The University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus is located in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Create: New Student Orientation is the campus' welcome to new students.
Create is part of UBC's new student orientation program. The day-long series of events for new students, help them transition to becoming a student.
During Create, students learn about the people, places, activities, and resources available on campus. Students meet other students as they explore the campus. They are introduced to UBC's VIPs and given the program-specific information they need to get started on the right academic path. There is free entertainment, food, prizes, and UBC swag.
Create is very similar to other Orientation Weeks, except it is concentrates most of its activities into one day, with social events taking place the rest of the week. UBC is the only university in Canada to cancel the first day of class for a new student orientation program.
Activities on the day include:
Icebreakers - when students arrive on campus they are broken up into groups based on their intended faculty/degree of study. An Icebreaker (facilitation) provides the opportunity for students to get to know one another.
Create Kickoff Event - formerly the Invocation Ceremony, is an assembly-like gathering of all new students and UBC's VIPs. The Chancellor, President and Vice-Chancellor Stephen Toope, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal Doug Owram are in attendance and give speeches of welcome.
Meet-the-Dean enables faculties to introduce their incoming class of students. Deans normally give a brief introduction of the history and future of the faculty, as well as introduction to key faculty personnel (e.g., program directors, unit heads, researchers).
The Student Experience Panel is the opportunity for new students to ask senior students and academic staff questions pertaining to student success and achievement. The senior students on the panel are asked to speak from experiences and how they adjusted to UBC.
Campus Tours allow students to get to know the campus. Orientation Leaders (student volunteer leaders) show students the buildings and services that apply to a student, in each faculty.
Showcase allows both on-campus and community partners of UBC to interact with new students. This provides new students the opportunity to get to know what is available both on campus, and in the local Kelowna community.
The Concert - In previous years, students left Create once Showcase was over. However, to keep students engaged in safe activities and to keep them on campus, UBC's Okanagan campus' Associate Vice-President (Students), Ian Cull, financed a free (for students and UBC employees) concert.
Faculties and schools involved with Create
The Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences
Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies
Faculty of Applied Science (School of Engineering)
Faculty of Health and Social Development
The Faculty of Management (affiliated with the Sauder School of Business)
The Faculty of Education and the College of Graduate Studies do not formally take part in the day as they have their own orientation for their students.
