{"id":60051,"date":"2019-09-03T16:12:37","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T20:12:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=60051"},"modified":"2019-09-03T16:40:59","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T20:40:59","slug":"record-number-of-first-year-badgers-take-in-new-student-welcome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2019\/09\/record-number-of-first-year-badgers-take-in-new-student-welcome\/","title":{"rendered":"Record number of first-year Badgers take in New Student Welcome"},"content":{"rendered":"

Words of wisdom, helpful tips and insight into valuable campus resources were all offered up during Brock\u2019s record-setting New Student Welcome and Academic Orientation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Key pointers to university life were delivered to more than 2,000 first-year students who packed into Ian Beddis Gymnasium Tuesday, Sept. 3 to learn more about the Brock experience on the horizon.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Brock University President Gervan Fearon addresses the crowd at the New Student Welcome and Academic Orientation event Tuesday, Sept. 3.<\/p><\/div>\n

Brock President Gervan Fearon delivered a warm welcome to the crowd and thanked the new batch of Badgers for choosing to make the University part of their educational and career journey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fearon emphasized that Brock is a student-centred environment filled with faculty and staff looking to help each and every member of the University community succeed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got an outstanding team of individuals here at the University,\u201d he said. \u201cWhatever your needs might be, know we\u2019re here for you. At any time, reach out for assistance in whatever sphere or context is helpful for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur focus is your success. We\u2019re here to support you and ensure you have an outstanding experience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Details on student services and other campus resources were touched on by a wealth of speakers, including Amos Key, Jr., Vice-Provost, Indigenous Engagement; Leela MadhavaRau, Director of Human Rights and Equity; Ombudsperson Tricia Gazarek; Bilal Khan, President of the Brock University Students\u2019 Union; and a three-student panel whose members shared their own experiences navigating university life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shauna Pomerantz, Associate Professor of Child and Youth Studies, delivered the day\u2019s keynote address, providing five tips from her research outlining what university students wish they had known earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n

They included: Showing up for class, doing the required work and readings, asking for help when needed, finding a balance between post-secondary’s social and academic sides, and embracing the transition to university life.<\/span><\/p>\n

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First-year students Breanna Kelland, left, Adeline Brotohusodo, centre, and Madison Melo at the New Student Welcome and Academic Orientation on Tuesday, Sept. 3.<\/p><\/div>\n

Although they may seem like simple tips, Pomerantz encouraged the crowd to take them to heart as they can make all the difference in the coming years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Madison Melo found Pomerantz\u2019s tips particularly useful.<\/span><\/p>\n

Admittedly full of excitement and nervousness, the first-year Concurrent Education student found comfort in the assurance her professors will be there to help should she need guidance along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great to know that if there\u2019s anything you don\u2019t understand, they\u2019re there to help,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m sure I\u2019ll be asking a lot of questions, but it sounds like it\u2019s better to ask than not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The New Student Welcome and Academic Orientation event kick-started a day filled with activities hosted by Brock\u2019s various Faculties as part of Welcome Week.<\/span><\/p>\n

For a full schedule of Brock\u2019s Welcome Week activities, <\/span>visit the ExperienceBU website<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t