SFU’s Virtual Welcome Day helps students connect to community throughout September

By Erin Brown-John

Simon Fraser University is getting ready to welcome new students to the SFU community at Fall Welcome Day on Sept. 8. For the first time, the event will be held online, due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The unusual situation has provided a rich environment for collaboration between Student Services, faculties, internal partners and the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS).

“Starting university is really difficult either way, so I really feel for the students who are starting virtually,” says SFSS president, Osob Mohamed, who will be appearing at Welcome Day. For her, Welcome Day is a chance to meet the new students that she will see in the halls or at events later on. “We want to make sure that students who need support are able to get it and if there’s anything we can do to facilitate relationship building between students and their peers we’re happy to do that.”

COVID-19 has also created opportunities to rethink Welcome Day. SFU’s recent Student Experience Initiative study revealed that students are looking for more opportunities to feel connected to a community. This is especially important in an online environment, where students have different opportunities for casual social interactions they would normally have on campus.

More than 400 students, staff and faculty have volunteered this year to help at Welcome Day, and this year their role has expanded to provide continued support throughout students’ first semester. For many, being involved is a way to share their experience and relive the excitement of starting school. “That first day you get to school and you see all these people in their different groups—that’s when you realize how big university actually is,” says Rachel Dee, a transition events assistant.

Senior welcome leader Jennifer Chou still keeps in touch with some of the people she met at her own Welcome Day. She’s found that online events can be more accessible, but are sometimes harder for students to engage with. But once a group knows each other, that barrier starts to fall away.

Though it’s going to be different this year, she’s looking forward to Welcome Day and attending events with her welcome group throughout Month of Welcome. “You see all these new students and they’re so excited,” she says. “It makes me feel useful when I have tips and experience I can share.”

Welcome Day takes place Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, and is open to all SFU students. Registration details have been sent via email.

Month of Welcome celebrates the start of the semester with social activities, resources and workshops open to all students throughout September.