Tag: Colleges

Approved tag

Soccer Lions welcome Golden Hawks to Alumni Field for annual Frosh Frenzy games

It’s Frosh Frenzy week at York University and the men’s and women’s soccer teams will host the Laurier Golden Hawks in the annual game presented by Pizza Pizza on Thursday, Sept. 6, in front of thousands of frenzied York freshmen.

The game is always a highlight on the York athletics calendar, and more than 2,500 students pack the stands at Alumni Field each year for the Frosh Frenzy. Last year, the Lions hosted their rival McMaster Marauders and picked up a 5-2 win in the men’s game and a 2-2 tie in the women’s game.

This year, the women’s game will kick off first at 6 p.m., followed by the men at 8:15 p.m. Both games can also be seen live online on OUA.tv.

The Lions women’s team will have payback on their minds when they take to the field against Laurier, after losing to Laurier in a close game last week when the Lions dropped a 2-1 game to the Golden Hawks. The game-winning goal came on a penalty kick in the 84th minute. York will be looking to snap a three-game losing skid to the Hawks, as they lost a pair of close games early in the 2017 season by scores of 2-0 and 1-0.

The victory was Laurier’s lone win so far this season and they head into the game with a 1-3-0 record. York, on the other hand, enters the game with a 1-2-1 record. York has been off to an impressive start offensively, currently tied for second in goals (7) in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West division after four games.

The men’s team will look to stay undefeated on the season and win their second game in a row against the Golden Hawks on Thursday night. York defeated Laurier in their last game by a score of 4-0 at University Stadium in Waterloo, Ont., last week. The Lions scored four goals in the first 26 minutes of the game and cruised to the clean sheet victory. The Lions’ last loss against the Golden Hawks came in the OUA championship game in 2008.

The Golden Hawks have struggled so far this season, with a 0-4-0 record, and come into the game looking to avenge last week’s loss. The perennially successful Lions are once again ranked as one of the best teams in the country and will enter the game in the No. 2 spot in the U SPORTS national rankings.

The festivities for the Frosh Frenzy games include free admission for York students, the unveiling of the 2017 OUA men’s championship banner, the YU Nation T-shirt toss, the Pizza Pizza Frosh Frenzy halftime contest and the Best Seats in the House contest.

York University’s Orientation Week kicks off with Move-in Day

Classes begin this week. It’s also Orientation Week for thousands of new students who will be everywhere on York’s campuses, dressed in colourful T-shirts, taking part in a host of fun activities officially known as Social Orientation. Events began with Saturday’s Residence Move-in Day and the fun continues through to next Sunday.

York University

Each college council, the Lassonde School of Engineering and the Schulich School of Business plans events for resident and commuter students. Some of the social orientation activities organized include mixers, quad parties, an outing to Wasaga Beach, a boat cruise on Lake Ontario, a Blue Jays’ game and a trip to Canada’s Wonderland.

Energy is high and guiding incoming students through Orientation Week are hundreds of upper-year student leaders who are volunteering their time and energy to make sure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time. The Orientation leaders were ready and waiting on Saturday to help students and their parents move into their  residence rooms. Move-in day included a parents’ orientation, tours of the campuses, cheer offs, games, BBQs, parties and more.

One of the highly anticipated events of Orientation Week is York Orientation Day – a full-day event on Sept. 4 where students connect with peers and faculty in their program, explore the campus and attend the welcome ceremony in the York Lions Stadium at Keele Campus.

Visit http://orientation.yorku.ca/ for more details.

Staff, faculty invited to volunteer for ASK Me and York Orientation Day

people wearing the ASK Me lanyard and button

York University staff and faculty are encouraged to sign up to participate in ASK Me (formerly YU Belong), a campaign that helps students navigate campus, find classrooms and discover resources during their first days at the University.

The first weeks of a new student’s campus life will set the course for their years ahead, and those who volunteer to participate as an ASK Me ambassador help ease this transition and make a long-lasting, positive impression.

Register to participate in ASK Me by filling out this online form.

Volunteers will receive an “Ask Me” lanyard and an “I Heart YU” button

When your ASK Me package is ready, you will receive an email letting you know that you can pick it up at the Student Community and Leadership Development office’s front desk at South 172 Ross Building. The package includes an “Ask Me” lanyard and an “I Heart YU” button. Wearing the lanyard and button between Sept. 4 and 15 will ensure that you are easily recognizable as an ASK Me ambassador.

