Embrace what it means to belong
First things first. Give yourself a little pat on the back. You’re here and you’re now part of a warm, welcoming, open-minded community where possibility thrives. Take some time to celebrate that by connecting with new friends from richly varied cultures. There’s a lot of hard work ahead, but you’ll also have a lot of support as you pursue learning, self-discovery and growth.
Get familiar with the power of your student card
Be sure to submit your student card photo online if you haven’t already done so! You’ll need to show this card to take exams, but remember that it also serves as your all-access pass to a host of goods and services on and off campus.
The uOttawa student card is your all-in-one card for on-campus access and deals, whether for on-campus debit purchases, access to sports facilities, residences or labs, swiping for your meal plan, riding public transit, shopping for textbooks or visiting the Dining Hall.
Visit our web page for new students
We hope you’ve already visited this site, but why not refresh your memory: check out what you need to do by reviewing the details on the New Students web page.
Get to know the campus
Make sure you get to class on time and know where to go to work out or grab a bite to eat. If you haven’t already done so, there’s still time to take a tour for incoming students. Act soon though as these wrap up at the end of August.
Pro tips: Take a faculty tour to get a good idea of the buildings you’ll be taking classes in. Refer to the online campus map to plan your route.
Put key academic dates in your calendar
When’s Reading Week? Can you still switch classes without penalty? Enter these important dates and deadlines in your personal calendar to keep track of important academic dates and deadlines throughout the year. Check your calendar regularly to stay on track!
Pro tip: Having multiple calendars in different places can quickly get confusing. Synchronize your course schedule, upcoming events and important dates in your uOttawa Outlook Calendar, near the top-left corner of the app’s interface.
Know how to reach your student mentors
You’ve probably already been in contact with our team of regional mentors. We hope you found the sessions on how to prepare for university useful and fun. If you missed these sessions or have any follow-up questions, you can contact a mentor through our regional mentoring webpage.
Keep your schedule on hand
It helps to keep a screenshot of your schedule on your phone (or a paper copy) to know where your next class is and when.
Pro tip: Get free advice from a mentor on how to build a realistic weekly plan by attending Start strong: Build your weekly plan on September 25.
Pick up your books
Check the syllabus of each course you’re taking to see which textbooks you’ll need. It’s best to get your textbooks sooner rather than later, so don’t put off this crucial step! You can buy or rent textbooks for most courses from the Campus Store. If you get a textbook elsewhere, make sure that you pick up the right edition!
Pro tip: Check the Free Store: you could get lucky and find a used copy of a textbook you need for free!
Get familiar with our key IT tools
SecurUO: Safety first. Download SecurUO onto your phone and install Alertus on your computer so that you’re instantly notified if an emergency occurs on campus.
Know how to stay safe. Use the Virtual Friend Walk feature in SecurUO to send your location to a friend in real time so they can track your walk until you get to your destination! Remember that Protection Services is available 24/7.
uoZone: This secure student portal provides access to everything you’ll need while at uOttawa. When you log into uoZone, you gain access to your uOttawa email, your financial statement, information on scholarships and bursaries, and more. Through uoZone, you’ll also be able to access the Student Centre, which is the main hub you’ll be using to explore program and degree requirements, enrol in courses, or change your course selection.
BrightSpace: BrightSpace is your best friend. It’s a learning management system where most of your professors will post course content, including PowerPoint slides, assignments, and reading material. It’s like one of those big binders where you kept all your subjects in high school.
Know the lingo
What is a LEC and what is a DGD? It’s a good idea to get familiar with our course enrolment terminology. (By the way, LEC stands for “lecture”, and DGD is “discussion group”).
Syllabus: Want to know what to expect at your first-ever university class? Your professor will probably post a syllabus on BrightSpace and go over it during your first class. In the syllabus, you’ll find the course outline, the learning objectives, the required course material, and the exam schedule. In essence, it’s somewhat of a “contract” between you and your professor. (Pro tip: add all those mid-term, essay deadline, and final exam dates to your planner/calendar at the start of the term).
Units: Ah yes, our precious units (sometimes referred to as credits). This is what will make all those late-night study sessions worth it (*ahem, besides the joy of learning, of course). A unit is the value assigned to an academic activity. Regular undergraduate courses are usually worth three units and run for one term. Graduate courses are typically worth 1.5 or 3 units and have a slightly different schedule.
Register for academic accommodations if you need them
If you want to receive academic accommodations, we strongly recommend that you request them as soon as you’ve enrolled in your courses. This will let you benefit from measures to meet your needs and foster your success throughout your time at uOttawa.
We can help you submit a request for support related to a disability or health issue. Please note that implementing accommodation measures can take up to 60 days, depending on the accommodation. For more information, visit the Registering for accommodations webpage.
Stay connected on social media
Follow @uOttawacampus. It’s your best social media window into everything going on across uOttawa’s student community. Load your feed with timely updates about food festivals, fun events, campus news, inspiring and informative reels, important reminders, and everything to do with student life, often produced by students like you.
Get into university life. Celebrate and elevate our Gee-Gees community. View, like and share.
Read The Gee
Check your student email every two weeks for The Gee, your student life newsletter. Be sure to give it a quick skim to find out everything you need to know so you can max out your student experience. Get essential insights, advice and information about student life, and strengthen your ties to your campus and your community.
Pro tip:Visit the Gee website at any time to catch up on news, events and important information. Got an idea for a story or a uOttawa service you want to know more about? Send an email to The Gee.
Look for a job on campus
Although right now you’re probably laser focused on doing well in class, if you do find you have time for some part-time employment, check out our on-campus employment page; it’s a good place to start your job search.
Download the uoWellness app
Take the first steps on your wellness journey by downloading the uoWellness app, which was made by students for students. You can book appointments, access peer wellness chats and self-help, share wellness tips with friends, book light therapy or plant rooms, see future events and much more. As you explore and use the app, such as when you create an avatar, share a tip or event, or book a service, you’ll earn points toward badges. You then become eligible for prizes, based on your badge.
Save money with the Rivalry Series package
Because you’re a new student, we’re giving you a heads-up on a great deal: save 25% and get early access to the Rivalry Series package. For just $82.05, this five-game bundle includes a ticket to the Panda Game, which draws record crowds for university football in Canada, PLUS four other top Gee-Gees-versus-Carleton rivalry matches: men’s and women’s Capital Hoops basketball games and Colonel By Classic hockey games.
FYI: student tickets to the Panda Game alone go for $54 each. Single tickets for Capital Hoops cost around $28 and single tickets for the Colonel By Classic cost around $26, but purchasing a Rivalry Series package means that you’re spending just $16 per game!
Being in a crowd with thousands of other Gee-Gees fans is an amazing way to embrace uOttawa student life. Get first dibs on the rivalry: the Rivalry Series package goes on sale August 14!