The Residence Life team helps students and offers them a healthy environment throughout their stay. Starting with move-in weekend, the team, assisted by volunteers (professors or support staff, along with several Gee-Gees athletes), is there to lend a helping hand to those arriving. This year, the fall move-in will take place from August 31 to September 4, and the Housing Service needs your energy and enthusiasm to welcome over 3,000 new students.
Want to help make their experience memorable from the time they arrive? . The testimonials below will definitely make you want to!
Back to school, then and now
鈥淚 first experienced residence in 1990, when only five residences were available (the new Brooks Residence, and Thompson, Leblanc, Stanton and Marchand). At the time, the move-in was done through a half door on the third floor of Brooks. Imagine the students arriving in residence having to line up on the stairs from the first to third floors of Brooks with all their luggage, plants and furniture, etc. during the weekend to pick up their physical keys hanging on these huge panels on wheels that we were handing out.
鈥淚n 2022, with a pool of 11 residences available (with 90 University, Hyman Soloway, Henderson, Mann, Friel, Rideau and the Annex added), the residence move-in has become a real extravaganza. All this is thanks to a team of over 150 student volunteers, support staff and different residence teams working very hard together to welcome and help residents to move into residence over a week.
鈥淏ack to school is an overwhelming experience! Getting to know our students living on campus is key to their academic success and growth within the University community.鈥
Monique Boucher, project coordinator, client relations
Responsible for move-in for 32 years鈥
Adding a human dimension
鈥淎s an international student, I know just how difficult it can be to move from home to a new city or country. I became a volunteer for the residence move-in in 2019 to be able to help and also reassure students, who had to adapt to their new environment like I had done. I was also there for the parents, who were seeing their children start a new chapter in their lives.
鈥淎fter having been responsible for two consecutive years, I can say that it was an experience rich in encounters and adventures. How we laughed like crazy! The students and volunteers are outstanding. I鈥檒l definitely return and I invite everyone to have this experience!鈥
A茂da Tchacorom, student, volunteer and zone manager
Has taken part in move-in weekend since 2019.
Reassuring parents
鈥淚鈥檇 always wanted to be part of the campus move-in, but my annual vacation never allowed me to ... until this year!
鈥淪tarting university is a real transition! It鈥檚 even more so for those who can鈥檛 live with mom and dad during their studies. Moving into residence is a time of much stress and emotion for students, as well as for their parents! As a volunteer, I want to be part of that frenetic energy surrounding the arrival on campus by helping out those who are the reason we鈥檙e here, and also by reassuring parents a little.鈥
Sophie Wauquier, development officer, External Relations
Taking part as a first-time volunteer in 2022
Breaking the isolation
鈥淪ince my arrival in Canada, I鈥檝e taught at the University of Ottawa and have tried to volunteer to meet other colleagues and better integrate. As I鈥檇 always volunteered in Brazil, I knew that by helping others, I could develop my social skills, stimulate my brain and even reduce the feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness so common among newcomers.
鈥淔or me, the biggest advantage is the type of connections I make with students who have the opportunity to meet me in a role other than that of professor. This change in our mutual perceptions strengthens relationships, promotes a much better learning environment and, ultimately, increases student retention.鈥
Gustavo Freire, part-time professor, volunteer and zone manager
Has taken part in move-in weekend since 2017
To volunteer, or email the uO Residence Team.