Upper-year students, staff and faculty are also encouraged to volunteer for York Orientation Day, happening on Sept. 4. Sign up online at bit.ly/2N6WEvX to be a part of the biggest event on campus.

York Orientation Day is a full-day event for all of York University’s new undergraduate students.

Volunteer opportunities include helping students with wayfinding from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. and serving as an usher at the Welcome Ceremony from 4:30 to 8 p.m. (dinner provided).

For complete ASK Me details, visit orientation.yorku.ca/askme.

Read all about Orientation at orientation.yorku.ca.

Staff, faculty invited to volunteer for ASK Me and York Orientation Day

people wearing the ASK Me lanyard and button

York University staff and faculty are encouraged to sign up to participate in ASK Me (formerly YU Belong), a campaign that helps students navigate campus, find classrooms and discover resources during their first days at the University.

The first weeks of a new student’s campus life will set the course for their years ahead, and those who volunteer to participate as an ASK Me ambassador help ease this transition and make a long-lasting, positive impression.

Register to participate in ASK Me by filling out this online form.

Volunteers will receive an “Ask Me” lanyard and an “I Heart YU” button

When your ASK Me package is ready, you will receive an email letting you know that you can pick it up at the Student Community and Leadership Development office’s front desk at South 172 Ross Building. The package includes an “Ask Me” lanyard and an “I Heart YU” button. Wearing the lanyard and button between Sept. 4 and 15 will ensure that you are easily recognizable as an ASK Me ambassador.

Upper-year students, staff and faculty are also encouraged to volunteer for York Orientation Day, happening on Sept. 4. Sign up online at bit.ly/2N6WEvX to be a part of the biggest event on campus.

York Orientation Day is a full-day event for all of York University’s new undergraduate students.

Volunteer opportunities include helping students with wayfinding from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. and serving as an usher at the Welcome Ceremony from 4:30 to 8 p.m. (dinner provided).

For complete ASK Me details, visit orientation.yorku.ca/askme.

Read all about Orientation at orientation.yorku.ca.

York University ramps up for back-to-school with helpful programs and resources

Tuesday, Sept. 4 marks the start of the Fall 2018 term, and members of the York University community are excited to welcome students, faculty and staff back to school. York University offers numerous resources and events to help ease the transition into the 2018-19 academic year. Students, staff and faculty will have access to back-to-school resources including: Orientation Week, York’s RED Zone, York International, Learning Skills Services, the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and the new ASK Me program (see description below).

orientation
Welcome back, Lions!

York Orientation Day and Orientation Week (O-Week)
York University’s Orientation Week runs Sept. 1 to 9 and includes many activities and resources. One of the highly anticipated events of Orientation Week is York Orientation Day – a full-day event on Sept. 4 where students connect with peers and faculty in their program, explore the campus and attend the welcome ceremony in the York Lions Stadium at Keele Campus. The University’s colleges also organize orientation activities for first-year students, including academic workshops and social events. Visit the colleges website for more details.

Orientation Week activities begin on Sept. 1

York’s RED Zone
York’s RED Zone is a resource for new and returning students, faculty and staff. RED Zone ambassadors are stationed in Vari Hall and are available from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to give directions and offer assistance to those looking for places, people and services on campus. Extended RED Zone hours will be in effect from Sept. 4 to 14, and will be posted on the website.

York’s RED Zone ambassadors are always ready to help

Learning Skills Services (LSS)
Visiting Learning Skills Services (LSS) and attending their workshops is a great way to get back into the school mindset. Most of the workshops are led by Learning Skills peers, and programming offered at LSS helps prepare students for the academic year ahead. LSS also provides a space to learn important skills, including time management, presentation skills, reading and note-taking. LSS strongly recommends that incoming students attend their Starting Off Strong and Secrets of Academic Success workshops to start their year off right.

LSS is located on the second floor of Scott Library in the Learning Commons

Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
A hot topic at the beginning of the fall term is the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). York’s OSAP website will guide students through the process of determining eligibility to receiving funds, most of which can be done online. Those who need additional assistance can contact an OSAP service representative.

Registrarial Services, Bennett Centre

ASK Me and York International pop-up locations
New this year, from Sept. 4 to 14, the ASK Me program will feature booths around campus run by the ASK Me ambassador team who will provide on-the-spot guidance and directions and answer general questions about financial aid, registrarial services, courses/enrolment and more. In addition, York International will set up booths around campus staffed with welcoming and helpful experts who can assist international students and guide them in the right direction.

