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Above and below, left: Students attending Bethune College's summer orientation sessions
York’s Bethune College gave some of its incoming students a chance to get a head start on becoming familiar with the University. In late July, it held three one-day sessions for about 120 students and 60 parents, the only York college to hold such an event in the summer.
"We think it is really important to give the students as much ‘heads-up’ information as possible," said Paul Delaney (right), master of Bethune College and senior lecturer in York’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.
"By all accounts, the summer orientation sessions were very well received by those who attended. And, from what I have heard from other campuses around North America that have held summer orientations, students find it a very beneficial experience."
The theme of the orientation was driving into the students’ future, with such topics as "Gear Up and Get Ready to Go," "A Quick Race Around the Track" and "The Road That Lies Ahead".
"These sessions gave students the opportunity to become familiar with a wide range of campus resources, meet departmental Chairs and first-year course lecturers, not to mention Faculty of Pure & Applied Science Dean Gillian Wu," said Delaney.
"And experience a simulation of ‘a year in the life at York’ in 60 minutes! Question-and-answer sessions were liberally available, as well.
"Perhaps the biggest advantage for participants in the summer orientation is the more individual attention we were able to give these students, thus a better preparation for a successful September. We probably eased the concerns of many parents in this process," said Delaney.