The entire NSCAD community is thrilled to welcome you as you start on your academic journey with us. We invite you to join us on September 3rd at Orientation Day for ALL new incoming NSCAD students.

Attendance is strongly encouraged for all students, regardless of program and level of study as it will provide you with valuable information about your time at NSCAD and will invite you to meet and connect with Senior Administration, the Office of Student Experience, university staff, faculty, technicians, current students and most importantly– each other.

This will be an important day to learn about how we as a NSCAD Community will support and guide you through your studies here. Graduate Studies students will have an opportunity for breakout sessions with their Program Chairs in the afternoon and we’ve got a lot planned!

At this event, you will also collect your Student ID, Campus access Card, and much more!
 
Location 

Orientation Day will be held at Port Campus (1107 Marginal Road). You will receive an email from the Office of Opportunity & Belonging (belong@nscad.ca) inviting you to RSVP and providing more details.

Schedule of the Day

10:00 -11:00 a.m.  Registration & Breakfast

Arrive, register, grab coffee or tea and snacks. This is where you’ll pick up your student ID, access card, and other important documents to keep handy throughout the year.

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Presentation– Getting to know NSCAD

• Learn about and meet representatives from key offices and services across our three campuses that will support you during your time at NSCAD
• Get an update on important dates and upcoming events including Welcome Weeks
• Get to know your fellow classmates and the larger NSCAD community with an interactive ‘Get-to-Know-You’ BINGO game and compete to win prize packs filled with NSCAD Merch and art supplies.
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12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  NSCAD Opportunities Expo

Looking for a specific office, department, or type of support at NSCAD? Want to meet faculty and technicians from your program? Interested in meeting like-minded folks through a club or society?

Various services and resources (internal and external to NSCAD) will be hosting information tables so you can learn more about how to get involved in university life and situated in Kjipuktuk (Halifax).

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.  Lunch

Catered lunch will be provided. Be sure to grab a bite to eat with your new classmates. This is a great time to make new pals and plan which Welcome Weeks events you’ll attend. It’s also a great time to spend some time outside on the waterfront if it’s sunny!

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.  Afternoon Breakout Activities

All new students are invited to wrap up the day by participating in an afternoon of activities and social connection. We hope you’ll use this time to meet your fellow incoming classmates, connect with the senior students we’ve invited to participate in and lead activities, and get comfy as part of the NSCAD community!

• Bond over Board Games: with the Board Room Café
• Roots & Routes: Pier 21 Museum Visit
• Flow Forward: Building Consent Culture Student-Led Workshop
• Breathe & Belong: Yoga for Beginners
• Real Talk & Tea: Wellness Student-Led Workshop
• MFA Student Breakout Session (Required for MFA Students)- continues past 4pm
• MAAE Student Breakout Session (Required for MAAE Students)
• MDes Student Breakout Session (Required for MDes Students)

*Please note Graduate Student Breakout Sessions are coordinated by the Division Chairs and may plan to run past 4pm, details will be provided for each cohort closer to the date.

4:15 – 5:30 p.m.  Art & Heart Connections: Speed Friending for BIPOC Students (Optional)

Incoming BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) students are invited to a speed friending event. This is a fun, casual way to meet other students who identify as BIPOC and form connections with classmates from across programs and campuses.

If you’re an international student and/or this term is new to you, “BIPOC” is often used in Canada to highlight and celebrate the experiences of people who identify as non-white—including both newcomers and those whose communities and have long histories here.

5:30 p.m.  End of New Student Orientation Day

Now it’s time to depart and prepare for the first day of Fall Semester on September 5th and connect with the pals you made today to plan for upcoming events.

Don’t forget!  Orientation Day is just one event in a series of activities throughout the month of September designed to welcome you to NSCAD University, help you learn about what we have to offer, and invite you to get to know our larger community of students, staff, faculty, community collaborators, and most of all– each other!

In addition to the full Calendar of Events below, stay tuned for updates from our office by following @nscadstudentexperience on Instagram and keeping an eye on your @nscad.ca email address.

Reach out to belong@nscad.ca with any questions about Orientation or Welcome Weeks Events. We can’t wait to meet you!