Learn more on York’s Back-to-School web page.

Article provided by Lauren Dick, YU Blog student blogger

First-year health students score big at Destination Graduation event

York University staff and students from the School of Kinesiology and Health Science

The School of Kinesiology and Health Science, in York University’s Faculty of Health, welcomed more than 670 new first-year students to an orientation event called Destination Graduation.

2017 Destination Graduation - Kinesiology & Health Science

Held on Sept. 13, the orientation event focused on building a sense of community within the entry class, and was a tremendous success as students were welcomed by Angelo Belcastro, chair of Kinesiology and Health Science; Michael Connor, undergraduate program director; and Jennifer Myers, director of Athletics and Recreation.

Small groups of new students were welcomed by upper-year student leaders, professors and staff. Students participated in welcome activities and games designed to mimic a mini-Olympics. The energy was high, the atmosphere was fun and students enjoyed connecting with each other, with student leaders and with faculty members who served as referees, score keepers, judges etc.

The feature of the event was the KINE Olympics during which new students participated in cooperative events that were modifications of the javelin, discus, marathon, long jump and shot put. The Olympics were officiated by the first-year professors from KINE 1000 – Professors Hernan Humana, Yuka Nakamura and Parissa Safai; and KINE 1020 – Professors Jennifer Kuk and Michael Riddell. Professor Merv Mosher served as the games announcer and Belcastro was the scorer. Winning team members received free Fitness Centre memberships.

More than 40 volunteers, including Kinesiology and Health Science students, full-time/contract faculty members, practicum instructors, alumni and staff, participated in the execution of an outstanding event.

York U rolls out a #WelcomeYU

#WelcomeYU
York u students cheer at the University’s #WelcomeYU ceremony

The numbers are in and they reveal that close to 6,000 first-year students took part in the 2017 York Orientation Day evening Welcome Ceremony and celebration on Sept. 6 at the York Lions Stadium on the Keele campus.

The photo gallery below offers just a taste of the energy and enthusiasm of the ceremony.


Created with flickr slideshow.

 

The event was a capstone to a full day of orientation events planned for the first-year students. The day was designed to ease students’ academic and social transition into life at university. Prior to the welcome ceremony, first-year students met others in their program, along with senior students from their major programs. They also heard from peer mentors and their program professors, and explored the University.

The ceremony began at 6pm with a parade of students wearing their college colours and led by their Orientation leaders into the York Lions Stadium on the Keele campus. The  energetic crowd took part in a cheer-off before an official welcome from the executive of the York Federation of Students, the Aboriginal Students Association and the Indigenous Students Association of Glendon. Following the greetings, The Red Spirit Drum Group played a traditional First Nations welcome.

A key event for students was a live theatre presentation by actors from York University’s acclaimed Vanier College Productions of the play There Is No Maybe, a one-act play written by Kristen Da Silva, Katie Edwards, Alisse Lee Goldenberg, Brian Goldenberg and Theresa Noon-Hunter. Vanier College Productions student actors Trimaine Blake, Zaarin Bushra, Beatrice Campbell, Linda Ge, Stefan Porfirio and Danny Sylvan presented a variety of scenarios that explored the issues surrounding consent on campus between university students. There is No Maybe conveyed a key message to the first-year students: If it’s not clear, and it’s not enthusiastic, it is not consent.

The play is an important part of a pan-University initiative to combat rape culture, and to teach students what their options are when confronted with issues surrounding sexual violence. York University’s Sexual Violence Response Office worked with Vanier College Productions to ensure the play involved cases of sexual violence that can happen on campus as well as different ways students could support and/or intervene in situations. Accompanying the students were some 1,200 Orientation leaders who received Active Bystander Program training.

The student A Cappella group Wibi performed a number of songs.

To complete the Welcome Ceremony, members of York University’s academic leadership, accompanied by two bagpipers entered the stadium. York President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton delivered the official University welcome to the first-year students as they took part in a new student convocation into the University.

The evening wrapped with a display of fireworks.

For more on the day visit #WelcomeYU on Twitter.

York U creates and uses new online inclusion tool for Orientation Week

inclusion lens FEATURED
inclusion lens FEATURED

Student leaders at York University are using a new online tool – an Inclusion Lens – to proactively ensure its close to 500 orientation week events are welcoming to incoming members of the York community.

The Inclusion Lens may be the first online event management tool created by a Canadian university to provide students with both a comprehensive how-to guide along with a checklist to track progress towards inclusive events on campus. The Lassonde School of Engineering and York’s Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion worked together to develop the tool.

