Pre-Arrival Program

Students working around a computer

To be completed online in Dec./Jan.

Your orientation to UVic starts even before your first class and before you set foot on campus. Completing our online pre-arrival program in the months before you start at UVic will make your first few weeks a little easier and to help make you a little more successful. By taking the time to complete this program, you will:

  • Learn what to expect at UVic, inside and outside the classroom
  • Learn what supports and services are available to you
  • Explore some strategies for university success
  • Feel ready and confident to start the term

All undergraduate students who are new to UVic should complete this program before the first day of classes on January 6, 2020. 

Topics

The online program will introduce you to the following topics:

Topic Description
Welcome to our community Learn more about the UVic community, including some fun facts, our community values and learn the basics of navigating the campus.
Transition Learn more about what changes to expect in your life, evaluate your life skills and make a plan for building and maintaining your community.
Academic success Learn what to expect during your first term at UVic, develop strategies for success and explore how to maintain your academic integrity.
Finances Learn more about the costs associated with being a university student, explore how financial systems work and identify strategies for ensuring you can finance your education and your life.
Health & wellness Learn about the wellness wheel, reflect on the strategies you use for self-care and explore ways to maintain positive mental and physical health at university.

Substance use

 Learn more about substance use at UVic and reflect on what you would like your relationship with substances to be.
Respect & Consent

Learn about UVic’s approach to addressing sexualized violence, including support services on campus, consent, prevention and responding to disclosures.
Involvement Learn why involvement is an important part of your UVic experience, explore the wide variety of opportunities available on campus and make a plan to get involved.

How to complete the program

The online pre-arrival program is hosted within Coursespaces, UVic's learning management system. To access the program:

  1. Self-enroll in the course via the link below (you will be directed to a sign-in page prior to being taken to Coursespaces). 
  2. Complete all activities in each of the eight topics at your own pace.
  3. You can return to the program at any time via the link below, or by logging in to Coursespaces.

Access the program

Note: This version of the program is intended for students starting at UVic in January 2020. 

If you are a UVic faculty or staff member and wish to view the program, please contact orientation@uvic.ca for access. 

Contest

Setting yourself up for success is a great reason to complete the pre-arrival program, but we know that it's not always easy to do the thing you know you should do. So, we've added a little incentive for you. 

Every student who completes the program by January 6, 2020 will be entered into a draw to win a $200 bookstore gift card. 

Additionally, if you complete designated topics by a specified deadline, you will be entered into a draw to win a corresponding prize pack. 

Prize Module Date
$200 bookstore gift card All modules January 6, 2020
Prize Pack #1 Welcome to Our Community and Transition to UVic December 6, 2019
Prize Pack #2 Academic Success and Finances December 13, 2019
Prize Pack #3 Health & Wellness and Substance Use January 20, 2019
Prize Pack #4 Respect & Consent and Involvement January 3, 2020

Terms and conditions

Pre-Arrival Program Contest – Terms and Conditions

  1. The contest is sponsored by the University of Victoria as represented by Student Affairs (“UVic”).
  2. The contest is open to undergraduate students registered at the University of Victoria for the first time in January 2020, who are residents of Canada, excluding Quebec.
  3. Entrants will receive one entry to the contest for completing all 8 topics and the final reflection activity of the Pre-Arrival Program available at http://www.uvic.ca/orientation/pre-arrival-program by 11:59 PM PST January 6, 2020.
  4. Entrants will receive one entry to the contest for completing each of the following pairs of Pre-arrival Program topics available at uvic.ca/orientation/pre-arrival-program:
    1. Welcome to our community and Transitions by 11:59 PST on December 6, 2019.
    2. Academic success and Finances by 11:59 PM PST on December 13, 2019.
    3. Health & wellness and Substance Use by 11:59 PM PST on December 20, 2019.
    4. Respect & consent and Involvement by 11:59 PM PST on January 3, 2020.
  5. Contest opens on November 28, 2019 at 12:01 AM PST and ends on January 6, 2020 at 11:59 PM PST.
  6. There is a limit of one entry per pair of completed modules per eligible entrant.
  7. The random draw for the prizes will take place at 11:00 AM PST on January 10, 2020.
  8. Prizes will be awarded as follows:
    1. One (1) gift card to the UVic Bookstore, valued at $200, for entrants who completed the program as described in 3.
    2. One (1) welcome prize pack, each valued at approximately $100, for entrants who completed the pair of modules described in 4(a).
    3. One (1) academic success prize pack, each valued at approximately $100, for entrants who completed the pair of modules described in 4(b).
    4. One (1) health & wellness prize pack, each valued at approximately $100, for entrants who completed the pair of modules described in 4(c).
    5. One (1) involvement prize pack, each valued at approximately $100, for entrants who completed the pair of modules described in 4(d).
  9. Prizes are non-transferable and must be accepted as awarded. Prizes not convertible to cash.
  10. The odds of winning either contests depend on the number of eligible entries received.
  11. The selected entrants will be contacted by email using the contact information provided by the Entrant. If the Entrant cannot be contacted within 5 days following the first attempt at contact, or if the selected entrant declines the prize, another random draw will occur and the prize will be awarded to another entrant.
  12. The selected entrants must correctly answer a time-limited, skill-testing mathematical questions to be awarded the prize.
  13. Entrants agree that their name may be announced on UVic's website and other associated media sites if they are selected as a winner.
  14. UVic will use personal information collected from entrants to administer the contest. UVic will not share personal information relating to entrants with any third parties, except as may be required by law. UVic will not attempt to contact any entrants for any other purpose than as set out in these terms and conditions unless the entrant has consented to receive relevant communications from UVic or as otherwise allowed under applicable laws.
  15. UVic reserves the right to amend these contest rules or to terminate the contest at any time without any liability to any entrant.
  16. UVic assumes no liability for any loss, damage or injury, including but not limited to lost, stolen, delayed, damaged, misdirected, late, destroyed, ineligible or incomplete entries.
  17. The decisions of UVic in relation to this contest will be final and binding on all entrants.