York's RED Zone is back for its third season. The new student transition program opened its doors once again to incoming students on Monday, May 5. Last year, the RED Zone helped more than 7,500 new students take the plunge into their first year of university life at York.
The zone is located in the Complex 1 Computer Lounge (room 034 Founders College) and is open to serve students Monday to Friday, 10am to 4:30pm (open late on Wednesdays to 8pm) from May 5 to August 15.
Staff and faculty are invited to attend an open house on Tuesday, May 13, from 10am to 3pm. Opening remarks will be given by Sylvia Schippke, assistant vice-president, Student Community Development, at 11:30am.
York's RED Zone works in concert with the advising offices to help new students smooth their transition to university life. Students and their families are encouraged to visit the RED Zone on the same day as their scheduled advising and enrolment appointments (or on another day if they prefer) to explore all that York has to offer outside the classroom, including YU-card services, Passport York computer accounts, York's colleges, scholarships & financial aid, parking & transportation, campus safety & security and career support.
Students are also invited to explore opportunities to get involved in campus life through academic and social orientation, the colleges, sport and recreation, student clubs and leadership opportunities. Parent-specific resources are also available in the RED Zone.
The 2008 edition of York's RED Zone features enhancements from last year's design. Keeping pace with multimedia technology, new students starting at York in September received a new video invitation featuring lead ambassador Gina Oades. This complements the print invitations students receive through their Faculty Advising Centre. Click here to view the video.
As well, the RED Zone will be open until 8pm on Wednesday evenings. The extended hours will provide flexibility to those with daytime commitments and students with late-afternoon advising appointments. The nine RED Zone student ambassadors are also sporting a unified look with new RED Zone clothing and buttons showing each students' college affiliation as part of the "Show Your Colours" theme introducing new students to the college system at York.
Right: 2008 RED Zone Student Ambassadors during a training session. Pictured from left, Genevieve Kang, Rachael Gumiela, Michael O'Reilly, Claire Simpson, Joshua Paquin, Christina Huang, Jester Lind and Gina Oades
"RED Zone gives students a head-start on their first university year, but we are also really emphasizing the additional steps students need to take after RED Zone to be successful in their transition to university," says Brian Poser, manager student success & retention, Centre for Student Community & Leadership Development.
"These steps include connecting with their colleges, attending orientation, engaging with the curriculum and with events outside the classroom, staying fit and active through programs offered by the Tait McKenzie Centre and with intramural sport teams and getting involved in student clubs, student government and leadership opportunities," says Poser.
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Left: The comfortable RED Zone offers student- and parent-specific resources designed to help students adapt to life at the University
The RED Zone provides a casual atmosphere for students and families to learn about the University enhanced by a behind the-scenes tour of York, a "slice of the RED Zone" pizza lunch and a chance to play a fun trivia game to discover interesting facts about York and win prizes.
"We're putting the final touches on a new game called Reality Check. The idea is that students will learn to distinguish between myths and realities about student academic and co-curricular life and use this information to set realistic expectations for what life at York will be like ," says Poser.
For more information, contact Poser at ext. 44125, or e-mail bposer@yorku.ca.