Orientation Week is in full swing with an abundance of activities bringing a hive of activity to campus – welcoming new students to the Flinders community and culminating in O’Fiesta on Friday 1 March.
The Hub and Plaza are particularly vibrant with live music, booths, ‘come and try’ activities, games and information on a huge array of clubs and causes.
A new initiative launched at O’Week is ‘mug at the hub’, inviting students to borrow a mug from a dedicated shelf for their coffee fix, then wash and return for the next sustainably-minded student. Mugs can be an additional weight in the backpack or easily forgotten, so this fantastic initiative – using unwanted mugs sourced from all over campus – entitles students to the cheaper BYO-mug price from coffee outlets while reducing disposable waste.
On Thursday, Yunggorendi will host a welcome for new and current Australian Indigenous students in the newly refurbished Tjilbruke Student Lounge.
Friday is likely to see around 3000 students at O’Fiesta – so staff can expect a lot of bustle around the Plaza in the afternoon. Headline acts this year are The Jungle Giants and Vera Blue, with the concert starting at 6:30pm, but sound checks occur earlier in the day.
On Sunday, new domestic students and their families from regional, remote and interstate locations will be welcomed at an event to help the students become acquainted with Bedford Park or other Adelaide-based campuses.
Flinders International is convening several orientation events for new international students that are compulsory under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act, together with city and beach tours. Thursday will see Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling host a welcome for all new international students to the University.
Each of the University’s Colleges has specific events planned throughout the orientation period together with engagement activities in the critical early weeks of semester, to ensure Flinders’ newest members feel welcome, supported and engaged at this pivotal time in their tertiary journeys.
A welcome video to students featuring Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling was produced as part of orientation activities, providing an overview and information to help them settle in to life on campus.