The Trent University campus will be a flurry of bright colours and team spirit starting Sunday, September 6 through to Saturday, September 12 as over 2,000 new students take part in 2015 Orientation Week at Trent, designed to help new students adjust to the Trent environment and university life.

Orientation Week at Trent, previously known at Trent as Introductory Seminar Week (ISW), is intended to help new students living on and off campus to connect with Trent and the greater Peterborough area. Events throughout the week offer incoming students an opportunity to connect with the university and its services, meet faculty and staff from their department of study, prepare for classes with academic workshops and seminars, and enhance their university experience through fun and interactive activities to help them develop friendships with their peers as well as upper year leaders. New this year for Orientation Week is Party in the Park, on Saturday, September 8, a downtown festival event featuring a lip synch battle between Trent and Fleming students, a poutine eating contest, and more.

“We are excited to welcome new students to the University, as well as to the Peterborough community,” said Sako Khederlarian, orientation coordinator, Student Affairs. “We are lucky to have a diverse group of new students coming in each year, so we work closely with all departments to develop timely and meaningful programming to meet the needs and interests of students from a variety of backgrounds.”

Helping to make orientation week an outstanding experience for new students, over 250 senior students, faculty and staff dedicate their time to coordinate and run the various dynamic events.

Highlights of campus-wide orientation events that offer engaging photo opportunities are listed below: 

Move-In Day
Sunday, September 6, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Orientation Week staff from all colleges and staff from housing services at Trent will be on hand to assist over 1,500 new students and their families with registration and their move into residence. There will be lots of excitement, energy, and music on campus as students move in and prepare for life living on campus.

Opening Ceremony
Monday, September 7, 11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m., Justin Chiu Stadium
The opening ceremony includes a colourful march of students from their respective colleges to Justin Chiu Stadium, led by a bag piper. University representatives will also participate in the procession, including undergraduate college heads, the president of the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA), faculty members, Chief of Curve Lake First Nation, Phyllis Williams, Nona Robinson, associate vice-president students, Office Of Student Affairs at Trent and Peterborough mayor, Daryl Bennett. University officials will each deliver short words of welcome upon arrival of the procession in the stadium. With over 1,500 students expected to participate, the opening ceremony is one of the largest events during Orientation Week.

Sexual Assault Prevention
Monday, September 7, 1:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m., Wenjack Theatre
Every incoming student will take part in a sexual assault prevention session led by Trent Wellness and the Office of Student Affairs. This is a mandatory session for all new students and is part of a new Ontario initiative called Draw the Line. At Trent, the safety of all students is a key aspect of all our programming. This session sets expectations as well as reinforces proper initiatives the University is taking when approaching issues of sexual assault prevention.

Take the University Challenge
Tuesday, September 8 & Wednesday, September 9, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., various locations on campus
This is an important morning for all new Trent students as they take part in an academic boot-camp to prepare them for their first semester at University. Students will learn about work load and expectations and will be offered tips and tricks for time management, writing lab reports and essays, study skills and more.

The Great Race
Wednesday, September 9, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Justin Chiu Stadium
The Great Race, a time-honoured tradition at Trent, is run by the TCSA, and starts off with the annual cheering competition. Each college is assigned the task of creating a new cheer for their college and Trent University. This giant relay race, which takes place at Justin Chiu Stadium, always brings out the college spirit in everyone.

Varsity Rugby Game & BBQ
Thursday, September 10, 5:00 pm –8:00 pm, Justin Chiu Stadium
The Trent Excalibur men’s rugby team faces off against Fleming College in this year’s Orientation Week varsity game. The event will see bleachers full of proud students supporting Trent varsity in green and white.

Party in the Park
Saturday, September 12, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Millennium Park   
This new downtown festival event for 2015 orientation week involves a lip synch battle between Trent and Fleming students, a poutine eating contest, and more.