UNews - Laura Correal

Move-in day, New Student Orientation, first day of classes all on deck for ULethbridge students

trevor.kenney — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:51:42 +0000

The students are coming!

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is readying to welcome students at both its Lethbridge and Calgary campuses over the next several days as they begin to arrive for the start of the 2025 Fall Semester. Residences will spring to life over the weekend with the annual move-in day slated for Monday, Sept. 1.

New students will have four days of New Student Orientation this year to help them become comfortable on campus.

“It’s always exciting to see the families come in and get their students settled in their new home,” says Laura Correal, Associate Director of Housing Services. “It’s also a pretty emotional day because for many, this may be their first time living away from home, so we’re there to help with that transition and make things as comfortable as possible for them.”

One of the key activities welcoming students to campus is the annual New Student Orientation (NSO), which has taken on a new look this year. Previously a one-day event, NSO will now run Sept. 2-5, allowing students a full four days to become acclimated to campus and post-secondary life.

“We’ve been wanting to expand programming for many years, and the academic schedule afforded us the opportunity to extend NSO to four days,” says Kendra Fuglerud, Assistant Registrar, Curriculum and Student Records. “This format allows students to attend more than one faculty meet and greet — a great bonus for students in combined degrees or who are curious about exploring another program, major, or minor down the road.”

In addition to multiple meet-and-greet events with faculties and schools, students can take part in scavenger hunts, campus tours, open advising sessions, learn transit tips, get the ins and outs on how to live with a roommate, participate in fun games, chill with art sessions, and more.

“Students can curate an experience just for themselves. They can attend presentations and events throughout the week as they pertain to their interests and curiosities,” adds Fuglerud. “We partnered with folks around campus and beyond to make this week come together, and we’ve been very fortunate to have the support of our colleagues and the community so we could put this iteration of NSO together.”

As well, the StartSmart Quiz returns for its third year. An initiative that began in 2023, ULethbridge encourages all first-year students to take the quiz before they begin their academic journey.

“We’re really pleased with how many students took the quiz last year. It set the tone for this new world they are entering and gave students a leg up heading into their first few weeks by helping them learn about the skills and attitudes needed to succeed at university and proactively connecting them to helpful supports at ULethbridge,” says Kathleen Massey, Vice-Provost (Students). “This is such an important time for new students, and we want to make sure they get off to a positive start because it can really set them up for success and help them grow confidence as post-secondary students.”

First day of classes is Monday, Sept. 8.

Energy surges through campus with return of students

trevor.kenney — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 20:51:23 +0000

Residence buildings are full, hallways are busy, campus facilities are alive with activity — the students are back.

New Student Orientation featured Luxie as a welcome ambassador.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s 2023 Fall Term begins Wednesday, Sept. 6, and with 3,000 new students rolling into Lethbridge and Calgary campuses, and more than 8,400 students overall, the buzz of a new year has returned.

On Sunday, residence students began moving into campus housing. Residence buildings are full this fall and Housing Services was busy over the long weekend checking students in and helping families get their learners settled.

“It’s exciting to be at nearly full capacity with 960 students in residence including a record 100 international students,” says Laura Correal, Associate Director of Housing Services. “The residence experience plays such a big role in student success and student retention and the introductory activities our residence assistants have planned for students are designed to really make them feel welcome on campus and to start creating that supportive residence community that can have such a positive influence on their academic careers at ULethbridge.”

The record number of international students is not only reflective of residence but across the university. More than 1,200 international students are attending ULethbridge this fall, including more than 350 at the Calgary campus. It’s a new record that speaks to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s commitment to internationalization and its reputation as a welcoming, inclusive, high-quality institution.

Residence buildings were teeming with activity as students moved in over the weekend.

“We’ve put a lot of work into our approach to broadening our reach into international markets, and we’ve done it in a way that’s been very intentional and with the students’ best interests in mind,” says Paul Pan, Executive Director, International. “To bring students from 90 countries to our campus is exciting and creates a campus community reflective of the ULethbridge philosophy of liberal education and creating global citizens who will benefit society throughout the world.”

