A message from Lesley Calvin, manager, Student Engagement and Leadership:
It’s hard to believe summer is coming to an end, but with start-up right around the corner we now shift gears and look forward to extending a college wide welcome to our new and returning students! Please find below information highlighting important areas regarding Orientation Week.
Orientation 2015 – The First Chapter to #myNCstory
Tuesday, Sept. 8
Orientation kicks off on Sept. 8 when all campuses open at 8:30 a.m. The Niagara Falls, Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses will host program information sessions (9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.), a free lunch for students catered by Benchmark, a Student Services Fair and live music. Students at the Niagara Falls campus will be bused to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus for the lunch, fair and entertainment.
Ask Me stations and Orientation Student Leaders (O-Leads) will be set up throughout the campuses to address questions and provide information for incoming students. Furthermore, we will have social media centres and ‘selfie’ stations to promote our NC hashtag #myNCstory featuring a live, monitored feed of the students’ (and NC staff!) posts. During the evening, there will be a first-year student mixer – Video Dance held at the Core (Welland Campus) from 8pm to 11 p.m. SAC will also be offering Monsters of Schlock, a stunt show, at the Armoury (NOTL Campus) from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 9
On Sept. 9, a Dessert Reception event will be held at the NOTL Campus from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., to accommodate a more mature student crowd as well as the NOTL community, all welcome. NC’s Student Administrative Council will host a number of events throughout the day at both campuses including; a SACtastic Race as well as a Nutrition Mission (Grocery Store Run).
Thursday, Sept. 10
On Sept. 10, the Post-Graduate Programs Reception will be held at the NOTL Winery from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. This invite-only event will provide post-graduate students with the opportunity to network with their coordinators, faculty and peers. At the Welland campus, SAC will be hosting a $5 Pasta Dinner and Comedy Night.
Friday, Sept. 11
Sept. 11 will be one of the biggest highlights of this year’s Orientation with the NC Concert Series. The Armoury will feature solo Artists and acoustic music while the Core will feature live bands. Buses will be available to go between campuses for the event.
Saturday, Sept. 12
On Sept. 12, the Centre for Student Engagement and Leadership, SAC and Athletics and Recreation are all teaming up for the Orientation Varsity Soccer Game. Students will meet at the Welland campus for a Spirit Rally and then be bused to Youngs Sportsplex for the game. Students will have the opportunity to sign up for Bubble Soccer at the game as well.
Sunday, Sept. 13
On Sept. 13, the Welland community in addition to the NC staff and student community are invited to attend/participate in our first ever Trunk Sale. Join us for Niagara College’s biggest Yard Sale yet with bouncy castles, an ultimate maze, face painting and a free BBQ! The Trunk Sale will help the community reduce waste, promote reuse in an earth friendly way and help our students get a few of the much needed items they’ll need for the school year. Spots are sold on a first come, first serve basis and are $25.00 for a single spot and $40.00 for a double spot. All money raised from the sale of the spots will go to support the United Way campaign. If you are interested in purchasing a parking spot to sell your items, please visit www.NiagaraCollege.ca/trunksale
Please visit the Orientation website: www.NiagaraCollege.ca/orientation
Interactive online student guide
Please take a few moments to click through this handy interactive resource and forward to staff and students:
www.niagaracollege.ca/studentguide
Ask Me Stations
There will be a number of ‘Ask Me’ information stations set up on both campuses, as well as a fleet of ‘Ask Me’ Orientation Student Leaders, to assist students in the halls as they navigate their first days. There are also ‘Ask Me’ buttons available to any staff that would like to wear one. Please contact, or stop by, the Centre for Student Engagement and Leadership to organize getting yours! (L20 – Welland, W206 – NOTL).
Top 10 NC Essentials
Please review and share this Top 10 NC Essentials checklist highlighting the top 10 things the students should do in order to create a smooth transition to Niagara College.
Blackboard Essentials Video
Please share this Blackboard essentials video with the students.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAAUoFPtTTY&feature=youtu.be
Student Services Fair
The Student Services Fair is set to run from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Sept 8, at both campuses (Learning Commons – Welland and Cafeteria – NOTL).
All of the students will be given a stamp card (located on page 21 of their Student Guidebook attached to their lanyard – students will receive this book on Orientation day) and are encouraged to visit all of the booths/services in order to get their cards stamped. Once the student has completed their stamp card, they will enter it into a ballot box for a chance to win numerous prizes. The winners will be announced at the end of the lunch period.
The following services will be participating in the Student Services Fair:
1. Academic Supports
2. Athletics & Recreation
3. Campus Safety & Security
4. Centre for Student Engagement & Leadership
5. Chartwell’s – Dine on Campus
6. Co-op Education & Graduate Employment Services
7. Counselling/Centre for Students with Disabilities
8. First Nations, Métis & Inuit Student Services
9. Health Services
10. International
11. IT Help Desk
12. Leave the Pack Behind
13. Libraries
14. Locker Support
15. NC Sustainability
16. Ricoh Print Centre
17. Student Administrative Council (SAC)
Program Information Sessions and Co-op Information Sessions
View this list of the room assignments for the Program Information Sessions as well as the Co-op Information Sessions here. Please continue to check back as assigned rooms can change in the event of renovations/technical issues or other.
‘Ask Me’ button
If you still have your “Ask Me” button from last year, great! Please wear it proudly for the first week to help assist our new and returning students. As mentioned above, if you do not have one, or need a new one, please contact or come by the Centre for Student Engagement and Leadership (L20-Welland, W206-NOTL) and we would be happy to get you one.
On behalf of the Orientation Team, we would like to thank CMT, The Orientation Steering Committee and the entire Niagara College Team, for your support and enthusiasm in helping us roll out a college wide welcome to our new and returning students!
Warm regards for a great year ahead!
