{"id":68754,"date":"2020-09-03T11:24:29","date_gmt":"2020-09-03T15:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&p=68754"},"modified":"2025-10-17T11:17:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T15:17:49","slug":"carleton-welcomes-new-ravens-virtually","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/carleton-welcomes-new-ravens-virtually\/","title":{"rendered":"Carleton Welcomes New Ravens Virtually"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Carleton Welcomes New Ravens Virtually\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/path>\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

A typical September at Carleton sees campus buzzing with energy as thousands of new students are welcomed with a week full of concerts, dances and cheers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, 2020 has not been a typical year. Restrictions around social gatherings means that Fall Orientation<\/a> will look and feel different but the Student Experience Office<\/a> has accepted the challenge and worked all summer to create an exciting schedule of engaging and interactive online activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew Wason<\/a>, Student Engagement and Transition Support Coordinator, says that safety is always the most important consideration. Once it became evident that COVID-19 was going to be a prolonged situation, his team had to change their plans and work together to develop Carleton\u2019s first virtual Fall Orientation.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"Carleton<\/figure>\n\n\n

A Different Look to Fall Orientation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI remember sitting down back in April and being like, \u2018okay we have some good news and some bad news,\u2019\u201d says Wason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bad news was that Fall Orientation would look very different this year, and his team would need to work extra hard to shift their programming online. The good news was that they had the opportunity to develop something completely unique and special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Matthew
Matthew Wason<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce we started looking at it that way, everyone got amped up,\u201d says Wason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The week wouldn\u2019t be possible without the creativity and collaboration between student groups, volunteers and campus stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CUSA<\/a>, RRRA<\/a> and SBSS<\/a> met weekly with the Fall Orientation co-ordinators to bring forward programming ideas and work together to bring them to fruition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Orientation Volunteer Training Committee created and executed the training plan for all volunteers, while the Orientation Advisory Board reviewed and provided feedback on the schedule of programs to ensure it is appealing and accessible to all first-year students.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cIt blows my mind how passionate our community is about Fall Orientation,\u201d says Wason.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Wason says his team wanted to ensure the programming still gives students an opportunity to get familiar with campus, student life and academics, all while meeting new people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe wanted to foster community where students are meeting one another as opposed to simply logging in and watching presentations,\u201d says Wason. Most of the activities will be held online, but the week is still action-packed. With over 40 live events, there\u2019s something for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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