Role of an Orientation Professor
Imagine UBC is the university’s orientation and transition program for all undergraduate students. Orientations Professors help plan and present a Student Success Workshop on the Imagine Day for approximately 100 first year students.
The Student Success Workshop is approximately 50 minutes in length and serves as a chance for student leaders and faculty members to welcome students to UBC in a smaller, more intimate environment. Over the course of the summer, the content of this workshop will be shaped by staff and Squad Leaders (senior student leaders) in each of the Faculties, along with the input of the Orientations Professor. The O-Prof is also present on Imagine Day to help present the workshop alongside the leaders.
The specific goals of the Student Success Workshop include:
- Providing first year students with an opportunity to interact with a university faculty member inside the classroom environment
- Being part of their introduction to university life, academia and success in a comfortable environment
- Clarifying the role of a university professor and how that differs from their past experiences with other teachers or instructors
- Sharing strategies for success in the classroom environment and outline expectations of students in terms of work load, classroom participation and seeking help from a professor
- Educating the students on the dual roles that many professors hold at the university
- Encouraging first year students to access faculty members and other academic resources such as T.A.s
Specific messaging from the Orientations professor could include:
• Explaining the role of the university professor (teaching, research, supervising grad students)
• Clarifying the negative stereotypes (ex. Am I just a number?, the “weeding out” process in first year)
• Introducing academic life at UBC and offer strategies for academic transition and success (ex. go to office hours, be awake and aware, visit your T.A.)
• Encouraging students to ask questions
Imagine Day will take place on Tuesday, September 4th, 2012. The specific time for the workshop will be determined in late July/early August. Logistical specifics of the SSW and the material to be covered may differ by Faculty.
If you are interested in being an O-Prof in 2011, please connect with your Orientations Faculty Contact:
Tracey Rollins, Student Development Officer, Arts tracey.rollins@ubc.ca
Tannis Peterson, Senior Student Development Coordinator, Science tannis.peterson@ubc.ca
Amy Vozel, Student Development Officer, Engineering amy.vozel@ubc.ca
Ruth Kwok, Student Development Advisor, Sauder ruth.kwok@sauder.ubc.ca
Robyn Leuty, Student Development Officer, Kinesiology robyn.leuty@ubc.ca
Natalie Lim, Recruitment & Advising Officer, LFS natalie.lim@ubc.ca
Geoff Anderson, Co-op Coordinator, Dean’s Office, Forestry geoffrey.anderson@ubc.ca
