McMaster Orientation 2016 IMPORTANT DATES

LEARN, EXPERIENCE, SOAR | studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca

Smart Start: Paying for University

June/July

Friday, June 17, 4 – 8 p.m. OR Saturday, June 18, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. An informative workshop where you will learn how to tap into student savings, manage your student account, apply for scholarships and have all of your financial aid questions answered. Representatives from various McMaster departments, community organizations and TD Canada Trust will be participating in this event. All first year students, along with parents and family members are welcome. Dinner/lunch is included. You will leave this workshop better informed of the support available in paying for university as well as information related to student financial health and wellness. Registration: Email invitations and details coming in early June Link: money.mcmaster.ca Contact: [email protected] Cost: No Charge

Shifting Gears Transition Program June & August The aim of Shifting Gears is to provide a series of supports throughout the summer, fall and winter terms for students with a disability. The program encompasses summer workshops, peer mentors, a study skills website, support with implementing accommodations, and social networking events. Sessions are offered throughout the summer months culminating in a week of workshops late August with a specific focus on entry skills. Academic Accommodations: University Level (June 21, 2:30 – 4 p.m. OR June 23, 7 – 8:30 p.m.) Driving School: Essentials for Success (August 23, 1 – 4 p.m. OR August 24, 6 – 9 p.m.) Tune-up, Tune In: The Lecture Experience (August 23, 6 – 9 p.m. OR August 25, 6 – 9 p.m.) Information Highway: Library Use in the Fast Lane (August 24, 1 – 4 p.m. OR August 25, 1 – 4 p.m.) Registration: Online at sas.mcmaster.ca/transition Link: sas.mcmaster.ca/transition Contact: [email protected] Cost: No Charge

Summer Orientation for Academic Readiness (SOAR)

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1/ June

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Smart Start: Paying for University

19

20

21

22

Shifting Gears: Academic Accommodations: University Level

26

27

28

23

Smart Start: Paying for University

24

25

1/ July

2

Shifting Gears: Academic Accommodations: University Level

29

30

Canada Day

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

29

30

July 18 – August 12 Do you have questions about starting university? Summer Orientation for Academic Readiness (SOAR) will help prepare you for school by answering these questions and introducing you to the skills you will need to be successful. Join us online as we discuss university academics through videos, short articles, and personal reflections. SOAR runs for four weeks in the summer and will start Monday, July 18. SOAR Weekly Schedule Week 1: Welcome to University (July 18 – 22) Week 2: Managing Time and Finding Balance (July 25 – 29) Week 3: Learning in Lectures (August 1 – 5) Week 4: Being a University Learner (August 8 – 12) Registration: Not Required Link: soar.mcmaster.ca Contact: [email protected] Cost: No Charge

T-shirt deadline for MacPass SOAR WEEK 1: Welcome to University

24

25

26

27

28

SOAR WEEK 2: Managing Time and Finding Balance

MSU Horizons Leadership Conference

August/Sept SUNDAY

MO N D AY

1/ August

31

TUES DAY

WEDNES DAY

2

3

THUR S DAY

4

August 5 – 7

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

5

6

Civic Holiday Horizons SOAR WEEK 3: Learning in Lectures

7

9

8

10

Horizons

11

12

MacAdemics 101

MacAdemics 101

13

15

16

17

18

19

20

Online Orientation Fair

21

22

23

24 Shifting Gears: Driving School: Essentials for Success

28

29

25

26

27

Shifting Gears: Tune-up, Tune In: The Lecture Experience

Shifting Gears: Tune-up, Tune In: The Lecture Experience

Shifting Gears: Information Highway: Library Use in the Fast Lane

30

31

1/ September

2

3

6

7

8

9

11

12

Whether you live in Hamilton, across the country, or somewhere on the other side of the world, you can have your questions answered by McMaster students and staff during the Online Orientation Fair. Chat with us about anything from: living on or off campus; to questions related to financial aid or paying your tuition; to the events and programs taking place during Welcome Week.

