The University of Lethbridge welcomes all students to campus as it gears up for the start of the fall semester as classes resume on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
“We look forward to welcoming students to the University, whether they are new or returning students,” says Kathleen Massey, vice-president (students). “The start of the academic year heralds a fresh beginning with plenty of opportunities to learn, become involved in campus life and benefit from our many support services. We hope students will make the most of their experience at the U of L and we wish them great success this academic year.”
Massey says a slight increase in enrolment is expected this year, with 50 to 100 more students on the U of L’s Lethbridge and Calgary campuses.
New Student Orientation, held Monday and Tuesday, serves as the kickoff to the academic year. The two days are packed with informative sessions and activities to orient new students and their families to campus life.
Dr. Mike Mahon, U of L president and vice-chancellor, along with Hailey Babb, Students’ Union president, Brendan Cummins, Graduate Students’ Association president, Michael Gabriel, U of L Alumni Association president, and Asheley Cowie, orientation and transition co-ordinator, welcome students at 9 a.m. in the main gym.
Following the official greetings, students can take part in Commencement, a ceremony to mark the beginning of their U of L experience and hear Janelle Pritchard (BN '12), the Young Alumna of the Year recipient, talk about the importance of following one’s passions, asking the big questions and understanding the impact one individual can make.
New students and their families are then free to explore campus, take in a guided campus tour, check out student services in the family lounge, learn about ways to get involved in campus life, and listen to a keynote talk by Dr. Shelly Wismath about the Liberal Education foundation of studies at the U of L.
Tuesday’s NSO session will present the ‘First Lecture’ by Dr. Andy Hakin, vice-president (academic) and provost. He’ll talk about the history and traditions associated with the U of L. Other sessions will give students the chance to find out about library services, recreation programs, learning outside the classroom and take part in a faculty meet and greet.