2023: Welcome Week 2023

Jun 15, 2023

Welcome Week is an annual experience for St. Thomas University’s incoming class, designed to help new students gain familiarity with campus and have a positive transition to student life. This first week is comprised of many fun events organized to encourage school/house pride as well as give first-year students the opportunity to connect with peers.

Welcome Week is a dry week, which means there is an alcohol and cannabis ban that applies to all students, regardless of their age or year of study. The St. Thomas University community has a zero-tolerance hazing policy that allows students to enjoy a positive and safe environment during Welcome Week.

Come join us for a fun-filled Welcome Week—we cannot wait to welcome you to St. Thomas University!

The Welcome Centre is a booth set up in Sir James Dunn Hall between August 22nd and September 10 from 10am-6pm each day. The Welcome Centre is staffed by upper-year students who can help answer any questions you have about starting your journey at STU. This is also where you will be able to pick up your student ID card, Welcome Week kit, campus map and Welcome Week schedule.

The Wellness Zone offers peer support, resources, self-care activities, and quieter wellness events for students during Welcome Week. Located in the Student Lounge on the first floor of Sir James Dunn Hall, the Wellness Zone is open throughout Welcome Week in the evenings.

Residence Move-In Time: 10am-4pm Location: Residences (Vanier Hall, Harrington Hall, & Holy Cross House)

Description: Students meet their Residence Advisors and Residence Coordinators as they move into their new homes for the year. House shirts and Student IDs available for pick-up.

Welcome Kit Pick-Up Time: 10am-4pm Location: Welcome Centre (James Dunn Hall)

Description: First-year students can pick up a Welcome Kit containing STUSU swag and other university essentials. These are available at the Welcome Centre until the end of Welcome Week. Student ID required.

Parents & Supporters Reception Time: 2pm-4pm Location: Great Hall (George Martin Hall)

Description: Join Ryan Sullivan, Associate Vice-president of Enrolment Management, at 3pm to learn how to support your student throughout their first year at university. Parents and supporters will have a chance to mingle with members of the student service staff before and after the presentation. Refreshments provided.

Swag Sale

Time: 2:30pm-4pm

Location: Duffie Hall Lobby

Description: Parents and supporters (and students)! Grab some STU swag from our admissions and recruitment office before you leave campus!

Wing meetings

Time: 4pm-5pm

Location: Residences (Harrington Hall, Vanier Hall, Holy Cross House)

Description: Get to know other students in your residence with your Residence Advisors.

Dinner at Meal Hall

Time: 5pm-7:30pm

Location: Meal Hall (George Martin Hall)

Description: Fuel up for the evening activities with a dinner at meal hall.

Residence Programing

Time: 7:30pm-10pm Location: Residences (Harrington Hall, Vanier Hall, Holy Cross House)

Description: Students get to know their Residence Advisors as well as peers from their House community with activities run by their Residence Advisors.

Downtown Exploration

Time: 10am-2pm Location: Gather in the Lower Courtyard to walk downtown as a groupRain Location: Gather on the Main Floor (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Students will have the opportunity to explore the beautiful City of Fredericton. From checking out local shops, restaurants, art galleries, and markets to strolling along the Wolastoq (Saint John River) or Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge -- there’s lots to see and do! Welcome week Leaders will take a group downtown- leaving from campus at 10am. Welcome week leaders will also lead a group back to campus leaving from the Boyce Farmers Market at 1pm.

Lunch

Time: 1:30pm-3pm Location: Meal Hall (George Martin Hall)

Description: Join us at lunch in Meal Hall

House Huddles – Off campus students arrive on campus

Time: 3pm-4pm Location: Residence students to meet in their common rooms. Off campus students meet in the Ted Daigle Auditorium - Edmund Casey Hall.

Description: Meet with your Residence Advisors/Off Campus Representative and other incoming students for important orientation information and activities. Volunteers will be in the lower courtyard and at the Welcome Centre to guide students to their house huddles.

