Orientation
A warm welcome to new students and a welcome back to those of you returning this year! This page you will find information related to orientation at Queen’s. Details about Orientation Week events as well as our summer webinar series and the “Did you know..?” and “How to…” fact sheets – all devoted to ensuring you have access to the information you need for a smooth transition to the new academic year! And don't forget to go through the graduate student check sheet on registering and paying of fees!
Over the summer this page will change, so keep coming back for new information (and layout)
Summer Webinar Series
May 2019 Webinars
| Date | Topic | Host/Presenter | View Recording |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thur May 23rd @ 11am EDT | Visas, Study Permits & Immigration Information If you’re not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you’ll require specific Canadian immigration documents to come to Canada and to study at Queen’s. The International Student Advisers at the Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC) will help you learn about these documents and answer any questions you may have. |
Arthur Chen, International student advisor, QUIC | View Here |
| Tues May 28th @ 9am EDT | Off Campus: Finding a place to live for International Students Looking for a place to live off campus might seem like a difficult task, especially if you’re coming from another country! Join the Queen’s University International Centre staff as we talk about how to search for a place to live in Kingston. Hear from students about their housing search and important tips for your search! |
Hanna Stanbury, QUIC | View Here |
| Wed May 29th @ 4pm EDT | Be Well: Health Resources on Campus In this webinar the Health Promotion team will show you how making healthy choices on campus can be easy. Hear about the health resources available to you as a student. |
Schuyler Schmidt, Student Wellness Services | View Here |
| Thur May 30th @ 4pm EDT | Athletics & Recreation at Queen's Want to stay fit and have fun next year? Hear all about the ARC, find out about how you can get involved in intramurals, and get info on attending Varsity games. |
Gareth Cunningham, Athletics & Recreation | View Here |
June 2019 Webinars
| Date | Topic | Host/Presenter | View recording |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thur June 13th @ 4pm EDT |
Financing your Education: OSAP (domestic undergrad & grad) |
Angie Street, Student Awards Office & SGS | View here |
| Thur June 27th @ 11am EDT |
Welcome to QUIC |
Amanda Gray, QUIC | View here |
July 2019 Webinars
| Date | Topic | Host/Presenter | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed July 3rd @ 11am EDT | Arriving in Canada If you’re an international student, getting to Queen’s may include going through a port of entry or crossing the Canadian border. Join us as we talk about getting to Kingston, what you can expect at the border and how you can best prepare. |
Arthur Chen, QUIC | View here |
| Wed July 10th @ 11am EDT | Getting Started: Registration, Fees, Accessibility & more Registration, fees, payment plan, photo ID and more. What you need to do before you can start you graduate degree. |
Colette, School of Graduate Studies (SGS) | View here |
| Thur July 11th @ 11am EDT | Living in Kingston Living in Kingston and want to know more about what the city has to offer? Kingston has a multitude of services, organizations, museums, summer activities and more. Get information on where graduate students choose to live, rental issues to be aware of, fun activities and information for the whole family. |
Colette Steer and Heather Merla, School of Graduate Studies |
View here |
| Mon July 29th, @ 11am EDT | UHIP/Supplemental Health Care Coverage (international students) This webinar discusses what’s covered in your mandatory primary health insurance plan, UHIP for international students, as compared to what is covered in your Supplemental Health & Dental Insurance Plan from the Alma Mater Society (AMS) and Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS). We’ll be going step by step through what these plans mean to you, because we understand that this can be a confusing topic! |
Steacy Tibbutt (QUIC), SGPS rep and AMS rep | View here |
August 2019 Webinars
| Date | Topic | Host/Presenter | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thur Aug 1st @ 11am EDT | Canada, Eh? What to expect in Canadian Culture Is it cold all the time in Canada? Does everyone have a polar bear? What’s a double double?? If these are questions you’re wondering about, join us in this session about Canadian culture. We’ll talk about some common cultural themes, misconceptions and tips on how to navigate and feel more comfortable in your new home |
Amanda Gray, QUIC | View here |
