4 “To-Do’s” This Long Weekend

Posted: Friday, May 17, 2019 - 10:40

We’re nearing the end of May, Future Gryphons! What does that mean? Summer is coming and so is the June 3rd acceptance deadline. Today we’re sharing 4 things you can do with your extra day off this weekend: 

1. Accept your offer 

Received an offer and decided that U of G is the place for you? Great! It’s time to accept that offer.

If you applied through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), and are currently registered in a Canadian high school, you must log in and accept your offer on the OUAC by June 3, 2019. 
If you’re unable to respond online, contact our office at 519-824-4120 Ext. 58721 for a hard-copy response document.

2. Follow Student Housing on Snapchat 

Add “uofghousing” on Snapchat to tune in to virtual tours of residence next week! Student Housing Services will be taking viewers though ALL U of G residences from May 21-27th. If you can’t visit U of G in person, this is the next best way to see where you’ll be living in September! 

Reminder: if you choose to live in residence for first year you must apply and pay the $750 deposit by June 3, 2019!

3. Join the Start Online Facebook group

Connect with other new Gryphons and ask ALL the questions. Summer Orientation information will be available in June but until then, the Facebook group is the best place for new Gryphons to ask student experience related questions.   

4. Tune in to our IGTV Channel

If you’re not already doing so, we recommend following us on Instagram. Why? We’ll be releasing Campus Tour episodes on our IGTV channel throughout next week.  Each episode will feature different segments from a campus tour:  academic buildings, residence, eateries, general campus info, student support etc. 

This is another fantastic way to get a “feel” for the campus and what it has to offer, if you’re unable to attend an open house or come for a campus tour. You don’t want to miss it!

That’s it friends – 4 simple things to cross off your list this weekend. Have fun, be safe and accept your offer!

Guelph-Wellington County wins $10 million in the Smart Cities Challenge

Posted: Thursday, May 16, 2019 - 09:22

Guelph-Wellington County has officially won a $10 million prize in the federal government Smart Cities Challenge!

This Canada-wide challenge encouraged communities to improve quality of life through a smart cities approach which involves innovation, data and connected technology. Guelph-Wellington County was selected as one of two winning communities out of 100 entries in the category.

The Guelph-Wellington entry is a partnership with the University of Guelph, Conestoga College and many other experts, entrepreneurs, innovators and community members. Our winning entry is titled ‘Our Food Future’ and is aimed at creating Canada’s first circular food economy with three main goals:

1. 50 per cent increase in access to affordable, nutritious food;
2. 50 new circular food business and collaboration opportunities; and
3. 50 per cent increase in economic revenues by reducing or transforming food waste.

For more information on this award, check out the article posted on Guelph Today. By joining the Guelph community, know that you are joining a network of innovators working toward a sustainable future.

Get your Student Profile Form submitted ASAP

Posted: Monday, April 29, 2019 - 10:27

If you haven’t submitted your Student Profile Form (SPF) yet, what are you waiting for? It’s due this Wednesday, May 1st so we recommend getting it filled out and submitted as soon as possible!

Here is a quick refresher on who should fill out the SPF and why:

• If you have not yet received an offer from U of G you should submit a completed SPF
• The SPF is where you can share extra-curricular interests and activities, volunteer positions, honours and awards
• It’s also where you can tell us about anything that might have impacted your academic performance such as illness, injury, personal experiences etc.
• We review the SPF’s during our third and final round of offers
• Filling out the SPF allows you to be considered for admission if your average falls within a discretionary range of the final cut-off (up to 5%)

Unfortunately, we will not be able to process any SPF’s after the May 1 deadline so if you are serious about becoming a gryphon, get it completed and submitted!

The University of Guelph – You’ve Gotta Eat Here!

Posted: Friday, April 26, 2019 - 09:51

The title of this article says it all: You’ve Gotta Eat Here – and here’s why.

We are Canada’s Food University

• Our food has been ranked the best on any Canadian university campus for more than 10 years!
• 94% of our students are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with our food

Maclean’s says our food is the best in Canada

• They visited, they sampled, they enjoyed
• Check out the full article at Maclean’s.ca!

We accommodate all diets, allergies and restrictions

• We recommend getting in touch with our Student Nutrition Awareness Program (SNAP) contact about any dietary questions, comments or concerns

There is always a delicious food option nearby

• We have over 20 different dining options across campus!
• Did we mention we have food trucks on campus?!

We make it easy to support local food vendors and farmers

• We are Canadian leaders for sourcing local and sustainable food
• We received Ontario’s “Local Food Champions” award

You choose the meal plan that works for you

We offer 5 different meal plan options:

1. Minimum
2. Light
3. Full (most popular)
4. Plus
5. Varsity

More details can be found on the Hospitality website.

