Education

9 SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2023 EDUCATION GUIDE 3 TOURS HELP WITH GETTING TO KNOW CAMPUS The size of UM's Fort Garry campus can be intimidating for new students, but a campus tour can help them gain a solid grasp of the grounds. Campus tours are available for both the en- tire campus and specific buildings. Sharma, who took a tour last year, benefited from the experience. "You're coming into this new environment, you're all starry eyed, and it's really nice to have someone guiding you through it," Sharma says. 4 UNIVERSITY LIFE HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS University life in 2023 is significantly different from pre- vious decades. For one, it's typical for students to balance full-time jobs and other major responsibilities with their studies. "We have students who are parents. We have students who are caring for aging family members. We have full-time workers," Wood-Warren says. The technological landscape has changed, too. "My phone that I have in my hand is not just a phone. It's the world," Wood-Warren says. "It's easy to see why decision-making might be harder for students now. They're dealing with an un- precedented amount of information." Even with these changes, students can count on UM for clear and useful communication. It's important that students check their @myumanitoba.ca email daily for information. Following UM on social media is also a great way to stay in the loop. 5 LEARNING TO ASK FOR HELP IS A CRITICAL SKILL Wood-Warren wants to normalize asking for help. "The vast majority of students need some help. That's just the nature of what we're doing here. Being a university student is a new experience," Wood-Warren says. The university offers a wide range of supports and services, from academic advising to health care to spiritual care. But stu- dents don't need to remember every single service. "Even after orientation, it's okay if students don't know every- thing. They don't need to know everything. They just need to re- member that the First Year Centre is here to help," Wood-Warren says. 6 UM ESSENTIALS PROVIDES ONLINE ORIENTATION UM Essentials is an online orientation program for new stu- dents. The program provides a virtual tour of the campus and intro- duces the course management system, UMLearn. It also sheds light on what professors expect, details the range of support services, and suggests ways for students to get in- volved in the UM community. "UM Essentials serves as a supplement to our in-person events. It provides a constant, reliable resource that students can refer to whenever they need," Wood-Warren says. Every new student is expected to complete UM Essentials. 7 PREP WEEK AND WELCOME DAY WILL LEAD STUDENTS INTO THEIR FIRST DAY Prep Week and Welcome Day are two of the main events that provide a smooth runway for students entering the fall term. Prep Week, from August 28 to 31, gives new students an op- portunity to explore campus and participate in virtual academic prep sessions. Students can get a preview of academic reading and writing, attend skill workshops and get their student card before the rush. Welcome Day, on September 5, is a fun-filled event before classes start where students can make friends, learn about key contacts and resources, and get comfortable in their new home away from home. "Welcome Day is for students to feel connected to the univer- sity, to get excited about their time with us," Wood-Warren says. "It's also for them to know that they're not alone and that there are people all over the place who want to help them to be their best self in their first year." 8 THE STUDENT UNION ALSO OFFERS ORIENTATION EVENTS UMSU contributes to the orientation process with its own se- ries of events. One of the highlights is Bison Bash, from September 11 to 15, which includes free breakfasts for UM students, a market, kara- oke night and a street party. Get Involved Week, from September 18 to 22, gives students the chance to discover various clubs and associations. They can also find information on how to vote in the upcoming UMSU General Election. "We want to make sure that every single student has a way to feel connected to campus," Sharma says. For more information about orientation events, visit umanitoba.ca/orientation. What we want is for students to become more comfortable on campus. We want them to feel that it's not 'the' campus— it's 'their' campus." — Ali Wood-Warren, director of student transition and success at UM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 SUPPLIED PHOTOS W I T H T H E G E N E R O U S S U P P O R T O F RWB SCHOOL FACULTY MEMBER WITH RECREATIONAL DIVISION STUDENTS; PHOTO BY MCHELLE BLAIS Get started today at rwb.org/register Classes start Steptember 10 assiniboine.net/elevateaward POST-GRAD PROGRAMS AT ASSINIBOINE Full-tuition awards available

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