After the typical summertime lull across York University's campuses – with many students, staff and faculty members returning from well-deserved time away to travel, rest, and spend time with family and friends – the start of the Fall term always brings a renewed sense of energy, as University spaces begin to bustle with excitement once again.
This year, York University's Fall term classes kicked off on Sept. 4, but the back-to-school season was already well underway, with events hosted by the Centre for Student Community & Leadership Development (SCLD) – 36 in total – that had been taking place since May. Those events included campus tours, information sessions and virtual question-and-answer sessions co-hosted with campus partners.
The University's extensive orientation programming provided an opportunity for new students to meet fellow classmates, learn about Faculty-specific resources and University services to assist in their academic journeys, and have fun while getting to know their campus environments.
Eleven different student orientation programs took place concurrently between Aug. 27 and Sept. 2, for targeted groups including parents and families, Black and Indigenous students, mature and transfer students, students in residence, and international and exchange students, to name a few, in an effort to ensure that every York U student felt welcome and well supported. Each orientation category hosted between five and seven events per day on average, totalling over 385 events. To help these many events run smoothly, 650 upper-year students generously volunteered their time as orientation leaders.
To celebrate the start of a new academic year with the wider University community, the Keele and Glendon campuses hosted more than 2,000 people on Sept. 3 for Open Doors York, a fun-filled day of carnival events, music and games.
Click through the photo gallery below for a glimpse at York University's bustling campus life this fall.
