Winter term classes begin on Jan. 11, 2021, and with the official start of the new academic term at York University, there’s plenty for new and returning students to do, think about and remember.
York’s official Virtual Winter Orientation takes place on Friday, Jan. 8. The official website launched this week and features a wealth of information for new and incoming students. As with fall orientation, all activities will be virtual and online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, students should visit the website as soon as possible to register for events and explore the resources and videos currently available.
Winter Orientation banner
Virtual Winter Orientation: Jan. 8, 2021
College/Faculty Orientation will take place on Jan. 8 and includes a variety of College/Faculty-specific events, during which time students will get a chance to meet other first-year students as well as upper-year students in their respective Colleges and Faculties (find your session information here) and participate in workshops, ice-breaker activities, panels and other exciting activities. Students who are uncertain of which College or Faculty they belong to can use the College Finder tool for help.
A Virtual Service Fair will take place from 12 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 8, giving incoming and returning students the chance to connect with various student and support services using the EasyVirtualFair platform.
Additionally, two Consent Talks sessions will be offered through York’s Centre for Sexual Violence Response, Support & Education. This is a series of vignettes about sex and consent, focusing on the university experience during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the themes include virtual hookups, sexual violence, online harassment, and the impact of social media and physical distancing rules. (Content warning: sexual violence.)
International Student Orientation
York University offers a wide variety of Orientation programming, all online in winter 2021, for all new and incoming students. It is a great way to discover campus resources and learn all about your degree while supporting a smooth transition into university
As the designated support office for international students, York International offers crucial services and programs tailored to address the unique needs of international students. The York International team will host a series of virtual orientation events designed specifically for international students on Jan. 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. and Jan. 8 from 8 to 10 a.m. via Zoom. More information can be found on the International Student Virtual Orientation website.
For those students looking to get a head start, there are numerous videos and video series featured on the site that serve to get students acquainted with the overall York community, including:
- York Welcome Ceremony video
- YORK 101 video series
- Zooming Through YorkU series
- Parents & Family Orientation session