The Office of Student Transition sought to welcome students and provide them with academic advice to help them succeed during the last week of August.
The orientation aimed to introduce new students to the UTM community and tips for success before the beginning of the academic year.
According to a UTM News article on, “O-Week is all about welcoming new students to campus, helping them become familiar with the environment and learn all the things they’ll need to know to be a successful student,” says Jessica Silver, a manager with the Office of Student Transition. “UTM has a lot to offer, including academic and social support, fun opportunities to get involved and more.”
O-Week held several TED-like talks from teachers and alumni to give advice to the new students. The three day orientation also featured ways to manage time in order to be a successful student.
“This year, the event also includes a new feature—a special pinning” ceremony led by Dean of Student Affairs Mark Overton, that will highlight the core identities of UTM student life—community, creativity, communication, innovation and sustainability—with a small gift for participants,” read the UTM News article.
UTMSU’s annual frosh week coincided with the Office of Student Transition’s O-Week.
Both orientations occurred during the final week of August and introduced new undergraduate students to the campus and campus life. UTMSU’s frosh featured events such as a trip to Canada’s Wonderland, a food fest, and two pub nights, whereas O-Week sought to integrate students into UTM’s academic atmosphere.
Silver credits the multiple orientations as a way to provide students with many opportunities to get involved in various ways and to discvover themselves both academically and personally.
This marks a second instance that two distinct orientations were held for students in order to provide new undergraduates with a variety of choices for different preferences, the first time being in 2015.