We breakdown our meal plans into basic and flex dollars

• Basic: covers most of the your on-campus food purchases (these purchases are HST exempt)
• Flex: covers taxable purchases at places such as vending machines, the Bullring and the Brass Taps, convenience grocery items, dining at specified off-campus restaurants, food delivery and taxi services

Meal plans cover on-campus food purchases AND select off-campus dining partners

• Your flex dollars can be used at select restaurants, services and entertainment facilities
• Check the full list of off-campus options on our Hospitality website

Our hospitality team is out of this world

• Our hospitality staff are friendly, approachable and passionate about providing the best campus food in Canada

Future Gryphons, it literally doesn’t get better than university dining at U of G! Don’t believe us? Check out our YouTube channel for student testimonies OR come for a visit and try for yourself!

Round 3 Offers – what you need to know

Posted: Tuesday, April 23, 2019 - 14:19

Our third and final round of offers will be going out from late April to mid-May. Here is what you need to know about this final round.

These are the grades we’re looking at:

If you currently attend a semestered school, we’re looking at Fall 2018 grade 12 final grades and Winter 2019 grade 12 midterm grades. Within this, we are specifically looking at your top 4U/M completed courses including required courses for your program.

Submit your SPF by the May 1st deadline

If you haven’t received an offer yet, get your student profile form submitted by May 1st.

We’ll be reconsidering you for your first choice

If you’ve previously received an alternate offer, we’ll be considering you for your first choice in this third and final round.

We’ll review your other program choices

If you’ve applied to more than one program at the U of G, we’ll be considering you for those in this round (if you’re not admissible to your first choice).

BLA applicants: this is your round!

If you applied to our Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, look out for your offer in this round. The third round is the only time we send out BLA offers.

Check your OUAC account

We’ll be sending out third round offers in the coming weeks, so be sure to check your OUAC account! Once your offer shows up on OUAC be sure to check your mailbox for more details about your offer.

Things to keep in mind:

• We will consider your application and review your SPF in May if your average is below the estimated cut-off (within 5% but over 75%)
• Estimated cut-off ranges are based on the admission averages from the previous three years of admitted students and are meant to be a point of reference. We cannot disclose exact cut-offs.
• The deadline to accept any offer from the University of Guelph is June 3, 2019
• June 3 is also the deadline to apply for residence (you can apply using your Central Login OR your student number, last name and date of birth)
• Once you have accepted your offer of admission for September 2019, we will send you a registration package in the mail with instructions on how to login to Web Advisor and register for courses

We’re nearing the final stretch here Future Gryphons. Keep up your hard work!

Jobs on Campus

Posted: Monday, April 15, 2019 - 10:38

We do what we can to help make paying for university easier on you (and your wallet). We offer entrance scholarships, in-course bursaries, and encourage you to apply for OSAP; but we recognize that some students are looking for a way to earn money while they study.

Luckily, we offer several on-campus part-time job opportunities – so you can earn while you learn!

Work Study Program

This program allows you to work on campus and gain hands-on experience while earning cash. It’s also a great way to network and meet people on campus.

Visit the Student Financial Services website for details on who is eligible as well as when and how to apply.

4,000+ part-time jobs

Our more than 4,000 on campus jobs offer plenty of opportunity for growth, getting involved and skill-building. Whether you’re interested in serving up lattés in an on-campus eatery, helping a prof do research, or showcasing your lifeguard skills at the pool, we’ve got you covered.

Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) program

This program allows you the opportunity to experience Guelph in the summer, while gaining research experience AND earning money. These full-time positions begin in May and typically run for 16 weeks.

The application process for this competitive program begins in December of each year so be sure to check the financial services website for details.

Co-operative Education

The great thing about co-op at U of G is that you have the flexibility to find and apply to jobs that suit your program of study and personal interests. While students have the flexibility to apply for jobs across Ontario, out-of-province and even internationally, some students choose to work right here on campus!

Visit the Recruit Guelph website for more information on co-op and to check out current opportunities.

If you have questions about our Work Study or URA programs, get in touch with Student Financial Services at awards@uoguelph.ca. For questions related to finding jobs on Recruit Guelph contact Co-op and Career Services at recruit@uoguelph.ca.

Happy earning gryphons!

 

Upcoming Deadlines

Posted: Friday, April 12, 2019 - 14:27

Hey Future Gryphons – we’ve got some upcoming deadlines you’ll want to make note of!

1. Financial Need Assessment Form for Entrance Awards – Due Monday, April 15

This is the form you need to fill out if you to be considered for any needs-based scholarships or bursaries. You can find it on the Student Finance website.

2. Out of Highschool & Out of Province Transcript Deadline – Tuesday, April 16

If you're applying to U of G from outside of Ontario or are not currently enrolled in secondary school, you need to ensure that your transcript has been sent to us by the deadline. We recommend double checking with your guidance office (or the office from the school you attended).

3. English Proficiency Deadline – Tuesday, April 16

If you are an international student applying from a Canadian high school, make sure your proof of English Proficiency is in by April 16th (IETLS, TOEFL, etc). Check out our International Admission's page for more info!

4. Deadline to Amend Application – Tuesday, April 16

If you want to make changes to our OUAC application (switch rankings, change programs you applied to, etc.) you have until April 16th to do so! You can do this on the OUAC website.

5. SPF Deadline – Wednesday, May 1

This is where you can provide additional information about yourself that can help us make a fair admission decision. If your admission average does not meet the cut-off for your program the SPF can help you be considered for admission if your average falls within 5% of the final cut-off. If you haven’t received an admission offer yet Future Gryphons, FILL THIS OUT. You can find it on our website.

