Academic Orientation Day – Resources

Carleton University’s Academic Orientation Day (AOD) is an introductory learning experience for all new undergraduate students. AOD takes place on the Tuesday following Labour Day every year in September. The event creates an opportunity for students to meet faculty, staff, and peers from their respective departments. Faculties share valuable insights, strategies for success, and key resources across campus as they being their academic journey. Staff provides administrative information to ensure that students have access to all of the tools that are at their disposal. Students are able to create valuable connections that are a central component for a successful transition to university.

Important Dates

• Monday, August 18th – Departmental emails are sent out to students about AOD (CSAS to provide general template for departments to customize)
• Tuesday, August 26th  – Resource Brightspace course is available to some students (1 course per faculty)
• Wednesday, August 27th – Reminder emails go out to students about AOD (CSAS to provide general template for departments to customize)
• Tuesday, September 2nd – Academic Orientation Day Session

Programming

AOD has three main programming components:

• Student welcome: takes place when students arrive at the location for their AOD experience. Students receive Carleton University t-shirts from volunteers and are welcomed by faculty and staff from their respective departments.
• Departmental sessions: room assignments are based on the size of the incoming cohort in each department.
• Expo: Expo Carleton will run in the Field House from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. The Expo is tailored to first-year students to showcase the diverse clubs, societies, and services that are offered by the university community.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes are statements that describe the knowledge or skills students should acquire by the end of a particular activity with educational implications. Good learning outcomes emphasize the application and integration of knowledge, instead of the material covered. In designing learning outcomes for Academic Orientation Day, we have considered the objectives of the Centre for Student Academic Support and the Student Experience Office in relation to those of faculties and department stakeholders across campus.

The learning outcomes document identifies three key themes that are essential for student transition to university, which are: knowledge, connecting and becoming

1. Knowledge: It is the process of identifying what students know before they attend university, and providing the necessary information that can assist in the successful transition to Carleton University.
2. Connecting: Is creating opportunities for students to expand support networks as they transition into university. During AOD, connections are formed between student peers, from student to faculty, and from student to staff. In creating these relationships, we are inviting students to join the Carleton University community.
3. Becoming: Becoming intersects with knowledge and connecting and is the understanding that from the moment students step onto campus they are reflecting on how they will shape their university experience. The process of becoming is challenging for some students as they are transitioning to university, and AOD will deploy information and strategies that students can engage with and revisit.

Customized Slide Deck

The customizable slide-deck includes information that has been identified as most important to the introduction of students to Carleton University. This information is also available in the Resource Brightspace course that each faculty is provided. The slide-deck and Brightspace course are organized by four themes: CU Know – Academic Preparation, Academic Support, Student Support, and Student Experience.

• CU Know – Academic Preparation provides students with core information regarding how a university works, faculty expectations, and how to access CU technologies.
• Academic Support highlights key programs and departments that are available for students so that they can achieve their academic goals.
• Student Support delivers information on the various resources that can be accessed by Carleton University students who may need additional assistance.
• Student Experience presents information on co-curricular opportunities and student involvement opportunities that will provide a well-rounded university experience.

It is important that this slide-deck is customized to your department. When reviewing the slide-deck you will notice that information on certain slides needs to be edited to represent your department accurately. The slide-deck includes a script as well, but it is strongly suggested that you edit the script to reflect your presentation style.

It is not mandatory for departments to use this slide deck; we have provided this information for ease of planning. Please discuss internally what information is most relevant and important to impart to students within your departmental orientation session.

AOD Customized Slide Deck (download to PowerPoint through files tab)

Email Templates

Below you will find customizable email templates. These templates are intended for departments to send their students information on their respective AOD schedule.  Departments are expected to send these email templates to update incoming students of their AOD schedule. Please note, these emails to students are to be sent out on the weeks of Aug. 18^th and again on Aug. 27^th.  Please do not send these schedules to students in advance of these dates. It is the responsibility of faculties or departments to send out these emails to their respective students 

Template Email – August 18

Template Email – August 27

AOD Evaluation Form

CSAS has created a quick evaluation form for students to complete at the end of their AOD session to evaluate the learning outcomes above. A QR code can be found linked below for departments to include in their overall slide deck for students to complete. We kindly ask that you show this QR code following your session for students to complete. Students who complete the form will have the chance to win prizes awarded by the SEO.

AOD Student Feedback Form QR Code

Sprott AOD Student Feedback Form QR Code

Transfer Student Feedback Form QR Code

If you encounter any issues as you are preparing for Academic Orientation Day, please contact Laura Kilpatrick, Events Coordinator at Laura.Kilpatrick@carleton.ca.