Rhonda Lenton

“Inclusion is a core value of York University,” said Rhonda Lenton, York University’s president and vice-chancellor. “We are committed to proactively celebrating our differences and reflecting the value of inclusion in the ways we teach, govern ourselves, interact as a community, and research solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Since its earliest days, York University has been dedicated to social justice. The Inclusion Lens is an important new tool to help us continue this legacy of leadership and innovation, ensuring a truly welcoming and inclusive campus environment for all.”

The Inclusion Lens drew from the Ontario Public Service Inclusion Lens to help students see their events from a perspective other than their own. Added were an event planning guide, easy-to-find university resources and a checklist to track progress.

Marisa Sterling

“The Inclusion Lens is about going beyond policy compliance to leading by example,” said Marisa Sterling, assistant dean, Inclusivity and Diversity, Lassonde School of Engineering. “When students want to create an event, they easily click through the planning, advertising, implementing and evaluating tabs on the website. At each stage, they receive guidance, education and a link to university resources.”

Inclusive considerations include advertising broadly to reach more diverse communities, accommodating for sliding scale ticket prices for affordability and arranging for prayer services throughout the day of the event.

The Lassonde School of Engineering is tackling a longstanding gap in the field of engineering, where in 2015 only 20 per cent of undergraduate students across Canada were women. After launching its Inclusivity Project in 2016, the school realized the desire for inclusion existed, but the community needed the tools and education on how to get there. After training more than 90 Lassonde students as inclusivity ambassadors, the school started work on providing its students practical steps to weave inclusion throughout all of their campus experiences.

“In 2015, we were the first engineering school in Canada to launch our 50:50 Challenge for gender parity,” said Sterling. “Our goal is not simply to have diversity but to do something with that diversity by innovating and leading. I am very proud of our students who continue to embrace this positive culture change each year.”

Acknowledging that inclusion and accessibility are key values of the University’s Academic Plan 2015-2020 and the administration’s Strategic Priorities, the newly re-named Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion is implementing an enhanced mission to give institution-wide form and content to those values and assist York in proactively cultivating difference.

“The Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion (REI) is very pleased to have been instrumental in the development of York University’s Inclusion Lens,” said Executive Director Michael Charles. “The tool will serve as an additional means to embed the values of access, equity and inclusion into the activities and campus life of our students.”

The Inclusion Lens can be used by anyone at York and beyond, but the team focused their work on student leaders who plan and run events, recognizing that they are the next generation of leaders.

The lens is being used this fall by all colleges and faculties of York University to plan, advertise, implement and evaluate orientation week events that run until Sept. 10 and welcome close to 7,600 new students to the campus.

More than 1,200 student orientation leaders have also been trained in inclusive and positive language and have signed an Orientation Leader Contract to ensure they both create an inclusive experience and show respect for a student’s right to choose the activities they wish to participate in.

Watch a video below:

Welcome! York U hosts orientation for new students

students wave red towels at a gathering at the 2015 York U orientation welcome event

Beginning Sept. 2 and running until Sept. 10, first-year students will have a myriad of wonderful opportunities to learn about and participate in university life at York U.

New students are led by their orientation leaders in a cheer spirit competition during last year’s social orientation

Orientation Week features an array of social and academic orientation events designed to engage students beginning their university careers. Activities take place at both the Keele and Glendon campuses, and will help first-year students get acquainted with the places and faces of York U.

“Orientation serves to complement our robust transition programming that took place during the summer. We work with more than 60 campus partners and train over 1,200 orientation leaders to help welcome our incoming class to help ensure their start is a successful one” said Ross McMillan, director of Student Engagement & First Year Experience for Student Community & Leadership Development.

It all begins Sept. 2, when first-year students staying in residence will move in to their dorm rooms and participate, with their parents, in orientation activities for residence life.

On Sept. 6, thousands of first year students from Glendon, Keele and those who commute to campus, will attend York Orientation Day, when they will have the opportunity to meet other students, as well as their peer mentors and professors. Students will have an opportunity to explore the campus and attend the annual Welcome Ceremony.

Students from a number of colleges enjoy a meet and greet event

Other events are organized by the college councils of Bethune, Calumet, Founders, Glendon, McLaughlin, New, Stong, Vanier and Winters, as well as Lassonde and Schulich. The week offers first-year students an opportunity to participate in pan-university activities, in addition to events specific to each college.

