BACK TO SCHOOL SERIES

Trent University Durham will be a buzz with activity and excitement next week as the campus welcomes over 300 new incoming students – the largest group to date in the institution’s 40-year history in the Durham Region – for the annual Fall Start-Up Orientation set to run Tuesday, September 8 and Wednesday, September 9 in partnership with Trent Durham Student Association (TDSA).

The two-day orientation program is geared towards easing students’ transition into university and ensuring they are provided with opportunities to engage with their campus and fellow students and provided the information they need to find academic success in the upcoming school year.

“Trent University Durham’s orientation is designed to ensure that each incoming student develops friendships with with their peers, connects with the diverse clubs, intramural, and leadership programming on the campus, and learns the skills needed to succeed at university,” said Justin Fisher, director of student affairs at Trent University Durham. “We’re also excited to be launching a First-Year Experience Certificate that extends orientation programming throughout our student’s first year.”

“The Trent Durham Student Association works year-round to ensure students are engaged on campus. We provide opportunities for students to interact, be social, and have fun alongside their academics. The Fall Start-Up is a big part of welcoming new students and making them feel at home on campus,” added Shawn Murphy, president of the TDSA. “This year, we are excited to have secured a Juno nominated band to play. It shows students that, even though we are a smaller campus, big things happen here.”

Students who participate in both orientation days will connect with their peers, upper year students, faculty and staff to discover all that Trent University Durham. They will also receive academic support including information on time management, writing skills and academic integrity to help build their confidence as they enter into the school year.

Highlights of Fall Start-Up Orientation at Trent University are listed below, including exciting photo opportunities:

• Registration and Welcoming Remarks: Tuesday, September 8, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  Students will be welcomed into the University and be taken through a series of ice breakers. Head of Trent University Durham, Joe Muldoon, will welcome students to the campus.
• Drumming Circle PHOTO OPPORTUNITY!: Tuesday, September 8, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Led by Drum Café, the Drumming Circle is an interactive, fully facilitated drumming inclusive activity. Each student will be given an African Drum and specialized instructions on how to play. Drum Circle staff will lead students through different beats and harmonize the group, all while teaching students about the importance of the individual and the group. This low-risk, high energy event is designed to connect our incoming students with their peers through interactive rhythm and music.
• Hollerado Concert *NEW* PHOTO OPPORTUNITY!: Tuesday, September 8, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
  Juno nominated band Hollerado will be performing live, as part of the orientation activities, with local Oshawa band Native Other opening. The concert is free for all incoming first year students. Upper year students, alumni, and friends are welcome to attend as well with the purchase of a ticket.
• Trent Think Tank: Wednesday, September 9, 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
  Before classes officially begin, new students will have the opportunity to experience what a university-level seminar is like by discussing serious and compelling issues with their campus faculty. Students and faculty selected a text and a documentary for this year’s Trent University Durham Think Tank that will provide lively debates.
• Academic Sessions: Wednesday, September 9, 1:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
  This is an important piece of orientation for all new Trent students as they learn many different academic skills through these specially-designed sessions and workshops in order to give them a strong head start on their first classes.
• First Year Experience Certificate *NEW*: Open to all new students at Trent University Durham, the new First Year Experience Certificate Program is a developmental program designed to provide students an opportunity to strengthen skills in many different areas throughout the sessions to increase academic success. Sessions, which start the week of September 21 and run weekly for four weeks, are interactive in nature and allow students to learn through directed discussion and activities under themes such as: life skills, social development, career exploration, goal setting, and more. Sessions will be facilitated by staff, faculty, and peers.