Orientations welcome students to UBC’s Okanagan campus

Colour Run at Create -- New Student Orientation

Fun, informative activities for students on tap throughout September 

The first days of September are busy ones on UBC’s Okanagan campus with many events designed to ensure students feel welcome, comfortable and at home.

New international students have an opportunity to participate in Jumpstart, this week to Friday, August 29, while domestic students will take part in Kick Start. Both Jumpstart and Kick Start are intensive orientations held the week prior to classes.  They offer students fun adventures off campus, academic orientation on campus, and the chance to learn alongside other new-to-UBC students.

Create New Student Orientation is a day-long series of events on Tuesday, September 2, specifically for the newest members of UBC’s campus community. During Create, new graduate and undergraduate students will learn about the people, places, activities, and resources available on campus.

Among events is the annual Colour Run, where students get blasted with blue and gold paint as they complete fun challenges. For a $5 donation, the Colour Run will raise funds for Feed the Valley, a food bank initiative. The colour run takes place at 3:30 p.m. at the University commons, beside the University Centre. As well, Showcase, a vendor market to highlight on-campus resources and local goods and services available to students off campus, happens the same day as Create.

“I am really excited for Kick Start because I will meet so many people and start making friends right away,” says Anna Bowden, who begins her first year of university at UBC’s Okanagan campus. “I don't know anyone who is going to UBC besides people I have met on Facebook. I decided to register for Create because it is an orientation for everyone and a huge welcome to campus. Who would want to miss that? There are going to be so many great events on campus.  I will get such a taste of everything that the school and city has to offer!”

Create Day will be followed by Week Of Welcome – a full week of events and activities for new students, including barbeques, recreational events, improv, movie nights, festivals, social gatherings and more. And, for the first time UBC’s Okanagan campus is kicking off Spark – a month-long extended orientation program designed to help students achieve academic success, social networking, and make connections to the community.

“We are very excited to offer Spark to students this year,” says Greg Mather, commuter student program coordinator. “By offering four weeks of programs, events and workshops that target these themes, we hope to spark new connections within the UBC Okanagan community.”

For more information and detailed schedules for any of the orientations visit www.ubc.ca/okanagan/students/newtoubc/orientations

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