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Register: Email invitations and details coming in July Link: studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/students/orientation Contact: [email protected] Cost: No Charge

Classes Begin

13

14

15

16

FLOW Week 2: Your Wellness: Body, Mind, and Finances

18

19

20

21

International Day for Peace

22

23

Fall Career Fair

26

27

28

29

MacServe Day of Learning

24

McMaster Common Reading Program The Illegal by celebrated Canadian Author, Lawrence Hill

FLOW Week 3: Launch Your Career

25

Registration opens: Monday, July 4 on oscarplusmcmaster.ca Link: studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/students/orientation Contact: [email protected] Cost: No Charge

10

FLOW Week 1: Academic Skills: Maximizing Your Classroom Experience Labour Day

How do I take notes? What’s the best way to manage my time? How is university different from high school? Most students have questions about starting university academics. This academic preparation program is designed to give you the information you need to successfully transition into university studies. Any student can face challenges in a university setting; MacAdemics 101 will help ease your transition.

August 16, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

MOOSE

5

August 11 & 12

Online Orientation Fair

Welcome Week

4

Registration deadline: Late July; check website for details Link: msumcmaster.ca/horizons Contact: [email protected] Event dates: Friday, August 5 – Sunday, August 7 Cost: Approx. $250 (plus tax). Financial aid is available.

MacAdemics 101

SOAR WEEK 4: Being a University Learner

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The McMaster Students Union welcomes 200 first year delegates to the annual Horizons Leadership Conference. This 3-day, 2-night on campus experience is a leadership-oriented introduction to campus and university life. Your leadership skills will be enhanced through information sessions, events and speakers with a focus on communication, time management, diversity, support, wellness and self-awareness. You will have opportunities to network within the University, be introduced to involvement prospects at McMaster and build on your leadership skills.

30

FLOW Week 4: Civic Engagement & Leadership Development

The McMaster Common Reading Program is a valuable opportunity to share a common reading experience with future classmates and friends prior to arriving on campus in the fall. Students registered in this orientation program will participate in online discussions and reflections about the emerging themes related to university life. This year’s selection, The Illegal, a novel by Canadian author, Lawrence Hill is available in paperback or digital format. Registration: Monday, July 4 on oscarplusmcmaster.ca Link: studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/students/orientation Contact: [email protected] Cost: No Charge for first-year students

October S UN DAY

M O N D AY

TUESDAY

W EDNESDAY

Residence Hall Move-In Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28

THURSDAY

FRID AY

SATU RD AY

1/ October Homecoming

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Saturday, August 27

Sunday, August 28

Bates

Hedden

Brandon

Mary E. Keyes

Edwards

Moulton

Les Prince

Wallingford

Matthews

Whidden

McKay

Woodstock

Link: housing.mcmaster.ca Contact: [email protected]

FLOW Week 5: Academic Skills: Managing Deadlines, Assignments, and Midterms

Welcome Week

Community Engagement & Volunteer Fair

9

10

11

Thanksgiving

16

17

12 Mid-term Recess

18 Continuing Education Fair

23

24

30

31

August 27 – September 3

25

13 Mid-term Recess

19 Continuing Education Fair

26

14 Mid-term Recess

20

15 Mid-term Recess

21

22

Continuing Education Fair

27

28

29

The focus of Welcome Week is to provide students with a positive transition to university. The most comprehensive orientation program offered at McMaster, Welcome Week includes educational seminars and social events that connect students to the Hamilton community, McMaster University, individual Faculties, residence communities or the off-campus society and most importantly, to other students. The MacPass is the ‘all-access pass’ to events taking place during Welcome Week. T-shirt sizes are guaranteed only to those who register by Sunday, July 17. Registration for MacPass opens: Monday, July 4 and closes on Sunday, August 21 at 11:59 p.m. Link: oscarplusmcmaster.ca Contact: [email protected] Cost: $116.74 (First Year Orientation Levy)

