UCC Fáilte Fest
31.08.2011
Orientation

First Year students arrive on campus to begin their academic journey by attending the UCC Fáilte Fest - a schedule of events specifically designed to enhance their academic and personal success before they begin lectures. Starting classes, meeting new people and exploring a new geographical environment all at once, can seem intimidating for many new students; therefore, the UCC Fáilte Fest has been extended to cover academic and personal skills workshops up to December. UCC wants to ensure every student is given an opportunity to make an easy transition to university life. This is achieved in many ways, primarily by inviting students with their class to attend a tailor made programme to meet their needs. Cross-campus collaboration makes the UCC Orientation Programme a successful event - an event which creates the springboard to help students excel and succeed in their personal and academic life. Parents, family and friends of first years are also invited to campus to attend scheduled events and tours commencing from 29 August to 2 September.

What happens at Orientation?

Workshops :
The programme includes interactive workshops and information sessions. Each student visits the library and meets their subject librarian. The Computer Centre offers interactive IT workshops so that all students are familiar with the services.

Peer Support Leaders:
All students are assigned a Peer Support Leader from matching programmes. Peer Support Leaders are trained by Counselling and Development. They are enthusiastic, friendly and approachable students who involve new students in ice-breaking activities so that they get to know their class mates before lectures commence. Peer Support Leaders are critical to the success of the Orientation Programme and maintain regular contact with their group to provide vital information and assist with questions, academic concerns or personal issues at various times throughout the year.

Tours
Tours of Campus and areas off campus (where some lectures are held) are scheduled so that students become familiar with their physical environment prior to lectures commencing.

Academic session:
All students attend Academic Orientation to meet with both academic and administrative staff. During this session students get a sense of what is expected from them in terms of assignments and attendance at lectures, labs, tutorials etc.

The teaching timetable is also explained to students and they are given an opportunity to meet with students from their degree programme who have successfully completed first year. These students give new students a presentation on ‘how to survive first year’. Science students meet with academic mentors during this session.

Welcoming events, team-building adventures and festivities:
All students are welcome to attend the UCC Freshers Fest on Saturday 17 September. The Fest is designed to give students another opportunity to attend workshops and to make friends. Students are introduced to Clubs and Societies at the Fest and can avail of tours of campus, and scheduled events in the Mardyke Sports Arena.

The UCC Freshers Fest is a day of celebrating the very best of student life – from the serious business of attending essential workshops, both academic and non-academic, to the fun side of music, sport and theatre performances.

Access Programmes:
Specific orientation programmes and transition workshops are scheduled for mature students and students with a disability. There is also a one week residential orientation programme organised by UCC Plus + programme for their students.

All students, regardless of their entry route are part of the general orientation programme.

The UCC Orientation Programme values the growing collaboration between academic and administrative staff and students, and recognises that team work is essential to its success.

http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/orientation/

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