will give you a chance to settle in and ask questions you may have.
• Hear advice from special guests and UM VIPs. These guests will share firsthand experiences and give you their best tips and advice. Helping you set yourself up for success and paving a better path for future students is the Bison spirit!

We’re excited to meet new faces and help you make the best of your first year! This is an exciting time for you and for the whole UM community, so we want to make sure you feel like you belong. Don’t miss this chance to see what lies ahead of you.

Be sure to confirm your attendance on Welcome Day by completing a short online form. Check your @myumanitoba.ca email address regularly for all important details: when to arrive and where to go, along with a QR code to use at check-in. Visit UM Commons for everything related to the first year experience.

Welcome to the Herd is an exciting opportunity for incoming students to get a sneak peek at the student experience and learn important information about registering and preparing to take classes at the university.

“Welcome to the Herd is a great opportunity to learn more about what UM has to offer,” says Brandy Usick, Executive Director, Student Engagement and Success. “We often hear if students have an opportunity to visit campus prior to starting in the fall, they feel more confident registering for courses and starting classes.”

Sessions will include presentations about:

• choosing first year courses  
• key UM student supports 
• career services
• the transition from high school to university

Students and supporters will also have an opportunity take a walking tour of our beautiful campus with student tour guides, who will highlight important spots on campus. 

Additional activities include the Info Fair, students and parents are invited to stop by tables on the patio beside UMSU University Centre and talk to UM staff and students, who will help to answer questions about supports and programs available to UM students! 

WHEN:               June 18 – 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. CST (first session starts at 9:30)

WHERE:             UMSU University Centre

PARKING:          Free parking is available in Q Lot (map) 

Food will be available to purchase in UMSU University Centre throughout the day and you can also visit the Bookstore to stock up on UM gear!

We can’t wait to meet you and welcome you to the Herd! #weareallbisons

To help with the transition into being a U of M student, we have created UM Essentials – an online orientation course that provides critical information on things like academic integrity, getting involved on campus, academic success strategies, and also some of our crucial policies on substance use and sexual violence. The idea is to give students a way to learn all of this important information in a digestible, understandable way, that they can return to when they are looking for information. UM Essentials is available now on UM Learn. Students who complete UM Essentials by September 18, 2019 will be automatically entered to win one of two prizes of $500 toward their tuition. 

How to support your student during their first year

 More choices

The support of family members is incredibly valuable to students and contributes significantly to the success they can achieve in their studies. How can you help specifically? Support their choices by doing things with them, not for them, such as researching courses and programs, registration and meetings with advisors.  Encourage your student to explore their options and ask questions. Academic advisors, professors, career consultants and many others are here to provide support to students as they navigate the beginning of their new academic career. It’s also important to remember that what you want for your student may be different than what they want; supporting their choices is key. 

More freedom

One of the biggest differences between high school and university study is time. In high school, in class time was approximately 25-30 hours. A typical university student is in class for 12-15 hours per week; however, we recommend a 2:1 study to class time ratio. This means an average student should spend between 24-30 hours per week studying independently. Combine this with class time and this ends up being close to a full time job. Also, attendance in classes is not always monitored, so encouraging your student to attend all classes is important. Content is covered at a much faster pace in university (24 weeks per academic year versus 40 weeks in high school), so missing classes often means more difficulty catching up. 

More responsibility

Encourage your student to claim their @myumanitoba.ca email account and check it regularly to ensure important communications aren’t missed. The U of M uses only this email account to communicate with students. University students are expected to know, and abide by, a number of policies here at the U of M. It is important for you to encourage your student to review these, in particular those around academic integrity. UM Essentials is a great guide to familiarizing yourself with those policies. The University of Manitoba has a number of important dates and deadlines to which students are expected to adhere. Deadlines are not typically flexible and each student has the responsibility to follow these. Additionally, there are some boundaries to parental involvement at the U of M. Regardless of age, or who is paying for tuition, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) allows the U of M to release any information about a student only to that same student.

More support

Possibly most important is to remind your student that asking for help is normal and that there are many places to get support on campus. You can also let them know of the many resources at the U of M that are available to students:

• Financial Aid and Awards for scholarships, entrance and continuing awards, bursaries, Campus Food Bank and Work-Study Program.
• Academic Learning Centre whose services include writing consultations, study skills strength assessment and support, exam preparation workshops, and study skills and writing tip sheets.
• Career Services for career planning workshops, one-on-one counselling, career fairs, job postings (careerCONNECT) and resumé/cover letter/interview resources.
• Recreation Services with more fitness and recreation options than any other facility in the province, programs, classes and intramural leagues (membership is included in your student’s fees).
• University Health Service is available to students for acute and minor health care problems, checkups, health and travel counselling and immunizations.
• Student Accessibility Services provides support and advocacy for students with disabilities, such as: hearing, injury-related, learning, mental health, medical, physical, visual, or temporary disabilities.
• Student Counselling Centre offers supportive problem-solving assistance for academic, vocational, emotional, personal or social concerns (all free and confidential).
• Academic Advisors in the First Year Centre are also available to assist any first year student regardless of faculty or program. Advisors help students transition to university and navigate the responsibilities and opportunities available in this new environment. Encourage your student to make the most of their time at university by regularly checking in with an advisor. 

Welcome Day and other important dates

UM Orientation 2019: Welcome Day will be held on the Fort Garry campus on September 3. Be sure to check the website to find out how your student can register and why they should attend. Registration closes August 19.

Some other important dates and deadlines include:

• First Day of Classes for Fall Term – Sep. 4, 2019
• Course Drop Date – The last date to drop a course with a refund for Fall term and Fall/Winter term spanning courses – Sep. 17, 2019
• Course Add Date – The last date to add a course in the revision period – Sep. 18, 2019
• Fee Payment Deadline Fall Term – Oct. 2, 2019

Be sure to join the conversation on our student social media channels: @umstudent, @um_student and facebook.com/UM.Student.

For more information visit umanitoba.ca/orientation. ]]> https://umtoday-wordpress.ad.umanitoba.ca/parents-guide-to-first-year-2019/feed/ 0 https://umtoday-wordpress.ad.umanitoba.ca/new-event-for-new-students-making-the-grade/ https://umtoday-wordpress.ad.umanitoba.ca/new-event-for-new-students-making-the-grade/#respond Fri, 05 Jul 2019 16:36:09 +0000 http://news.umanitoba.ca/?p=115578 The next UM Orientation event is Making the Grade! happening July 17, on Fort Garry campus]]> As you may have heard, the Orientation team has created some new and exciting events as part of UM Orientation for new students. The next UM Orientation event is Making the Grade! happening July 17, on Fort Garry campus.

Making the Grade! is for students (and family members) looking to find out what being a U of M student is really like.  There will be a variety of sessions offering info around maintaining wellness, being active on campus, time management, opportunities and benefits of campus involvement and more!  We’ll have plenty of current students around to share tips and tricks to help new students thrive in their first year. Students will also have the opportunity to check off a few items from their to do lists, like getting their student card and Active Living Centre membership.

The event will be full of fun social activities as well, like a scavenger hunt with great prizes, and campus tours to get the lay of the land and check out where classes will be.

Register for Making the Grade! before July 11.

Making the Grade!
Fort Garry campus

Wednesday, July 17, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.