Education

2 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016 EARN A DIPLOMA ON CAMPUS OR ONLINE in one year or less! 204.775.8175 • herzing.ca/winnipeg By Holli Moncrieff for the Free Press Many students find the first year of university an intimidating, confusing experience. T he University of Manitoba (U of M) is doing everything it can to help make the transition to university life a little easier. The university's Student Life program oversees new student orientation on Sept. 6 and 7, as well as hosting a number of different events throughout the year. "Our programs are designed for undergraduate students — they're an opportunity for us to introduce students to the academic and social aspects of university life," says Cora Dupuis, director of Student Life. "We have different programs for specific audiences — new international students, new indigenous students, mature students and graduate students who are new to our university." Along with leader programs and volunteer opportunities, Student Life also offers panels and workshops, such as the "How to be successful at university" panel discussion. Many of the events they host are designed to be icebreakers. "Our upper-year students play a big role in helping the new students feel welcome," Dupuis says. "We discuss ways new students can meet other students. Meeting people and making friends is a big part of transitioning to university." Student Life has 250 student volunteers, many of whom work as peer mentors. "Different student populations have different needs, and we have mentors for all first-year students, including international, indigenous and graduate students," says Dupuis. "We think of the peer-mentorship program as two equals coming together to learn from each other. They both have strengths they can share." She says it's important to remember the university's staff and faculty understand the challenges facing new students, and are committed to helping first-year students succeed. "A first-year student told me it's like trying to take a drink from a fire hose. It's a new place, with a new style of learning, and the students are meeting lots of new people. Some students are living away from home for the first time," Dupuis says. "It's a lot of transitions happening all at once, and being able to manage all these changes is the key to success." The university offers summer campus tours each Friday in August. Students are welcome to bring family members, and are asked to sign up online on the orientation page. "Parents and other family members are also impacted by the changes, so to help we have a family-and-friends newsletter that goes out five times a year," says Dupuis. "It highlights important dates and deadlines, university services, and tells what stage the students are in." Once students know their way around campus, it's time to tackle another challenge — figuring out which courses to take. Academic and registration advisers at the U of M's First Year Centre can help. "The differences between high school and university are a big concern for first-year students. It's a different way of learning," explains Ali Wood-Warren, Academic Advising Services co- ordinator. "Students are in class for a relatively short period of time — a full course load is only five classes — but hours of studying are required for each class. It's pretty overwhelming for some." The centre produces a First Year Planning Guide, a PDF document which is available online. The guide walks students through course selection, including how to choose courses and which courses may be required. "There are three approaches to course selection: focused, when the student knows what he or she wants to do; balanced, when students aren't sure and are deciding between two or three programs; and sampling, when students don't know what they want to do," Wood-Warren says. "We talk to students about their decision-making processes." While the First Year Centre is a one-stop shop for support on campus, Wood-Warren says the advisers act as guides, encouraging students to make their own decisions. "We won't make their plan but we'll review it and make sure it works for them," she says. "We help students make decisions on their own, and get them to think for themselves. A lot of students don't have any experience making decisions." It is possible to meet with one of the advisers during the summer, but Wood-Warren suggests arriving early. The centre opens at 8:30 a.m. during the week, with student appointments beginning at 9 a.m. University of Manitoba's campus tours start in August for the upcoming semester. Photo by Darcy Finley UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA SUPPORTING NEW SCHOLARS "Different student populations have different needs, and we have mentors for all first-year students, including international, indigenous and graduate students. We think of the peer- mentorship program as two equals coming together to learn from each other. They both have strengths they can share."

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