Fall Orientation, your number one new-student resource

We all remember our first day on campus – new faces, an unfamiliar layout, and only a vague idea of what exactly it is that you’re going to be doing here over the next four years. The good thing is that this feeling won’t last long. Undergraduate students who register for Fall Orientation and take advantage of services like Ask Me and attend new student social events feel at home at the university faster than those who don’t.

What is Fall Orientation all about?

Fall Orientation is an annual, two-day welcome event where new students can connect with one another, meet their faculty instructors, and learn about the many services and extra-curricular opportunities that are available to all UCalgary students. Major events that take place during the two day event include:

• New Student Pep Rally: Students meet their faculty peers, learn a faculty chant and show off their faculty colours in a fun and energetic welcome ceremony at the Jack Simpson Gymnasium.
• New Student Picnic: Lunch is on us! Students hang-out on the lawn with their Orientation Leaders (OL) outdoors following the Pep Rally.
• UCalgaryStrong Carnival: Students enjoy an afternoon of carnival inspired games, activities, music and more in MacEwan Hall.
• Faculty Orientation: Connect with instructors, staff and other students from your chosen programs and academic faculty area.
• Kick-Off and Tailgate party: Enjoy a meal and a cold drink at the tailgate barbeque before showing some team spirit at a UCalgary Dinos football game at McMahon Stadium.

Other new student events and services at UCalgary

• International Student Orientation usually takes place a day or two before regular orientation programming, and seeks to answer questions about immigration, work regulations, Canadian classroom culture and what it’s like to live in Calgary.
• Think of the Ask Me program as an information stand on campus. People wearing red pins or offices with an Ask Me poster in the window are equipped to answer new student questions about where to find classes, how to get in touch with an advisor and more.
• Online Orientation is available from June through to October and is a module-based online database of information, videos and podcasts that registered new students can use to learn about campus life, services and more before arriving in September.  
• Graduate Student Orientation introduces students to information about student services, scholarships and tuition while also providing important tips on how to build a relationship with your supervisor, finding employment and more.