| Tues August 6th @ 11am EDT | Academic Integrity What is Academic Integrity and why is it important, paying close attention to plagiarism. Find out what resources are available to assist students in navigating Academic Integrity to Academic Success, including writing supports |
School of Graduate Studies and The Library | View here |
| Tues August 13th @ 11am EDT | Transition to Canadian Post-Secondary Studies If you haven’t attended school in Canada or North America, this session is for you! Learn about how Canadian education may be different than other countries and strategies to help you navigate a new educational environment! |
Agnes Herra, QUIC/SASS | View here |
| Thur Aug 15th @ 4pm EDT | Academic Accommodation at Queen's Queen's Student Accessibility Services works with members of the Queen's community to ensure that the university and its programs are accessible to students with disabilities. Learn about how they can support your successful transition to university. |
Gail Eaton-Smith, Student Wellness Services | View here |
| Wed August 21st @ 4pm EDT | Indigenous Student Guide to Life on Campus The Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre strives to be a home away from home for Indigenous students and a site of information and support for the broader Queen's community. Learn about the supports and services available there. |
Keira LaPierre, 4 Directions Indigenous Student Centre | View here |
| Fri Aug 23rd @ 11am EDT | Graduate Orientation & Beyond Orientation is a great time to get to know Queen's and make friends! Even after orientation ends, there are countless ways to get involved on campus. In this webinar you will be hearing from some current Queen's graduate students about orientation and opportunities for involvement at Queen’s and in the Kingston community. |
School of Graduate Studies & Grad Students | View Here |
In Person Orientation Events
Fall Term - September 2019
| Date | Event/Venue | Host(s) | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tues September 3rd 8.30am - 11am |
(Re) Orientation: Welcome and Resources Fair Venue: Bartlett & Ross gyms, Mitchell Hall 8.30am - 9am - light refreshments Campus Tours are also being run during this time. |
School of Graduate Studies & Division of Student Affairs | None required |
|
Tues September 3rd 11am - 12noon |
Tours of the Athletics & Recreation Centre (ARC) Venue: Meet outside Ross & Bartlett Gyms, Mitchell Hall This is your chance to see the whole of the ARC, where to go to use the weights or dance studios, the swimming pool and much more. |
Athletics & Recreation | None required |
|
Wed September 4th 8.30am - 4pm |
Teaching Development Day Venue: TBA This will be a day dedicated to understanding the ways in which all academic disciplines inform the theory and practice of teaching and learning. While academic disciplines turn inward when it comes to understanding content, we have much to learn from each other when it comes to teaching that content. |
Centre for Teaching and Learning | Coming soon |
|
Wed September 4th 9am - 4pm |
Sidewalk Sale Get some freebies and discounts and sign up for volunteering and social activities both on campus and within the Kingston community |
AMS | None required |
|
Thur September 5th Throughout the day |
Photo ID Pickup Day You need this to show you are a student and you can use it to get on buses in Kingston, the gym or discounts at select stores in town. |
University Registrars Office | None required |
|
Thurs September 5th 5pm - 8pm |
Tri-Colour Athletics Open House Venue: The Athletics & Recreation Centre, Main Gym The Tricolour Open House is an excellent opportunity to find ways to get involved in fun activities and make friends at Queen’s! The evening includes over 200 clubs, faculty societies, AMS student-run services, intramural teams, athletic opportunities, fitness classes, and more! |
Queen's Athletics & Recreation | None required |
|
Fri September 6th 9am - 11am |
Jump Start Your Career Part of the Expanding Horizons workshop series. Learn how to deal with the Top Four Career Challenges faced by grad students. In this session, you will learn about graduate career pathways and helpful resources, as well as get started on an action plan to integrate career development with your academic studies from the beginning of your program. |
Career Services and SGS | Register |
|
Fri September 6th 11.30am - 12.30pm |
Meet the Deans Venue: Gordon Hall room 302 |
SGS | None required |
|
Tues September 10th 4.00pm-6.00pm |
Effective Communication with your Supervisor Venue: Gordon Hall, room 302 The relationship between graduate student and supervisor is one of the most critical parts of a graduate student’s life and building and nurturing this relationship depends in part on open and mutually respectful communication. Graduate students share responsibility with the supervisor for maintaining direct, frequent, and clear communications and this workshop provides some tips on how to nurture an effective supervisory-student relationship. Taking a multicultural focus, the workshop will seek to provide information on the areas listed above, and to provide case-studies to illustrate some of the challenges of supervisory-student communication with practical suggestions on problem solving and avenues for assistance if communication breaks down. Tips on how to manage the intercultural elements of the student-supervisory relationship will also be covered. |
