Almost 500 new on-campus students are expected to attend various orientation activities as O-Week kicks off on Monday, 22 February with an official welcome and smoking ceremony and an academic procession on the lawns of Booloominbah. A further 600 continuing college students will be returning on the 25th of February.
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming our new students to our beautiful campus,” Vice-Chancellor and CEO, Professor Brigid Heywood said. “It’s been very quiet since the majority of our students had to return home in March 2020, with none of the vitality and energy you usually experience on a campus with students out and about.”
“Facilities such as the colleges, the Library and SportUNE are all accessible and we have a raft of fun but informative activities planned for our students.”
New residential students, also known as Freshers, will arrive on Sunday to settle into their new accommodation, followed by the return of continuing students later in the week. Under our phased return to campus plan, key residential leaders are already settled in the colleges having participated in a week of leadership activities.
“To comply with COVID safety measures, we have had to reduce the number we can accommodate in our colleges. At this stage we are still processing applications for students seeking a UNE residential experience.” Professor Heywood said. “We’ll continue to monitor intake of college students to ensure the safety of staff and students.”
The second half of the week will be dedicated to information on academic matters, providing opportunity for students to meet with lecturers and other teaching staff and to familiarise themselves with their school, the teaching and support staff, and fellow students.
“I’m very happy to announce that UNE will introduce a greater on campus teaching presence in Trimester 1 with over 80 units approved for face-to-face teaching including using labs, practicals and some tutorials following necessary risk assessments to comply with our COVID Safe Plan,” Professor Heywood said.
Other orientation week activities include a scavenger hunt, The Goosechase, hosted by UNE’s long-running student radio, Tune!FM. Up for grabs are $100 Coles gift vouchers and the main prize of a Remarkable 2 package valued at over $1,800.
Over the course of the week students will get to know various campus facilities, learn about handy apps to download such as UNE Safe, meet with residential leaders and mentors, as well as be introduced to support services such as UNE Counselling and Advocacy. UNE’s numerous clubs and societies will be actively recruiting new members.
“Getting involved in club life is the best thing students can do to make sure their time at UNE is socially enriched and enjoyable. In addition to our college clubs, which is run through each college’s Junior Common Room, we have 35 hobby, academic, or sports clubs for students to choose from,” Professor Heywood said.
“We’re also introducing a brand new ‘Friday Nights under the Lights’ intercollege sporting competition which has a healthy social component to it.”
Restrictions around COVID-19 remain in place COVID marshals will help ensure activities and social distancing are safely managed in line with NSW government health guidelines.