Put these dates in your calendar. Get things filled out and submitted ASAP. We’re in the final stretch now Future Gryphons!

Experiential Learning in Agriculture

Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 09:23

In December we shared what makes our Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program unique - from being global leaders in education and research to the 4 jobs currently available for all Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) grads. You can find that article on our website.

Today we’re getting into the Experiential Learning (EL) opportunities available to our agriculture students.

Applied Research

Applied research courses for agriculture students include research projects, independent study courses and special studies courses such as Special Studies in Agricultural Science I and II. These courses allow you to work with faculty to complete a research project or literature review. Agriculture students can also gain credit for being involved with events such as College Royal and the Canadian Agri-Marketing Competition.

Course-Integrated

In upper years of the program, you can take classes such as Animal Production Systems, Health and Industry, Agriculture and Food Issues Problem Solving, Research in Animal Biology, Experiments in Animal Biology and more. In these courses you will benefit from activities like lab work and case studies that will help you build those hands-on skills.

Field Courses

Within our Agricultural Science majors there are many opportunities to complete research and analysis in a field location. Examples include a Crop Science Field Trip course as well as a Field Course in International Agriculture.

From an animal science perspective, we also offer courses that allow students to visit farms and facilities to assess and “judge” their overall operations for credit!

Professional Practice

In professional practice courses you will have the chance to shadow an industry professional and gain important skills related to your field of study. For example, in Experiential Education I, you will find yourself an industry placement and work under the supervision of an employer with guidance from faculty.

There are so many unique opportunities in our Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program to tailor your education to your own interests and experience working right in the Agriculture industry before graduating. For more information on where our grads have worked, current research and program features, visit the Ontario Agricultural College website today.

Tour Guide Thoughts: Jasmine

Posted: Monday, April 8, 2019 - 12:44

Name: Jazzy Muszik

Program: Animal Biology

Tour Guide Year: 1st

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s your favourite memory from U of G?

My entire experience as a Gryphon has been my collective favourite memory.

Coolest thing about your program & favourite class you’ve taken so far?

The best thing about my program is the endless opportunities that students have once they graduate. There are so many avenues you can explore with your degree! My favourite class was ANSC 1210 Principles of Animal Care and Welfare because it helped me realize I want to attend grad school to study animal welfare and behaviour.

What’s your go-to spot on campus?

Third floor of the UC, in the study cubbies across from student financial services.

Are you involved in any extra-curriculars?

Always! I’m the Treasurer for the Animal Biology Students’ Association, Events Director for Her Campus Guelph, Front of House Manager for Curtain Call Productions and I’m involved in intramurals like volleyball and dodgeball. I also like to take part in events on campus like Tractor Tug for Tots and College Royal (#Aggie4Life).

What prompted you to become a tour guide?

I initially volunteered as a UofG Ambassador and I found I really enjoyed helping students make the tough decision of where to go after high school.

What is your favourite thing about being a tour guide/what's the best thing you’ve experienced while being a tour guide?

I love highlighting all the amazing experiences that I’ve had by going to university and sharing my school spirit with others. Giving tours makes me feel like I’m making a positive difference in someone’s life and I enjoy helping parents feel more comfortable about sending their child off to school.

Why should students come for a tour?

To meet our amazing tour guide team! It’s also important to see each of your options in person rather than going based off a website or pictures. There’s nothing like setting foot on our beautiful campus and taking in the community that we’ve made here.

What’s your favourite stop/story/fun fact on your tour?

My favourite stop is The Cannon because it’s such a unique and interesting part of the university and a fun story to tell!

What made you apply & pick U of G?

My program at first, but I came for a campus tour when I was in grade 12 and fell in love with the atmosphere! The food, the history and the people all solidified my decision!

What advice do you have for Future Gryphons (or their families)?

I would tell both Future Gryphons and their families not to stress. I know for students it seems like a huge weight is on their shoulders to figure out the future, but there’s always room to change your mind and follow a different path. As for parents, I know it’s hard to let your child go off to school where you can’t be there 24/7, but this is their chance to grow, to learn, and to figure things out. I guarantee they’ll love their time here!

Choose Business at U of G...

Posted: Friday, April 5, 2019 - 16:32

On April 3, a game-changing, $21-million donation from Stu and Kim Lang was announced, taking Business and Economics to a new level at the University of Guelph.

In recognition of this generous gift, our College of Business and Economics will be named the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics with a vision to be recognized locally and globally for developing future business leaders for a more sustainable world.

Imagine yourself graduating from the new Gordon S. Lang School of Business at the University of Guelph.

By choosing business at the U of G, you’ll be a part of:

• A 21$million gift to further enhance tour global reputation and impact,
• MORE scholarships,
• experiential learning opportunities,
• the expansion of our already widespread sustainability initiatives,
• new resources ranging from innovation and entrepreneurship, to sports business.

We’re proud to continue to establish ourselves as a world-leading business school. To learn more, check out the full press release and video on new Gordon S. Lang School of Business.