Fall has always been my favorite season. From the changing leaves to the holidays that lie ahead in the coming months, it’s a time of year that has always held significance. As a student, I was always excited for a new academic year, new courses and new adventures. Now, going into my 18th year working in higher education, I still feel this way. I love feeling the energy of campus as it comes back to life in September, and especially this year.

In the 13 years I’ve worked at the University of Calgary, Fall Orientation and our Induction Ceremony, pre-Covid have become synonymous with this excitement. Created in the summer of 2008 as a new event in Fall Orientation by Jennifer Quin, our Senior Director of Student Services, the Induction Ceremony acts as the reverse bookend to convocation. The ceremony welcomes first year students to the University of Calgary community, to our traditions and what it means to be a Dino. Students also receive an Orientation t-shirt whose color often matches to the color of their hood at graduation. I asked Jen what inspired her to start the Induction Ceremony, and what she loves most about it.

As Jen writes: “I wanted the first event students’ experienced on-campus to have the same type of significance as other ceremonies that mark major life occasions, to be a celebration and the start of their feeling at home on-campus. While an Induction is a staple at many American universities, there was nothing like it in Canada at the time. What I love most about it every year is seeing how excited students are that first day, and how Induction brings the entire campus community together.”

While Covid has made the Induction Ceremony impossible over the last two years, we’ve been able to capture some key parts of its spirit through a welcome video. Earlier this month, this year’s video featured keynote speaker and RBC Olympian Sam Effah. In Sam’s talk he shared his own journey and the story of his determination, adaptability and growth mindset, all of which were really powerful messages for our students. Sam also spoke to the importance of students focusing on their strengths, and the art of reframing challenging situations.

Making Friends Through Conversations
With this in mind, one of the challenges our students have experienced in the online world of the last two years is making friends through a computer screen. This is where our virtual speed friend-making program comes in. Created by Heather Lee, our Student Life Coordinator, this popular online community builder has helped students create meaningful connections with their peers. I asked Heather what inspired her to create this program and how she’s seen it make a difference in the lives of our students.

As Heather writes: “The need for connection during a global pandemic is what inspired me to create speed friend-making. It can be hard to make friends in university so I can’t imagine how much harder it is to make friends from behind your computer screen. I got the idea for speed friend-making from traditional speed-dating events and while speed dating is not new, it is usually segregated by gender or sexuality, so I wanted to make it neutral and inclusive. Speed friend-making welcomes people from all cultures, locations, ethnicities, and orientations to come together, in a relaxed environment where the most important thing to do is to chat and have fun. 

What I love most about speed friend-making is when students are abuzz with excitement after having 15 minutes of dynamic conversation with strangers they have never met before. I never get tired of seeing the connections that are being built and the topics that come up in conversation, it is a cool thing to see. What warms my heart even more is seeing those connections going beyond the screen and extending into their day-to-day life.”

This Week’s Takeaway and Questions to Consider
In thinking about both programs, a takeaway this week is that whether in-person, online or a combination of both, we have the power in our work to create high impact, meaningful and creative programs. When you think of the programs that match these goals on your campus, what comes to mind? What programs and accomplishments have you and your teams been most proud of during Covid times, and how have you/can you share these stories?