Once first-year students get settled into their residence rooms and new homes during move-in, the next phase of their Queen’s experience begins: Fall Orientation. Through a range of activities taking place Aug. 31 – Sept. 8 new students will be welcomed into the one-of-a-kind community that defines Queen’s.

Fall Orientation features more than 95 activities that include Faculty Orientation events overseen by the AMS’s Orientation Roundtable and University Orientation events hosted by Student Affairs.

“First-year students are making a big transition when they begin university, and orientation helps them adjust and start the academic year with confidence,” says Molly Raffan, Director, Student Life, Student Experience Office. “Students start to build community with their peers during orientation and learn about the wide array of resources Queen’s has in place to help them thrive personally and academically.”

University Orientation officially kicks off with Welcome Home Night on Saturday, Aug. 31, which brings new students together to socialize over crafts, sports, and movies. On Sunday, Sept. 1, students will parade to Richardson Stadium for a pep rally and official welcome to Queen’s. First-year students will hear from Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane and student orientation leaders. They will also learn the Oil Thigh and how to cheer “Cha Gheill!”

Faculty Orientation run by the AMS and faculty student societies begins after the Richardson Stadium Welcome and will feature a mix of iconic welcome activities. Arts and Science, Education, Smith Engineering, Health Sciences, Smith School of Business, School of Computing, School of Kinesiology, and School of Nursing all have events planned for new students. There are also orientation events for New, Exchange, Worldly, and Transfer Students (NEWTS).

“Orientation is an embodiment of the community spirit of Queen’s and shows how students take care of each other here,” says Maddie Ronan, Orientation Roundtable Coordinator and fourth-year concurrent education student. “More than 1,200 students volunteer their time to plan and lead these events so that new students feel welcomed and supported as soon as they arrive. This year we’re also placing an emphasis on accessibility to help make sure that everyone has activities they can take part in no matter their preferences or abilities.”

Events welcoming students to Queen’s will continue after classes begin on Sept. 3, including the Tricolour Open House on Sept. 5, which gives new and returning students the opportunity to connect with student clubs, recreation clubs, and campus resources across Queen’s. There will also be a series of events called Meet and Mingles: Find Your Community. These are drop-in activities for equity-deserving students to meet students and staff in various campus offices, find community on campus, build friendships with peers, and connect with upper-year students. These events will happen throughout September. Check out the Allyship and Belonging Student Calendar for all the details.

The AMS Orientation Roundtable team will hold its annual mystery concert Friday, Sept. 6 in the Miller Parking Lot. In keeping with the event’s tradition, the performer will be announced only just before coming on stage.

First-year students will be able to make connections with the wider Kingston community during the Sidewalk Sale, hosted by the Arts and Science Undergraduate Society (ASUS) on Saturday Sept. 7. The Sidewalk Sale transforms University Avenue into a market that features more than 300 booths operated by local businesses, community organizations and services, and Queen’s departments. Proceeds from the sale are donated to charity.

Learn more on the Fall Orientation webpage.

Welcoming students from around the world

Orientation for international students kicked off a little before the events for all students with the Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC) Welcome Week, Aug. 26-30. The centre arranged a series of activities to help students coming from abroad make connections with each other, settle into campus, and learn about life in Canada.

Learn more on the QUIC website.