Orientation & Retreat

Orientation

The Graduate Affairs Committee, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Teaching Support Center, and the Geograd Society organize welcome and orientation activities for the incoming student cohort the week of Labour Day. Some of this is specific to Teaching Assistants while the rest applies to all new graduate students. The latter will include information on such things as: departmental offices, departmental resources, and health and safety. Some of this is self-directed (e.g., contact the Graduate Administrator to obtain office space and keys, activate computer and print accounts, get details about how to obtain ID card) while the rest involves both a meeting with your entire cohort and a full department casual "meet and greet". On the third Friday of term the cohort of incoming students goes on a Graduate Retreat (see below).

Geography's Orientation Day activities, Retreat, and Health and Safety session are mandatory for all new GeoGrad students. The Teaching Support Center's TA day is highly recommended for those of you who will be teaching assistants.

Orientation Itinerary 2025 - in progress

Day and Time Location Item Who
Aug 25-Sept 2

 IGAB - Atrium International Student Orientation
International Student Services		 International & Exchange students

School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies - check here for upcoming events

 new & continuing grads
Day 1
Sept 5 (Fri)
12:00-12:15pm

SSC 1004

Welcome Message Grad Chair
(Godwin Arku)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Drs. James Voogt and Cortney Golkar-Dakin - GEOG 9998 - Debates in Geographic Thought

 new grads
12:15-12:30 SSC 1004 Health and Safety
(Erika Hill)		 new grads
12:30-12:45 SSC 1004 Cartography
(Karen Van Kerkoerle)		 new grads
12:45-1:15 SSC 1004 Society of Graduate Students (SOGS)
Presentation		 new grads
1:15-1:45 SSC 1004 Graduate Teaching Assistants' Union -PSAC 610 new grads
1:45-2:00 SSC 1004 Centre for Teaching & Learning
Presentation		 new grads
2:00-2:15 SSC 1004 Let's Talk Science new grads
Day 2
Sept 12 (Fri)
12:30-12:45pm

SSC 1004

Dr. Katrina Moser, Department Chair

 new grads
12:45-1:00 SSC 1004 Mitacs new grads
1:00-1:15 SSC 1004

Collaborative Program Specialization Information

Migration & Ethnic Relations
(Teresa Abada)

 new grads
1:15-1:30 SSC 1004 Environment and Sustainability
(Paul Mensink)		 new grads
1:30-1:45 SSC 1004 Institute for Earth & Space Exploration new grads
1:45-2:00 SSC 1004 Own Your Future new grads
2:00-2:15 SSC 1004 GeoGrad Society Co-Presidents new grads
2:30-3:30 SSC 1004 Meet and Greet all
Sept 4 (Thurs) - udgrd
Sept 8 (Mon) - grad		 grad classes and undergrad classes start - make contact with instructor for whom you are the TA.
Check your course outline for start dates.		 all
Sept 3 (Wed)
9:00-12:00noon		 online TA Day - Centre for Teaching and Learning - graduate student teaching assistant workshop all TA's

Retreat Itinerary 2025

 Details forthcoming