We’re looking forward to welcoming you to campus this fall. The purpose of Graduate Student Orientation is to give you the critical information and skills needed for success in graduate school while providing opportunities to get to know your peers and the campus at UBC Okanagan.
This year’s in person Graduate Student Orientation will be held on August 31, 2023. Further information will be posted here throughout the summer.
Graduate Student Orientation 2023 is open to all graduate students who will be starting their programs in September 2023 and all graduate students who began their programs in January 2023 and May 2023.
If you have questions about orientation, please email gradadmin.ubco@ubc.ca.
example Schedule of Events
August 29, 2022
CAMPUS TOUR l 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Join our Graduate Community Facilitator for a tour around the UBC Okanagan campus in Kelowna. The tour will cover essential resources and services on campus from food services to the College of Graduate Studies offices and graduate student spaces on campus.
August 30, 2022
CAMPUS TOUR l 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Join our Graduate Community Facilitator for a tour around the UBC Okanagan campus in Kelowna. The tour will cover essential resources and services on campus from food services to the College of Graduate Studies offices and graduate student spaces on campus.
CAMPUS TOUR l 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join our Graduate Community Facilitator for a tour around the UBC Okanagan campus in Kelowna. The tour will cover essential resources and services on campus from food services to the College of Graduate Studies offices and graduate student spaces on campus.
August 31, 2022
GRADUATE STUDENT ORIENTATION DAY l 7:00 am – 3:30 pm
| 7:00 am – 8:00 am | FLOWING THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL – MORNING YOGA Rise & Shine is a gentle yoga flow to get the body moving and set the tone for the rest of your day. Vinyasa-based, synchronizing breath with movement, students will work through a series of poses, moving smoothly from one posture to the next. Participants can expect to develop breathing techniques and improve balance and flexibility through the various postures. |
Studio 1 – Hangar Fitness & Wellness Centre |
| 8:30 am – 9:30 am | WELCOME TO GRADUATE SCHOOL This session is hosted by the College of Graduate Studies and will include a welcome message from Dr. Peter Simpson, Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, information about awards, events and how the office can help you during your time as a graduate student. |
ASC 140 (Arts and Sciences Centre) |
| 9:40 am – 10:40 am | INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH ETHICS & WRITING THE ETHICS APPLICATION This workshop will cover the importance of research ethics review, the Tri-Council Policy Statement, the ethics review process at UBC, when REB approval is needed, tips for writing the ethics application and resources available, the behavioural application form and provide an overview of navigating in RISe. |
ASC 140 (Arts and Sciences Centre) |
| 9:40 am – 10:40 am | PLANNING FOR RESILIENCE This workshop will equip you to foster your mental health and well-being during your academic career. Caring for your mental health is the most important investment you can make for your academic success. Participate in this hour-long workshop and leave with the skills and resources you need to thrive. |
ASC 130 (Arts and Sciences Centre) |
| 10:50 am – 11:50 am | ACADEMIC AND SCHOLARLY INTEGRITY IN GRADUATE STUDIES: HOW THE CSC CAN SUPPORT YOU IN WORKING WITH INTEGRITY As a graduate student, academic honesty and scholarly integrity are an important part of joining and contributing to academic conversations in your discipline. Join the Centre for Scholarly Communication (CSC) as we discuss questions like:
Please bring your questions about academic and scholarly integrity to this interactive workshop. |
ASC 140 (Arts and Sciences Centre) |
| 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | LUNCH & RESOURCE FAIR Enjoy a complimentary lunch while mingling with graduate students and learning about campus support services. |
ASC 120 (Arts and Sciences Centre) |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | WORKING WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR A healthy relationship between yourself and your supervisor is key to your success and well-being as a graduate student. Attend this workshop to learn about practical approaches to building a productive relationship with your supervisor. Students will be given the opportunity to explore strategies for communicating with their supervisor, best practices for clarifying expectations and ways to incorporate work-life balance into both their supervisory relationship and their broader graduate school experience. |
ASC 140 (Arts and Sciences Centre) |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | COMMUNITY BUILDING THROUGH ENGAGEMENT (CBE) CBE will delve into foundational concepts of equity, diversity and inclusion. During the session, the co-facilitators will use power and privilege principles to guide conversations on systemic barriers and discrimination within academia. Participants are encouraged to self-reflect on their own identities while strategizing ways to implement equity and inclusion principles into their practices. |
ASC 130 (Arts and Sciences Centre) |
| 2:10 pm – 3:30 pm | WHAT I WISH I KNEW WHEN I STARTED GRAD SCHOOL – STUDENT PANEL Learn from those who have been there and get to know your peers. This session is a panel discussion hosted by graduate student members of the Graduate Student Advisory Committee. Each panellist will share tips and advice that have been helpful for them throughout their graduate studies. Students will then join a small group for a moderated Q&A session with a panellist. |
ASC 140 (Arts and Sciences Centre) |
| 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm | BONFIRE NIGHT – GRADUATE STUDENT SOCIAL Your Graduate Community Facilitators are hosting a bonfire event for incoming graduate students to get together and enjoy a night of games and engaging conversations. Snacks will be provided. Register and get to know your fellow graduate students! |
TBC |
September 1, 2022
INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENT ORIENTATION SESSION l 9:00 am – 11:00 am l ASC 140
You have questions — we have answers! Learn about your responsibilities as an international student and worker, the Post-Graduation Work Permit, health insurance, immigration and transitional support for international graduate students and their accompanying families (spouses, children etc). Lunch will be provided.
Orientation Registration
Registration for Graduate Student Orientation 2023 will open in July.
GRADUATE STUDENT SPACES
UBC’s Okanagan campus offers two spaces for exclusive use by graduate students. Access to both areas is granted to current graduate students who agree to abide by the terms and conditions mentioned below. Learn more about graduate student spaces.
To gain access to graduate student spaces, please submit the Graduate Student Space Access Request Form below. If you are attending Graduate Student Orientation Day, you will receive your key card to these spaces then. If you are unable to attend, you will receive an email with instructions on where to pick-up your key card.
Graduate Student Space Access Request
Graduate students submit this form to obtain access to spaces on campus including the Graduate Student Collegium (ASC 460) and Graduate Student Commons (COM 310).
UBC 501
UBC 501 is a self-guided, online orientation designed to help prepare you for your arrival at UBC Okanagan. UBC 501 is made up of five modules and can be accessed anywhere, anytime with an internet connection. Each module takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. The modules cover topics such as graduate student expectations, working with your supervisor, familiarizing yourself with Kelowna and the Okanagan, history and traditions of UBC Okanagan and important on-campus resources to help you along the way.