Welcome Address

Time: 4pm-5pm

Location: Kinsella Auditorium, Margaret Norrie McCain Hall

Description: Join some key campus supports as they welcome you to STU. Leaders will guide you from your house huddles to the Kinsella auditorium.

Dinner at Meal Hall

Time: 5pm-7:30pm

Location: Meal Hall (George Martin Hall)

Description: Join us for dinner in the George Martin meal hall. This meal is open and free to all new incoming students (including off campus, mature and transfer). Tickets will be provided ahead of time for students who do not have meal plans. Dinner will be rotating with house huddle meetings

Cheer-Off Practice

Time: 7:30pm-8pm Locations: Harrington Hall: Outdoor Basketball Court Vanier Hall: Upper Courtyard Holy Cross House: Holy Cross House Front Lawn Off-Campus: Ted Daigle Auditorium (Edmund Casey Hall)

Rain Locations:

Harrington: Kinsella AuditoriumVanier Hall: Sir James Dunn Hall Dining area

Holy Cross House: Great Hall (George Martin Hall)

Description: Residence Advisors and Off-Campus Welcome Week Leaders will prepare their house for Cheer-Off. Students will learn their House’s cheers as well as the traditional STU Cheer.

Cheer-Off

Time: 8pm-9pm Location: Lower Courtyard Rain Location: Kinsella Auditorium (Margaret Norrie McCain Hall)

Description: A Welcome Week tradition where students show pride for their residence or off-campus community in hopes of claiming the title of the most spirited group on campus. Cheer-Off will be followed by Freezies in the courtyard.

Wellness Zone Open

Time: 7:30pm-9pm Location: Student Lounge (Sir James Dunn Hall)

Description: The Wellness Zone is a space where you can catch your breath during Welcome Week or take part in quieter, wellness activities.

Lunch in meal hallTime: 11am-1pm Location: Meal Hall (George Martin Hall)

Description: Fuel up for the day with free lunch in the George martin meal hall. Open to all new incoming students (including off campus, mature and transfer). Tickets will be provided for students without a meal plan.

House Huddle- EDI

Time: 1pm-2pm

Locations: House huddle locations (Harrington, Vanier, Holy Cross, Off campus- Ted Daigle Auditorium in Edmund Casey Hall)

Description: Interactive session hosted by student leaders surrounding the topic of equity, diversity and inclusion on campus.

Fun in the Courtyards Time: 2pm-5pm Location: Lower Courtyard & Upper Courtyard Rain Location: J.B. O’Keefe Fitness centre- Court area

Description: Join us for an afternoon of fun in the courtyards!

STUSU Paint Fight

Time: 4pm-5pm

Location: Lawn next to Holy Cross house, (Rain Date: Monday September 4)

Description: Join your Student Union executives for an epically fun and colorful paint fight! White T-shirts will be provided.

Paint and pot with STU Mental Health

Time: 2pm-5pm

Location: Lower courtyard

Rain location: Sir James Dunn Hall, Lower floor Classrooms

Description: Come paint a pot and plant a succulent to decorate your space! While you’re painting you will have a chance to meet our mental health coordinator and ask her questions about resources and services available to students.

Team pictures

Time: 7:15pm-7:30pm

Location: House huddle locations

Description: Join your house for a group photo before heading to bingo together

Big Bingo Night

Time: 7:30pm-9:00pm

Location: Dining hall, George Martin Hall

Description: Classic bingo night with some extraordinary prizes. Come join us and our hilarious host for the chance to win some awesome prizes, big and small!

Wellness Zone Time: 7:30pm-9:00pm Location: Student Lounge (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Come unwind from a busy day in our wellness zone.

Papa John’s Pizza Party

Time: 12pm-1pm

Location: Lower Courtyard

Description: Join us at lunch for some free pizza, proudly presented by Papa John’s! Vegetarian option available.

