More than 1,000 students have participated in new graduate student orientation events so far – but there are still more events to come this month!
Every year, UBC’s Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS), International Student Development (ISD) and UBC’s Graduate Student Society (GSS) team up to plan a series of welcome events for incoming graduate students. These events support students in the lead-up to their arrival on campus and get them acquainted with spaces and resources once they are here.
GradStart programming kicked off in early April, offering more than 10 pre-arrival webinars for students before coming to campus.
On Thursday, August 28, more than 550 students attended the main welcome event, both in-person and via livestream. President Benoit-Antoine Bacon and Dean and Vice-Provost pro tem Shannon Hagerman welcomed students, while performances from the Coastal Wolfpack and UBC Opera were enjoyed by all. More than 100 tuned into the event from the Graduate Life Centre, where there was a quiet space, space for parents with children, and livestream viewing as the Frederic Wood Theatre was at full capacity for the event.
After the main welcome, hundreds of students stayed for the social fair and Pub Night, and the next morning’s Pancake Brunch had more than 130 attendees. On Tuesday, September 2, both the GSS and G+PS offered swag items and a presence at Imagine Day, greeting new and prospective graduate students on campus.
GradStart programming continues through September and we look forward to meeting many more students at upcoming events, such as the Bootcamp or Indigenous welcome.
If you missed any of the events, check out the recordings on the Orientation website (under Preparing for arrival, “GradStart recordings”).