New Student Orientation is another key part of the first few days of the semester, and it saw more than 1,300 registrants take part on Tuesday (Calgary campus NSO takes place Wednesday). From an opening Pronghorn Athletics Pep Rally to a welcome from new President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Digvir Jayas, keynote speaker Kacie Bosch (BA ’21, former Pronghorn athlete, coach and current after-degree student), campus tours, introductory student services sessions, faculty meet-and-greets and more, the day provided students the opportunity to get their academic journey started on the right foot.

“New Student Orientation really sets the stage for our beginning students, and we spend a lot of time making sure we are meeting the needs of each incoming class,” says Kathleen Massey, vice-provost (students). “There is so much thrown at them the first few weeks they are on campus, socially and academically, and we want to help them with that transition to post-secondary life so that they can feel confident from the outset. We want all our students to achieve success and to know we are here to support them in reaching their goals — and that starts from day one.”

Another key program launched by ULethbridge this fall was the introduction of the StartSmart Quiz, a three-year, proactive student retention initiative designed to help new undergraduate students achieve their academic goals and increase first-year student retention. All new undergraduate students were invited to complete a university readiness self-assessment quiz. While voluntary, it was an opportunity for new students to reflect on their readiness for university. The self-assessment gives feedback on seven skills that research shows contribute to university success.

Jayas, in his address at NSO, welcomed students to campus noting they were both entering their first ULethbridge terms together.

“I know many of you have travelled from across the province, Canada and the world to attend ULethbridge. So have I,” he said. “I have received a very warm welcome from everyone at ULethbridge and the Lethbridge community already and I know you will as well.”

And so it begins!

Hugs from Home gives ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students a much-needed boost

caroline.zentner — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 19:40:11 +0000

At a time when students are facing multiple stressors including mid-term exams and assignments coming due, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Bookstore and Housing Services have joined forces for the Hugs from Home support campaign.

Parents of students living in residence were invited by postcard to order Hugs from Home packages online from the Bookstore. They chose from two unique packages, one which contained a mug, hot chocolate and chocolate bars and another that included treats like cookies and popcorn. Parents could also add other items to customize the gift for their student. The Bookstore packaged the gifts, along with an encouraging message sent by parents, for Housing Services to distribute.

Madina Ali, left, accepts a Hugs from Home gift package from Laura Correal, residence life education coordinator.

“I think it’s an amazing program and I love getting a Hug from Home gift,” says Madina Ali, a fourth-year student from Calgary. “In my fourth year, I did not think my parents were going to send me one. We’re in the part of the semester where exams are taking over and everyone’s mental health has kind of taken a dip. Getting the email that I’ve got a hug to pick up, my heart just warmed.”

“We participated in the Hugs from Home program because we wanted to make Madina smile,” says Ambreen Ali, Madina’s mother. “We know the stress of exams and assignments and living on your own and we wanted our daughter to know we are thinking of her. We can’t physically be there to give her a supportive hug, but we can make her feel our support this way.”

Madina, who works as a residence assistant and is a representative on the U of L Students’ Union, knows other students feel the same way.

“People really like Hugs from Home because it’s a reminder that, even if you’re not with your family, they’re still always thinking about you,” she says. “Even though you’re away and becoming your own independent person, you still have your family supporting you.”

Not only are students dealing with extra pressures on the academic side, returning students are getting used to living on campus again after spending last year learning remotely due to COVID-19.

“Hugs from Home came at a really crucial time for students,” says Laura Correal, residence life education coordinator with U of L Housing Services. “They’ve been in the groove of school for a while and midterms are picking up. It’s an overwhelming time. Everyone comes in and they’re very excited to have that little gift they weren’t expecting at a time when it’s really needed.”

The Hugs from Home program, now in its fourth year, has always been popular, but this year it sold out. Annette Bright, Bookstore manager, suspects it’s because, for both first- and second-year students, it’s their first year on campus. Some parents have even purchased extra gifts to donate to other students in need.

“Parents are so appreciative because they were thinking about how they could connect with their student to let them know they’re thinking about them and that they’re behind them,” says Bright.

UNews - Laura Correal

Move-in day, New Student Orientation, first day of classes all on deck for ULethbridge students

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Energy surges through campus with return of students

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Hugs from Home gives ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students a much-needed boost

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Hugs from Home gives ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students a much-needed boost