House Huddle Time: 1pm-2pm Location: House Huddle locations

Description: An interactive activity hosted by student leaders surrounding the topic of safer consumption.

Theatre Games

Time: 2pm-4pm

Locations: Black Box Theatre (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Black Box Productions, St. Thomas University’s ‘Home for Theatre’ invites new students to come to the Black Box Theatre for a couple of hours of fun theatre games. This is a great way to meet other students, see a new part of the campus and learn more about what kind of theatre happens on campus. No theatre experience necessary!

Friendship Bracelet Making & Trading Time: 2pm-4pm Location: Lower Courtyard

Description: Come to the lower courtyard and make beaded friendship bracelets to trade and gift with new friends you meet throughout the week! Materials will also be found in the wellness zone throughout the rest of the week.

Get the Scoop on Enactus STU

Time: 3pm-5pm

Location: James Dunn Dining Hall

Description: Are you interested in entrepreneurial leadership for environmental sustainability? Enactus STU invites you to join for ice cream and an opportunity to learn more about the Enactus projects and ways to become involved. Contact @enactusstu on Instagram or by email at [email protected] for any questions!

Sex Trivia: Satisfy your Curiosity

Time: 7pm-9pm Location: Kinsella Auditorium (Margaret Norrie McCain Hall)

Description: This event will be an engaging way for students to learn about the fundamentals of consent, sexual health, and pleasure through an interactive trivia game. Presented by Fredericton’s Campus Sexual Assault Support Advocates and featuring local drag queen Barbra Wire as a guest host/performer. Lots of prizes to be won!

Board Games at the Wellness Zone Time: 7pm-9pm Location: Student Lounge (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Enjoy a relaxed evening of board games at the Wellness Zone.

Academic Orientation Time: 9:30am-11:30pm Location: Kinsella Auditorium (Margaret Norrie McCain Hall)

Description: Have all your questions answered regarding programs, majors, dropping and adding courses, paying fees, and other academic issues. Then, hear from professors on how to succeed at university. Please wear your green Welcome Week T-Shirt.

Lunch Time: 11:45pm-1:15pm Location: Meal Hall (George Martin Hall)

Description: Join us for a BBQ sponsored by the STU Alumni Association and Students’ Union.

Commencement Ceremony Time: 1:30pm-2:45pm Location: Kinsella Auditorium (Margaret Norrie McCain Hall)

Description: This ceremony officially welcomes you into the STU community. Each student will receive a T-pin. The “T” is the symbol all St. Thomas students identify with while they are attending STU and long after they graduate. Please wear your green Welcome Week T-Shirt.

Adult Learners & Transfer Students’ Reception Time: 3:15pm-4pm Location: Second floor of George Martin Hall

Description: Adult learners & transfer students are invited to join us for a reception and chance to connect with faculty, staff, and other peers continuing their education at STU. Refreshments provided.

Find your class Mini tours

Time: 3pm-5pm

Location: Meet in front of Duffie Hall

Description: Bring your class schedule and join campus tour ambassadors who will help you find your classes before your first day or just tag along to learn more about the STU campus. Book in a time slot here.

Mental Health Movie NightTime: 7pm-9pm Location: Ted Daigle Auditorium (Edmund Casey Hall)

Description: Enjoy a chill evening with snacks, and a movie hosted by our mental health coordinator

Wellness Zone Time: 7pm-9pm Location: James Dunn Student Lounge (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Come unwind from a busy day in our wellness zone.

Pancake Breakfast Time: 9am-11am Location: Lower Courtyard

Description: STU staff and faculty will be serving a free pancake breakfast in the lower courtyard for STU students. Breakfast is open and free for all STU students so come fuel up before your first day of classes!

Resource Fair Time: 12pm-2pm Location: Sir James Dunn Hall Dining area

Description: This is a chance to get to know all the resources on campus that will help you find success at STU.

