The ultimate guide to this year’s orientation

It’s back to school again and RU Student Life has been busy creating the most entertaining, informative and social activities for first-year students at orientation.

Ryerson’s Orientation Week takes place the week before classes, from Sunday, August 25 until Friday, August 30, and gives incoming students the chance to connect with each other, get familiar with their academic program and get to know their way around campus. RU Student Life works extra hard to design an Orientation Week that meets the needs of all new students.

Every year new events and programs are offered, but every Orientation Week at Ryerson features:

• Academic program and faculty-specific orientations so incoming students can meet other peers in their program, find out about faculty-specific resources and get to know their professors.
• Information about how to access on-campus supports and resources so new students know how to find what they need after classes start.
• Tons of engaging performances, concerts and giveaways!

What incoming students will quickly learn at orientation is that Ryerson is a place for everyone. Lots of intersecting identities converge on campus and however a student identifies, guaranteed there’s a student society or group for them to join and feel part of a community. Orientation volunteers have been trained on how best to advise students and direct them to various services on campus that can help with that connection. And there are events such as the YOUnique: Body Positivity Fashion Show, Hoops on Wheels: Wheelchair Basketball and LGBTQ2S+ Mixer that were made specifically for self-identifying folks in those networks.

“Orientation Week is one of our most robust and entertaining times of year, designed to really focus in on the student experience,” says Jen McMillen, vice-provost, students. “The ideas, organization and collaboration Student Affairs puts forward to create an Orientation Week that is welcoming to each and every student is truly impressive.”

The week kicks off with residence move-in day on Sunday, August 25 where 1,700 new students will be moving into Pitman Hall, the International Living Centre and the Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex. HOEM residents move in on Monday, August 26. Once students are settled in their new digs, an evening barbecue in Pitman Quad and Sundae Funday treats in each of the residence lounges will help students get connected. Not to mention a Parents’ Orientation at 4 p.m. the same day to help parents learn how to best support their loved ones transitioning to post-secondary life.

Below are a select list of events happening throughout the week. For a full schedule of orientation events, please visit connectru.ryerson.ca/events:

• Monday, August 26 – Official Orientation Kickoff, including the annual Guinness World Record Attempt challenge and massive class photo.
• Monday, August 26 to Friday, August 30 – Campus Tours will take place daily from 11 a.m. to noon to show new students what’s what around campus. A campus access tour specifically for students with physical disabilities is also available on Monday, August 26 at 3 p.m.
• Monday, August 26 to Friday, August 30 – Visit the Wellness Room any day of the week to focus on all aspects of health: mind, body and soul. Stop by and enjoy free lunch, exciting games, activities and more!
• Tuesday, August 27 – Enjoy a relaxing evening filled with your favourite board games, fun snacks and plenty of laughs with your new friends at Board Games Night.
• Wednesday, August 28 – Get to know Ryerson’s cuddly, friendly Therapy Dogs and find out when you can see them every week during the academic year.
• Wednesday, August 28 – Sex in the SLC: ConSensual Trivia allows students to mix and mingle while playing a few rounds of sexual health trivia to win prizes. Not to mention free food!
• Thursday, August 29 – All Ryerson students are invited to SLC Live! to participate in activities and games, win prizes and eat free food.
• Thursday, August 29 – Cooking Class 101 is a cooking class facilitated by Loblaw for incoming Ryerson students to learn practical tips and practice an easy recipe to incorporate into their daily lives.
• Friday, August 30 – Hungry Hungry Hippos will take you down memory lane to your childhoods of serious familial competition. This will be a chance to play a larger version of the old school game.
• Friday, August 30 – Drop by the Kerr Hall Quad to celebrate the end of orientation for Park in the Dark: O-Week Finale. Grab some free food, mingle with new students and enjoy a relaxing evening.