McMaster Outdoor Orientation Student Experience (MOOSE) August 29 – September 1 A unique program at the beginning of Welcome Week, this fourday, three-night trip to Camp Arrowhon and Algonquin Provincial Park provides students with an opportunity to build lasting friendships with peers and student leaders in their Faculty. MOOSE encourages personal and team development through a wide variety of outdoor activities. Students will return to campus in plenty of time to continue their Welcome Week experience. Those participating in MOOSE will leave campus on Monday, August 29 and return to campus on Thursday, September 1. Registration opens: July 4 on a first-come, first-serve basis Link: studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/students/orientation Contact: [email protected] Cost: $200, includes all meals and programming costs. The Orientation Levy (see Welcome Week description) goes towards reducing the cost of MOOSE to $200. Funding is available to applicants who articulate financial need, up to the full cost of the program. Students may apply for financial assistance on the Registration Form.

Off Campus and Commuter Students Welcome Week programming begins on Saturday, August 27. A wide range of orientation activities and supports are available specifically for off-campus and commuter students. The Society of Off-Campus Students (SOCS) and Off-Campus Resource Centre, connect off-campus and commuter students with one another, upper year student leaders, and student services in ways tailored to commuting schedules. Check back over the summer for more information. Link: mac-socs.ca Contact: [email protected]

Fall Learning and Orientation Weeks (FLOW) September 6 – October 7 Continue your orientation and transition during the first 5 weeks on campus through our Fall Learning and Orientation Weeks (FLOW). Make connections with on campus supports and further develop essential skills for university achievement. Themes will change weekly. September 6 – 9:

Academic Skills: Maximizing Your Classroom Experience September 12 – 16: Your Wellness: Body, Mind, and Finances September 19 – 23: Launch Your Career September 26 – 30: Civic Engagement & Leadership Development October 3 – 7: Academic Skills: Managing Deadlines, Assignments, and Midterms Registration: Begins late August/early September on oscarplusmcmaster.ca Link: studentsuccess.mcmaster.ca/students/orientation Contact: [email protected] Cost: No Charge

MSU Spark Spark is a transition support service provided by the McMaster Students Union that runs through the fall and winter semesters. First-year students can register for a weekly mentorship program in which two upper-year students lead a group of first-year students through themed activities designed to build skills for university success. Spark also offer workshops and online resources to help you better navigate university life and connect with other students. Through SPARK, students will build close friendships, learn from one another, grow as individuals, and ultimately come to know McMaster as their home. Registration: Opens mid-August; check website for details Link: www.msumcmaster.ca/spark Contact: [email protected] Cost: No Charge

Welcome Week Strategic Themes Our Commitment to You: A safe, inclusive and healthy educational environment McMaster is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, safe and healthy educational environment which supports personal and academic success. We achieve this through; Promoting Mental Health and Wellness Student well-being and good student mental health are critical foundations for student success. We are committed to creating a culture of caring and support and recognize that improving the health of our campus is a shared commitment. Our community, including faculty, staff and students, is equipped with information about how to identify, respond and refer a student in distress. Through our policies, employee relations and the way we support our students, we model the importance of wellness, self-care, resilience and social responsibility. For more information on the Student Mental Health Strategy, visit mentalhealthstrategy.mcmaster.ca/strategy.

Preventing and Responding to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence At McMaster University, we are committed to taking action to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence. We place the highest priority on survivor safety and ensuring that the campus is a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for all members of our community. Together, we make certain all students, faculty, and staff know where to go for help and are reassured that University policies are in place to respond in a timely and sensitive manner to sexual violence or the threat of sexual violence. For more information on preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence, please visit svrp.mcmaster.ca.

Supporting Responsible Drinking Making and socializing with friends is a priority for many students during orientation events, including Welcome Week. Some students choose to drink alcohol as a way to lower inhibitions and be social. However, many students do not feel the need to drink to have a good time. All events sanctioned by McMaster University during Welcome Week are alcoholfree to promote the safety and well-being of our students. Students who choose to drink alcohol during Welcome Week and orientation are encouraged to do so responsibly. Students are encouraged to set limits, know what to do if they find someone in need of help, and to know that there are support services available.

Student Success Centre 1280 Main Street West, Gilmour Hall 110 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4L8 905.525.9140 x24254 e:[email protected]

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