Student Life 101 - July 2009 by Kris Olafson

Student Life

101

July 2009 | Volume 23

Tips on Course Section p. 8

The WatCard Explained p. 9

Student Life 101 Get to know your UW p.4

Student Life

101

July 2009 | Volume 23

Calendar July | 3

Feature What’s is the WatCard? | 8

Archives 2006 Oct | Nov | Dec 2007 Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec 2008 Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec 2009 Jan | FEB | MArCH | April | May | JUNE

| Student life 101 | June 2009

cale n da r

juLY 2009

Canada Day

Join in UW Canada Day Celebrations, held on the University of Waterloo’s north campus on the Columbia Lake fields, Columbia Street West, Waterloo. Festivities will take place on July 1st from 2 p.m. – 10 p.m . They include performances by adults and children, an arts and crafts marketplace, face painting, food and, of course, fireworks. Visit www. canadaday.uwaterloo.ca/index.htm for more information.

13 17

You and your parents are invited to Student Life 101! This amazing program has been designed by students for students and will help you with your university transition. Student Life 101 is taking place on July 25th between 9am and 4pm. UW Canada Day Celebrations are held on the University of Waterloo’s north campus on the Columbia Lake fields, Columbia Street West, Waterloo.

Course Enrollment for Fall 2009 begins. Continues until the 26th.

Deadline to send in a photo for your WatCard if you want to be able to pick up your card at Student Life 101.

Residence room assignments available online. Residence contracts sent out by email. Course Enrollment until the 26th.

Open Enrollment During Open Enrollment all students are able to enroll into courses.

For information about your WatCard and sending in your WatCard photo (by email or mail) see p. 7 or visit www.watcard.uwaterloo.ca.

Student Life 101

Residence contracts due.

August 3

Civic Holiday

Student fees due for Fall 2009 term. For full fee payment instructions visit http://finance.uwaterloo.ca and click “Student fees” on the left side.

June 2009 | student life 101 |

Headl i n e s

| Student life 101 | June 2009

Information continued on p. 8.

June 2009 | student life 101 |

“OPEN DOORS” Transition Program The Office for Persons with Disabilities seeks to ensure an equitable opportunity for persons with disabilities by promoting access to all programs, services and facilities in partnership with all university departments. One of their initiatives is the OPEN DOORS transition program. OPEN DOORS provides opportunities for students: > Discover what to expect at university > Experience residence and campus life > Learn about adaptive technology > Meet with an OPD advisor to discuss strategies and supports July 20th – 24th sessions will be held for students with Learning Disabilities and ADHD

The August session is designed for students with the Asperger’s Syndrome. The exact dates for this session are still to be announced. For more information on or to register for OPEN DOORS sessions, contact: Katie Damphouse 519-888-4567 ext. 32229 Alice Rushing 519-888-4567 ext. 35660 Susan Shifflett 519-888-4567 ext. 37025 OR Ruth Hanna 518-888-4567 ext. 35082

Accept Your Residence Contract On Tuesday, July 21st we’ll send you your online residence contract by email. You must accept your online residence contract by Friday, July 31st. If your contract is not accepted on time, we will give your room to someone else. Your welcome package, containing the Residence contract Terms and Conditions; information about moving in, and what’s left to do, will follow in regular mail. Pack your bags and prepare for your move to Waterloo!

For Transfer Students

Reminder: If you’re transferring from college or university, you’ll need to know which transfer credits you’ve received before you can select your classes. Contact your faculty advisor for this information.You may also wish to review UW’s transfer credit assessment information.

| Student life 101 | June 2009

Welcome from the Academic Integrity Office The University of Waterloo believes in the right of all students to be part of a University where academic integrity is expected, maintained, enforced and protected. The University is committed to create a level playing field for all students through information, education, monitoring, detection and sanctions. Academic integrity is the cornerstone of research, teaching, and learning. Members of the UW com-

munity are expected to personally demonstrate academic integrity in their work. We are here to help you do so. Visit our website at http://uwaterloo.ca/academicintegrity to find out more information on the resources available to you, familiarize yourself with the policies, and check your understanding of Academic integrity by taking the online tutorial http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/ait.

All students want to do their best at their studies, and everyone is interested in the reputation of their hard-earned degrees. We are committed to providing you with a community where honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility are embraced.

Paying Your Student Fees You’re awesome! You got into the prestigious University of Waterloo. Now it’s time to pay your student fees. To help ensure you’re your fees are paid on time and that you are not subjected to undesirable late fees, we’ve provided a list of deadlines you’ll want to pay attention to.