Some of the events include special breakfasts, academic workshops, carnivals, trips to Wasaga Beach and Canada’s Wonderland, the Lions YU game and a boat cruise.

Events and activities are led by trained orientation leaders who work hard during the week to instill a sense of pride and excitement in those new to the Keele and Glendon campuses.

Orientation events are dry, meaning there is no alcohol, with an emphasis on safe and inclusive fun. There is a special emphasis on consent education with activities and education developed in partnership with the Sexual Violence Response Office. Both residents (who kick off the week on Sept. 2 with move-in day) and commuters are invited to participate in Orientation Week activities, and commuter students can make arrangements to stay on campus for the week in specially designated commuter rooms.

For more on orientation events, visit orientation.yorku.ca and follow the hastags #weareyu and #WelcomeYU.

New interactive program to help students ‘own their first day’ on campus

First year. First day. First class.

New students will experience many new firsts when they arrive at York University to begin studies this September. It is vitally important for both students and their parental or family supports to start this new journey fully informed and on the right foot. Whether they are high school students, transfer students, mature students or international students, there is an extensive amount of coordinated programming in place to make the transition to university a smooth and enriching process.

YU START

At York, for most students, this exciting journey begins with YU START, a student transition program that was initiated as an Academic Innovation Fund project and this year garnered two national awards including the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) Innovation Award and second place in the Quality and Innovation Awards presented by the Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO). YU START is a collaboration of Faculties, Colleges, the Division of Students and University Institutional Technology with content contributed by dozens of offices from both campuses.

Since its inception, YU START has grown from a single program with approximately 700 students, to include 194 academic programs with roughly 11,000 students. It has expanded to include specific content for mature students, graduate students, international students, residence students and varsity athletes. In 2017, YU START also went bilingual to incorporate the Glendon campus.

*York Orientation Day attendance is approximate

The first step of the YU START program began in May, and included assisting students with their enrolment process and helping them learn about key information and services at York. The second step of the program is an online learning community that runs throughout the summer, where students learn the essentials of starting their time at York on the right foot through a series of multimedia and interactive modules. During this time, students will also be able connect with other incoming students in their program within Facebook groups facilitated by trained, senior peers to become familiar with campus life and various student supports.

YORK101

To assist this transition, a new initiative called YORK101 kicked off the week of June 12 and promises to help new students “own their first day.”

Complementing YU START, the campaign runs all summer and serves to keep students abreast of important first-year transition and orientation information by delivering timely topics through social media and a series of online videos all easily identified by the hashtag, #YORK101.

A unique component of the effort includes an optional on-campus experience where students can take a tour and find their classes, pick up their student card and learn about first year by speaking directly with senior student leaders. Parents and family are encouraged to attend as well, so they can learn how to be the best possible support for their student.

Registration for the on-campus component of YORK101 is now open at orientation.yorku.ca/york-101-own-your-first-day, and online content can be followed on the RED Zone Facebook page at facebook.com/yorksredzone, Twitter account at twitter.com/yorksredzone and Instagram account at instagram.com/yorksredzone.

Orientation Week

Orientation Week marks the beginning of the school year for many students, and will run from Sept. 2 to 10. The week of activities includes an integrated mixture of academic and social events. A highlight event is York Orientation Day, which takes place from 1 to 8pm on Wednesday, Sept. 6 and features the official York Welcome Ceremony from 6:30 to 8pm.

Academic and social orientation events are sorted according to College or Faculty affiliation and each group handles registration for their particular events. The orientation website at orientation.yorku.ca will be updated throughout the summer with full event and registration details as they become available. The site also includes a handy tool called the ‘College Finder’ that helps students determine what college they belong to. Students can then link to their college and correct orientation events.

YU Belong

It takes the entire campus to welcome the incoming class, and you can help by joining YU Belong. YU Belong is a welcome-to-York-University campaign by faculty and staff for the incoming class. Because York is a big place, new students and their parents usually have a lot of questions during their first several days on campus. Staff and faculty can volunteer to help them by wearing a highly visible and identifiable YU Belong button. When new students and parents see an individual wearing this button they’ll know they can confidently ask them for assistance. It’s a really simple idea that creates a solid sense of community and belonging.

The YU Belong program is promoted to new students as part of orientation via various social media channels and through YU START. Staff and faculty can register to be a part of YU Belong right now at orientation.yorku.ca/yubelong. YU Belong volunteers will also be invited to assist at York Orientation Day with wayfinding and the York-wide Welcome Ceremony.