Photo Booth + Swag Sale Time: 2pm-5pm Location: Lower Courtyard Rain Location: Donald C. Duffie Hall (DDH)

Description: Purchase some STU swag and show it off at the STU photo booth!

STU Mario Kart Tournament

Time: 7pm-9pm

Location: Black Box Theatre (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Sign up to compete in a single-elimination style Mario Kart tournament. Sign up with friends or show up solo and race your way to the top to win some huge prizes!

Breakfast Club Time: 10am-11am Location: Student Lounge (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Kick off your first week of classes on the right foot by eating breakfast! On-the-go breakfast items will be available for students such as granola bars, juice, fruit, and more.

Volunteer Fair Time: 12pm-2pm Location: Main Floor (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Learn about how you can get involved at local organizations and charities. Students can also sign up to volunteer for STUCares: Day of Action.

Painting Emotions- Canvas paintingTime: 2:30pm-3:30pmLocation: Classroom TBD

Description: Join our mental health Coordinator for a guided paint session while you learn about mental health supports on campus. All materials are provided.

Welcome Freddy Beach BBQ and City Night MarketTime: 4:30pm-7pm Location: Gather in the Lower Courtyard Rain Location: Gather on the Main Floor (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Every year, the City of Fredericton welcomes new students to the city by hosting a BBQ downtown in Barrack’s Square. Students will also have the opportunity to explore the Garrison Night Market. Buses will be transporting students to and from campus.

Campus Ministry Event Time: 8pm-9pm Location: TBD

Description: Come meet or catch up with the Campus Ministry community. Sign up for activities : forest foraging, cooking classes, cookie baking, Faith formation and others. Chill time with prayer and hot apple crisp!

Breakfast Club Time: 10am-11am Location: Student Lounge (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Kick off your first week of classes on the right foot by eating breakfast! On-the-go breakfast items will be available for students such as granola bars, juice, fruit, and more.

Clubs & Societies Fair Time: 12pm-2pm Location: Main Floor (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Students will have the opportunity to learn about all the different clubs and societies on campus and sign up for groups that interest them!

Pride Picnic

Time: 3pm- 5pm

Location: Lower Courtyard

Rain Location: TBD

Description: Join the Students Union and the Sexual and Gender Diversity Representative for a picnic celebrating our 2SLGBTQIA+ students and allies! Come get to know some local community resources, as well as your peers. Snacks and drinks donated by Pepsi will be provided.

STUSU STUdent Social

Time: 7pm-9pm

Location: Great Hall (George Martin Hall)

Description: A fun night of refreshments, music, and prizes in one of the most iconic spaces on campus: the Great Hall.

STUSU Soft SocialTime: 7pm-9pm Location: Student Lounge (James Dunn Hall)

Description: Meet and hangout with fellow students in a more low-key get together with refreshments, soft music, and prizes.

Karaoke night

Time: 7pm-9pm

Location: Student Lounge, James Dunn Hall

Description: Bring your friends and get ready to sing your favourite karaoke tunes!

STU Jazz Concert

Time: 6:30pm

Location: Lower Courtyard

Description: The St. Thomas University Jazz Ensemble (STU Jazz) is a musical group based at St. Thomas University, consisting of a diverse ensemble of members including students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members. Led by the director Don Bossé, the ensemble showcases a wide range of jazz styles and repertoire. Come enjoy STU Jazz as they kick off the year with a campus courtyard concert.

STU night at Harvest Jazz and Blues Music Festival

Time:

Campus BBQ- 4:30pm, Lower campus courtyard

Concert – 7pm, Ginger agency Barracks tent

Description: We have teamed up with Harvest Music Festival to provide our STU community with free access to the Harvest shows at the Ginger Agency Barracks venue on Thursday, September 14th. This concert is free for all STU students. In order to get into the venue, you MUST SHOW YOUR STU ID. Join us in the lower courtyard before the concert for a free BBQ and buses down to the show.