Last month, AV俱乐部 held a new, pilot summer orientation 鈥� a chance for this fall鈥檚 incoming students to get a sneak peek at the university鈥檚 ins and outs, and more than 100 eager Dal newbies registered for the one-day crash course on AV俱乐部 culture.
First-years鈥攁nd their entourages of parents and family members鈥攕tarted the day with an 8 a.m. sign-in and didn鈥檛 finish until 4:30鈥檚 optional campus tour. Their packed schedule included sessions on the writing centre, residences and off-campus accommodations, and personal finance, as well as an optional Dalplex tour and a Q&A with current students.
Karla Gouthro, coordinator of AV俱乐部鈥檚 First Year Transition Programs, helped Dal鈥檚 peer advisors organize the orientation. She says that although this year鈥檚 orientation was essentially a pilot, it was a resounding success, and she anticipates the summer orientation becoming an annual event.
Brenna Dixon, a peer advisor and Orientation planner, agrees. 鈥淭he feedback that I received from students and parents was all very positive.聽 I got the impression from the participants that they would encourage the program to continue,鈥� says Ms. Dixon.
During lunch hour at the orientation, students lined up to grab a bite off the buffet before scoping out the resource fair where various university services 鈥攊ncluding the Career Services Centre, Black Student Advising Centre, and Multifaith Centre鈥攕et up booths to greet curious visitors. 鈥漌e鈥檙e just here getting the word out,鈥� Laura MacIntosh, representing Dal Allies, explains cheerfully, 鈥淲e鈥檙e about providing a safe, welcoming space for all students.鈥�
Helping new students feel welcome
A large crew of other university personnel made cameos throughout the day, from Vice-President Academic Carolyn Watters (who delivered the morning鈥檚 welcome speech) to representatives from Dal鈥檚 various faculties. Susan Youden, an academic advisor from the School of Nursing, dropped in to chat with new students during the lunch hour鈥檚 resource fair. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that students get to know their academic advisor,鈥� she explains. 鈥淸Starting university] is an adjustment, especially if you鈥檙e coming from away.鈥�
鈥淎way,鈥� of course, is relative: a place like Windsor, N.S. might seem close to Halifax to a mid-career professional, but it can seem farther for students just emerging from their hometown high school. Morgan Anthony hails from there: he鈥檚 coming to AV俱乐部 this fall to study the double bass, and looks forward to Dal providing 鈥渢he opportunity to be on my own a little bit. Be a little more independent.鈥� His mother, Annetta Anthony, found the summer orientation reassuring: 鈥淔or me, it was the parent lecture鈥� it helped ease some concerns,鈥� she says. 鈥淸The session] clarified that a lot of parents are in the same boat.鈥�
Jocelyn Brison, from Hants County, will also be starting her first year at AV俱乐部 this fall, studying commerce (she plans to play hockey on the side). She appreciated the orientation鈥檚 practical focus on campus security. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just stuff that you don鈥檛 really think about.鈥�
AV俱乐部鈥檚 ubiquitous Tiger mascot was also in attendance at the resource fair, waving, mugging for the cameras (see above), and generally raising the eyebrow of many an incoming student. After September, of course, new students won鈥檛 bat an eye at the black-and-orange critter: he鈥檚 just one of the many quirks of the Dal lifestyle that鈥檒l become second nature.