Laurier welcomes incoming students with Laurier 101 and 601

July 18, 2022

Every year, Laurier welcomes thousands of new undergraduate and graduate students through two comprehensive transition and orientation programs. Laurier 101, for incoming undergraduate students, and Laurier 601, for incoming graduate students, are designed to provide new students with the supports and services they’ll need to succeed, both inside and outside the classroom.

Laurier 101

Laurier 101 provides a wide range of flexible and accessible programs focusing on academic preparation, community building, developing knowledge of Laurier, and information for parents and supporters. Programming begins when students accept their offer of admission and extends throughout the academic year. Highlights include:

• Academic Preparation Week: Students learn about study skills, including goal setting, time management and note taking, as well as university-level writing, learning strategies for mathematics, and academic integrity, through workshops, online resources and discussions. The Academic Preparation Certificate, featuring a collection of videos, infographics, resources and senior student tips, is also offered to all incoming first-year undergraduate students.
• First-Year Peer Academic Coaches: Every incoming first-year student will be matched with a senior student coach who can act as a role model, help new students improve their study skills and connect them with the supports and resources available at Laurier.
• Opportunities for students to make friends and deepen their knowledge and connection to Laurier and its campuses through on-campus student experience tours, social events during the summer and Orientation Week.

Laurier 601

Laurier 601 is a comprehensive webpage aimed at providing incoming graduate students assistance with navigating their student journey. It introduces graduate students to the range of supports available to them and helps them learn more about Laurier’s graduate student community. Highlights include:

• Prepare for fall checklist: Students can stay on track while preparing for the start of their academic journey with this incoming graduate student checklist.
• Registering for courses: Through how-to videos, graduate students are provided step-by-step instructions on how to register for their courses.
• Get ready for grad school summer webinar series on Zoom: Incoming graduate students are invited to participate in online workshops throughout August. These webinars will provide students with the opportunity to ask any questions they might have regarding scholarships, finances, managing time or strategies for learning at the graduate level. Sessions will be recorded and available online for students who cannot attend.

Academic supports

Beyond Laurier 101 and 601, incoming and returning students have access to a wide range of academic supports throughout the year.

Appointments, workshops, in-course support and programs are available through the Study Skills team, which helps undergraduate students take better notes, practice effective review strategies and improve their reading and note-taking strategies; Writing Services, which helps undergraduate and graduate students hone their writing skills; and Mathematics and Statistics Learning Support, for undergraduate students needing support in courses with a quantitative component.

Academic advising is available to help undergraduate students navigate their program and make decisions during their academic journey. Graduate program coordinators and supervisors are available to support graduate students during their academic journey.

Graduate students can also access writing supports and training through ASPIRE, a professional skills and development training program that helps graduate students and postdoctoral fellows craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to their professional journey and entry to the workplace. The program helps participants identify, develop and translate knowledge and skills into job competencies for a range of work and career options, including higher education, the private sector, non-profit organizations and government.

ASPIRE workshops, one-on-one consultations, seminars and lectures fall under one or more of five pillars – career, professional, research, teaching and wellness – and are facilitated by various teams at Laurier, including the Career Centre, the Laurier Library, Educational Development, Writing Services, the Student Wellness Centre and the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Orientation Week

Orientation Week activities are planned for undergraduate and graduate students in early September, with a mix of social and academic events on the Waterloo and Brantford campuses. More information will be shared in August.