New to Trent

Trent University is a collegiate university! This means that each student will become a member of one of our five dynamic colleges. Staff and faculty are also encouraged to enrich our communities by becoming fellows of a college. Regardless of your role within the university, your college is an important link to the services and communities at Trent as well as a great way to make connections. Learn more about the colleges and how to choose your college below.

• What is a Trent college and who are colleges for?
• What do colleges offer?
• How do I choose my college?
• Can I change my college affiliation?
• How can I connect with my college to learn more?
• What else do new students need to know when they arrive at Trent?

What is a Trent college and who are colleges for?

A college is a smaller community within the larger Trent community. Like the houses of Hogwarts, or the provinces and territories of Canada, each college offers a unique culture and experience. Every student at Trent is affiliated with a college and becomes a member of one of the five Trent colleges: Traill College, Champlain College, Lady Eaton College, Otonabee College, and Peter Gzowski College. The colleges are for everyone at Trent! If you live in residence, your residence location will determine your college affiliation. If you live off campus, you will be asked to choose your college affiliation. Every college provides a close-knit and supportive community that includes student members, a student government (cabinet), faculty and staff fellows, affiliated departments, as well as alumni. Which college will YOU choose?

What do colleges offer? 

The people, spaces, events, histories, and traditions of our colleges weave together to form the unique characteristics and experiences of each college. The colleges of Trent University offer opportunities to make connections with peers, staff and faculty in academic and common spaces, through academic support, and at unique events. At your college you will encounter opportunities to get help, hang out, study, eat, work and play.

Each college office team includes a Principal, an Academic Skills Instructor, an Academic Advisor, a College’s Assistant and student support staff. College Cabinets (student governments) work closely with their college office team to provide leadership, create great events, and ensure the needs of students are met. Academic departments and faculty offices are also located in each college. Together we create social and academic events, create innovative new ideas while upholding long-standing traditions, and foster cross-disciplinary connections between students, staff, faculty and alumni.

These events and traditions are informed by our unique spaces, which help shape our college communities. Residences, common spaces, dining halls, kitchens and outdoor spaces can be found in each college along with classrooms, meeting rooms and programming spaces. These spaces provide opportunities for students to live, work, meet, and learn. Check out the colleges’ individual websites to explore each college. 

How do I choose my college?

Note: New students not living in residence can choose their college until July 31st, 2022. Please see the instructions below. 

Each college provides you with a connection to a community that will last throughout your time at Trent and beyond. Anyone at Trent can join a college including on-campus students, off-campus students, faculty and staff. 

• Students who are living in residence will become members of the college where they live. Learn more about Trent residences.
• Off-campus students choose which college they would like to affiliate with by logging into your MyTrent Portal using your login and password. Once in the portal click the SUPPORT tab. Within the support tab under College Life you can click the CHOOSE MY COLLEGE button. You will then be asked to choose from a drop-down list of five Colleges: Traill, Champlain, Lady Eaton, Otonabee or Peter Gzowski College. You can discover more about each College by clicking on the pictures at the beginning of this email. If you change your mind before July 31st, 2022, you can always change your college by going through the same steps and choosing CHANGE COLLEGE AFFILIATION button. Learn more about living off-campus.  
• Staff and faculty can also now choose their college by following the same instructions as above. 

Can I change my college affiliation?

We hope you will choose your college based on your interests, and that you will find a community that inspires you. Our goal is to help you find your fit, so if you are living off campus and you end up finding your community in a different college than the one you enrolled in, you are welcome to switch your affiliation. 

If you are a student living in residence you will need to keep your affiliation with that college until you have moved off campus. This is to encourage connection with the community that you are living in. But don’t worry – most events offered in the colleges are open to all students so you are welcome to visit other colleges and attend events across the five colleges. Still want to change to the one that fits you best? Students living off-campus can change your college affiliation on the myTrent portal: 

1. Login to your myTrent portal using your Trent username and password
2. Select Support from the options in the top right corner of the page
3. Under the Support tab, select College Life
4. Complete the Change College Affiliation request form

How can I learn more about my college?

You can learn more about what your college has to offer by visiting your college’s website or by reaching out to your college office. You can stay connected with your college through newsletter updates, social media platforms, and by participating in or volunteering at one of your college’s awesome events! .

What else do I need to know?

• Welcome page for a complete list of next steps
• Connect with the Orientation team
• Choosing your courses and making a timetable
• Tips on getting ready for University