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O Week helps students make the transition to uni

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Words
Sharlene King
Published
10 February 2014

Orientation Week kicks off at Southern Cross University this week, February 12 to 14, with a range of activities designed to familiarise new students with the University’s courses, lecturers, services and facilities, while providing opportunities for them to socialise and meet new friends.

The University will welcome thousands of new and returning students to each of its campuses at Coffs Harbour, Lismore and the Gold Coast ahead of the start of classes (session 1 begins February 17).

A warm welcome is also extended to students studying via distance education, with new Orientation information and activities specially designed for their needs.

Course information sessions offered during Orientation are essential for new students, who are encouraged to attend face-to-face or online academic workshops to find out what will be expected of them in the coming years. There are also specialised workshops on information technology and referencing.

The successful School Host Program, introduced in 2013 across all campuses, has expanded to include engineering and SCU College. The School Host Program sees students from the University’s academic schools and colleges meet and greet first year students from the same course.

A live video stream of the Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Lee’s welcome address to students will be broadcast into venues at each of the campuses from 12pm (11am Qld) on Wednesday 12 February. For distance education students and others unable to attend, the VC’s welcome address will be available online.

Other O Week highlights include:

COFFS HARBOUR
• Stall holders, entertainment and free lunch, Wednesday 12 February
• An admittance ceremony from staff and PhD candidates, Wednesday 12 February
• Beach party with live DJs, Saturday 15 February

LISMORE
• Stall holders, entertainment and free lunch, Wednesday 12 February
• ‘Date with Success’, a formal dinner for commencing students with the Chancellor The Hon John Dowd AO QC. Tuesday 4 March. Bookings essential via robert.lingard@scu.edu.au
• Tours of the new engineering facility

GOLD COAST
• Gold Coast Sun AFL players on campus (Thursday 13 February and Friday 14 February)
• Activities on the green, including volleyball and bocche
• Free lunch, market stalls and live entertainment, each day from February 12 to 14

DISTANCE EDUCATION
• ‘Chat with UniMentors’, an informal Collaborate session giving new distance education (DE) students the opportunity to chat with current DE students to find out what it’s like studying online, Thursday 13 February, 7.30pm to 8.30pm (6.30pm to 7.30pm Qld)
• A range of course information sessions, academic workshops and self-guided tours will be available online in video, text and Powerpoint format

Southern Cross University orientation co-ordinator Ann-Maree Wilkinson said Orientation Week was an important activity on the SCU calendar.

"It's not only a great opportunity for our commencing students to check out the University and its services, meet classmates and lecturers, and attend academic support sessions, they can also join in a fun, social program prior to classes starting,” Ms Wilkinson said.

Full details are at the SCU Orientation Week website, scu.edu.au/orientation

Southern Cross University is also offering new courses and majors in 2014, starting session 1:

• Bachelor of Creative Arts
• The Communications and Cultural Studies major is now available on campus at the Gold Coast to study through our Bachelor of Arts degree
Associate Degree of Science at SCU College

Photo: SCU School Hosts ready to help new students during O Week.