SGS and Student Wellness Services | Register |
|
Wed September 11th 5pm - 7pm |
International Graduate Student Orientation Participants will have the opportunity to explore issues that typically arise for graduate students and to become familiar with how resources and support services contribute to student success. The session begins with refreshments and the opportunity to socialize with staff and other students. The session will be facilitated by QUIC, with the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS), and the SGPS Peer Advisors |
QUIC, SGS, SGPS | Register here |
|
Date: Monday September 16th Time: 9am - 12noon |
International students: Know your Services: Finance and work An information session about finances at Queens and working at Queens and in Kingston. Such as limits of your visa and taxes, opportunities to work in Kingston for you and your spouse, accessing funding for conferences/general bursaries, and more |
Host: SGPS | Non required |
|
Date: Wednesday September 18th Time: 5pm - 7pm |
Indigenous Graduate Student BBQ Meet the staff and other students at Four Directions while enjoying a nice BBQ |
4DISC | None required |
|
Date: Thursday September 19th Time: 9am - 12noon |
International Students: Know your Services: Looking after yourself and your loved ones An information session only about looking after yourself and your loved ones. Such as support for mature women, accessing health care, taking care of your mental health, accessing child care services, safe spaces on campus and more |
Host: SGPS | None required |
|
Date: TBA Time: TBA . |
Supporting Aboriginal graduate enhancement (SAGE) Queen’s SAGE is an interdisciplinary and cross-institutional peer-mentoring program designed to support indigenous graduate students with the successful transition into and completion of their graduate programs. Come along and find out more about how SAGE can help you. |
4DISC | None required |
|
Throughout the first 2 weeks of September |
Social gatherings This is your chance to meet current graduate students across disciplines. Go to the SGPS website for details on what's on and which ones to register for |
SGPS | Via SGPS website |
|
September
|
Program Specific Orientations Contact your program graduate assistant to find out about specific orientation events for your program |
Graduate program | contact your program |
|
Date: Wednesday October 9th Time: 9am - 12noon |
International Students: Know your Services: Thriving as a Student An information session only how to thrive as a student. Such as improving your academic writing, the supervisor relationship, software and technology, library services, managing your time and more |
Host: SGPS | None required |
Winter Term 2020
| Date | Event/Venue | Host(s) | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
|
January 2020 |
Mini Orientation Orientation for grad students starting in January |
SGS | by invitation |
|
|
Program Specific Orientations Contact your program graduate assistant to find out about specific orientation events for your program |
Graduate program | contact your program |
|
May 2020 |
Mini Orientation Orientation for grad students starting in May |
SGS | by invitation |
|
|
Program Specific Orientations Contact your program graduate assistant to find out about specific orientation events for your program |
Graduate program | contact your program |
Did You Know..?
Balancing your academic, professional, and personal needs is an important part of graduate school. The “Did You Know..?” series introduces you to important resources and departments on campus that are available to help support you during your time at Queen’s, whether you’re looking for research and writing support, assistance with job searches, or information on library services.
- Accessibility Unit
- Athletics & Recreation
- Ban Righ Centre
- Career Services
- Centre for Teaching and Learning
- Division of Student Affairs
- Equity Office
- Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre
- Human Rights Office
- Office of Faith & Spiritual Life
- Queen's University International Centre
- Queen's University Library
- Registrar's Office
- Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Services
- Society of Graduate & Professional Students (SGPS)
How to...
Transitioning to a new school or program has its challenges! The “How to…” series is here to make things a little easier by providing you with information for everything from how to set up your internet connection and NetID, to understanding acronyms at Queen’s, to ensuring your family’s needs are met.