For thousands of students arriving at the University of Victoria (UVic) this fall, the first few days on campus can be a lot to take in. There are new buildings to find, unfamiliar terminology to learn, schedules to figure out and, for many, an entirely new social environment to navigate. This year, UVic is trying a different approach to help make that adjustment a little easier. The university is expanding the ways new students can connect with the campus community, including a peer mentorship program and, for the first time, low sensory campus tours. More than 5,000 new students are expected to start at UVic this fall. Classes begin Sept. 9, with orientation activities getting underway ahead of the first day. One of the programs helping students find their footing is the First Year Interconnect, or FYI, mentorship program. Now in its second year, FYI connects new undergraduate and transfer students with upper year students who have already made their way through the university experience. Emily Huynh, associate director of student experience with UVic’s Office of Student Life, says the program is designed to give new students an early connection with someone who understands what they are going through. “It’s just that sort of first connection to feel supported,” Huynh said. “We need to support students with opportunities to learn more about resources available on campus, learn about opportunities to get involved.” Mentors can also offer practical advice and academic tips as students adjust to university life. Students can decide how they want to stay connected, whether that means meeting on campus, talking by phone or communicating through messages. Huynh says that flexibility is important because students are looking for more than academic support when they arrive at university. “We know that students are seeking that sense of community, using a little extra help with making friends or feeling a little bit more integrated into the campus community here,” she said. More than 600 students have already signed up to receive a mentor, and registration remains open. The university is also changing the way some students are introduced to the physical campus. Traditional orientation tours can involve large groups moving quickly from one location to another while taking in a significant amount of information. This year, UVic is offering low sensory tours for the first time. The smaller group tours move at a slower pace and include opportunities for breaks. Students will also be able to access information in different formats, rather than relying entirely on a tour guide speaking throughout the experience. “We know that coming to campus and starting your studies can be such an information overload,” Huynh said. “Trying to think about ways that we can pace that, that you can sort of break that up into more digestible chunks is something that we hope will give students the best opportunity to succeed.” The approach is also intended to recognize that students arrive on campus with a wide range of experiences and needs. While the tours can be particularly helpful for students who benefit from accessibility accommodations, Huynh says the broader lesson is that different students absorb information in different ways. She points to the university’s Centre for Accessible Learning and says that while some students may require specific accommodations, “we all can benefit from these kinds of varied ways of supporting students and providing that introductory information.” The changes are part of a larger effort by UVic to rethink some of its longstanding approaches to welcoming new students. Huynh says universities have traditionally done many things in the same way for years. “But that doesn’t mean that we can’t continue to evolve and change,” she said. For students beginning their university journey this week, that could mean having a mentor to turn to, a quieter way to learn the campus or simply a little more room to find their footing.
