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Contact:
Tim Rahilly, director, student development and programming, 604.268.6754

More than 2,000 new students at SFU's Burnaby and Surrey campuses, along with several hundred parents, will learn about university life and expectations during two days of orientation activities August 31 and September 1 in Surrey and September 1 and 2 in Burnaby.

New students will be paired with senior student 'buddies' as they participate in campus tours, ice breaking activities, a barbecue, and meetings with faculty. A special drum café will see students gather in an African drumming circle for a community-building session. “We all beat to our own drum but together we make music," explains Surrey student life coordinator Liesl Jurock.

Parents may attend a two-hour program August 31 at the Burnaby campus and October 6 at SFU Surrey, where they'll hear from campus security, other parents and returning students who will share their university experiences.

SFU International hosts a special day-long session for new international and exchange students September 3 to explain the university's system and services as well as immigration and employment regulations. A barbecue and afternoon karaoke session fosters new friendships.

A two-day program September 2 and 3 for 30 new First Nations students includes a welcoming ceremony, a campus walkabout as well as a skills workshop and a cultural resiliency workshop.

A week of welcome September 7-10 greets all students with a pancake breakfast, a corn roast , campus tours, a barbecue, and a services fair.

For the approximately 450 new students who will be living in residence, there is an entire week of special events August 31 to September 5 to help them feel at home on campus, including morning fitness classes, a casino night, a movie night, a Theatre Sports performance and even shopping trips downtown and to local shops. It all culminates in a street party September 9 to celebrate the university's two new residential towers and dining hall.

New student orientation and week of welcome are organized by the student development and programming office in conjunction with residence and housing and with assistance from more than 200 volunteer student leaders.

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