The following due dates are associated with the Fall 2009 term: August 31 – Promissory note (Fee arrangement) August 31 – Payment by cheque, money order or bank draft September 9, 2009 – Bank payment or international wire transfer September 30 – Last day for fee arrangements

October 2 – The end of 100% refunds October 30 – The end of 50% refunds For full fee payment instructions visit http://finance.uwaterloo.ca and click “Student fees” on the left side.

June 2009 | student life 101 |

Course Selection Tips Whether or not you choose your own classes depends on your program. In some cases, you’ll also receive further instructions after you’ve been admitted to the University and accepted your Offer of Admission.

If you’ll be selecting any of your classes yourself, you’ll receive class-selection instructions in June.

Precautions Against Theft Register the serial numbers of your valuables. UW Police offers a service that allows you to register the serial numbers of your valuables (laptop, cell phones, iPods, cameras, bicycles) so that they can be easily identified as yours if stolen. Although the University of Waterloo has a relatively low crime rate for its size,

theft does take place on campus. By visiting www.police.uwaterloo. ca and inputting the serial numbers of your valuables at the “Serial Number Registration” link, you take an easy precaution that makes it possible to trace your possessions back to you. This information is kept confidential and is purged once you leave the university.

Student awards and financial aid office Are you confused about the difference between a bursary, a loan and a scholarship? Do you need information about loan programs, OSAP application deadlines, budgeting tips and application forms? The Student Awards and Financial Aid Office (SAFA Office) offer programs ranging from bursaries, provincial loans, emergency loan

funds, work programs and scholarships. Helpful resources like the FAQ section, obligations, eligibility and much more can be referenced at the following link: http://safa. uwaterloo.ca/index.html. Visit the SAFA Office on the 2nd floor of Needles Hall where university staff can assist you with your inquiries between the hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.

| Student life 101 | June 2009

July 13-26, 2009 is the time reserved for first-year students to use Quest. From July 27th on, you may still select classes in what is called the Open Enrollment period. At this time, all UW students will have access to Quest to select classes and make changes to their schedules. Bookmark www.quest.uwaterloo. ca. Quest is UW’s online enrollment and student information system.

BookLook BookLook can help you find course materials for on campus and distance education courses. You can search for course material by course code, title, keyword, author, or ISBN number. Booklook: www.bookstore. uwaterloo.ca/booklook.html.

Feat u r e

What is the WatCard? The WatCard Office Phone: 519-888-4567 x32751 Fax: 519-746-9056 Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm

What is your WatCard for? The WatCard is the official photo identification card for the University of Waterloo. It is required by all undergraduate and graduate students. A personal identification number is encoded onto the WatCard of each student. The one on your card will be your student number for your entire stay at the University of Waterloo. With this one card you will be able to take advantage of many facilities and services both on and off campus, including restaurants, vending machines, photocopying, gym access, libraries, and computer labs. To learn more about the ways you can use your WatCard on campus visit: http://www.watcard.ca/uses. html. How do I get my WatCard? Before you can get your WatCard, the WatCard office needs to have a picture of you. There are to get one to them: send in your own photograph or have your picture taken at Student Life 101, July 26 2009 (See Student Life 101 on page 4). The lines to have your WatCard picture taken at Student Life 101 can be long so it is more convenient to send your own photograph.

This can be done via email or mail. By Email. Email a photo of yourself to watphoto@uwaterloo.ca along with your full name, student ID number, and home address. Electronic pictures must be in colour jpeg format (.jpg) and should be smaller than 200 kb. Please keep in mind that we cannot accept pictures with hats or sunglasses. Your picture must be a clear image of your face from the front. By Mail. Mail your wallet-sized picture to:

ber and full mailing address on the back of the photo. Please note that photos cannot be returned. In order for your card to be ready for pick up at Student Life 101, we must receive it before July 17, 2009. If you choose not to send in your picture, you can have your picture taken at Student Life 101. Your card will be ready for you to take minutes after. What if I miss Student Life 101?

WatCard Office, Attn: Photo Dept. 200 University Ave University of Waterloo Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1 Make sure you write your ID num-

Do not worry if you will not be attending Student Life 101. You can pick up your card WatCard and have your photo taken, at the WatCard office anytime after July 25. The WatCard office is located on the first floor of the Student Life Centre.

June 2009 | student life 101 |