Frequently asked questions about Jump Start

Why attend Jump Start?

You’ll make friends before classes even start.

Orientation is one of the few times everyone around you is equally new and equally open to meeting people. That window closes fast! Jump Start will help you connect with campus life, learn about opportunities available to you, and meet other new students.

You’ll know where to go when things get hard.

Students who attend orientation are significantly more likely to actually use tutoring, advising, and counseling when they need it, because they know those resources exist and feel comfortable using them.

You’ll be less stressed on day one.

Knowing where your classes are, how registration works, and what your professors expect may sound basic, but these can meaningfully reduce anxiety for new students early on.

Attending orientation measurably improves your odds of finishing your degree.

Research consistently shows orientation attendees are more likely to still be enrolled a year later, and are more likely to make it all the way through their degree to graduation.

You don’t know what you don’t know.

Most students who skip orientation don’t realize what they missed until they’re already behind — on deadlines, resources, or connections. The students who feel they already knew everything they would learn at orientation are often the ones who are most surprised later when things get challenging.

TL;DR

Orientation isn’t about learning facts you can find online — it’s about starting your university experience with a network, a sense of belonging, and a list of useful resources and locations (all things that are much harder to build after the semester has already started!)

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Who is Jump Start for?

• Jump Start is open for all new-to-UBCO students to attend, including transfer, mature, commuter, international, Go Global, and graduate students.
• We offer a wide variety of sessions and activities throughout the week, including dedicated welcome sessions for international and graduate students, social activities for students living off-campus, and many more! Plenty of options will be scheduled throughout the week, so you can customize your Jump Start schedule to match your own unique needs and interests.

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Are there any sessions specifically for international students?

• Yes! Jump Start includes dedicated International Student Orientation sessions for both undergraduate and graduate students.
• International Student Orientation is designed to support students as they transition to life at UBCO and in Canada and is strongly recommended for all new international students at UBC’s Okanagan campus.
• The session covers key topics that are especially important for international students, including immigration requirements and maintaining study permit status, working in Canada (on- and off-campus), health insurance (including iMED and MSP), navigating Canadian classroom culture and academic expectations, and understanding supports for language development.
• Students will also learn about housing, banking, transportation, and everyday living in Kelowna, as well as culturally specific adjustment strategies, community-building opportunities, and ways to access international student advising and wellness resources. The orientation provides opportunities to connect with peers, ask questions, and build a strong foundation for a successful and confident start to their studies.

How does Jump Start work?

• Jump Start is a free and flexible conference-style program, offering dozens of sessions and events over several days to help you get to know your new campus and set yourself up for success as a new UBCO student.
• You’ll meet other students and connect with the faculty, staff, and UBC services who are here to support you throughout your time at UBC.
• Build your own personalized orientation experience with our Jump Start app and choose from a variety of fun social activities, academic workshops, and information sessions to suit your own interests and transition needs.
• All students will be provided with a ‘home’ orientation group and a basic schedule that includes a combination of recommended core sessions and flexible time slots.
• Use your flex time to attend orientation activities, access campus services like the Bookstore, or take a break and grab a snack with your new BFFs — these are all equally important parts of the Jump Start experience!

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Why do I need to register for Jump Start?

• You’ll need to register to get access to our Jump Start app, which you will use to build and view your own personal program schedule and navigate between sessions and activities while you are attending Jump Start.
• If you plan to attend Jump Start, we strongly encourage you register in advance. This helps us anticipate how many students to expect so we can plan for appropriate levels of staffing, programming and activities, food services, etc.

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Where can I find the Jump Start schedule?

• The full Jump Start schedule will be published to our UBCO Jump Start app, which will be available to download a few weeks before Jump Start.
• Keep an eye on your email inbox throughout the summer — you will receive an email from the UBCO Life team to let you know when the schedule and app are available.

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How much does Jump Start cost?

• It’s free to register and attend UBC Okanagan’s Jump Start program.
• Most Jump Start sessions and activities (including all core sessions) are free of charge. Some individual excursions and activities are offered at an additional cost and require advance registration. If applicable, pricing information can be found in session descriptions in the Jump Start app.

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Are meals included?

• No, meals are not included in Jump Start. You can bring food from home or get something to eat from one of our on-campus food service locations, either by regular purchase or through your UBCO meal plan.
  • UBCO food service locations
  • SUO food service locations (UNC building)
• Flexible meal plan and reloadable options are available through UBCO Food Services
• To minimize congestion at campus food service locations at peak meal times during Jump Start, each student will be provided a recommended meal time to plan for in their schedule according to their orientation group.

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Is Jump Start mandatory? Do I have to attend every session?

• As a new student, you are welcome to attend as much (or as little) of Jump Start as you like.
• Although all sessions are optional, we encourage all students to attend Team Time in the mornings to meet up with your orientation group and connect with other students from your Faculty or program
• If you have been invited to attend Graduate Student Orientation, International Student Orientation or another specific welcome event, you are strongly encouraged to attend to ensure you receive important information relevant to you.
• Most core sessions will be scheduled for Thursday and Friday, transitioning into more social activities and excursions for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

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How should I choose which sessions to attend?

• All students will be provided with a ‘home’ orientation group and a basic schedule that includes a combination of recommended core sessions and flexible time slots.
• Core sessions are strongly recommended, and will be clearly tagged in the Jump Start app so you can quickly find and add them to your schedule first. You can then fill in the rest of your schedule by choosing from the other available sessions and activities posted to the Jump Start app.

Tips for planning your Jump Start schedule

• Filters will be available in the app to help you sort through sessions based on interest, date, and other categories.
• We recommend building a schedule that includes a combination of social activities, informational sessions, and free time to access campus services or take a break — these are all equally important parts of the Jump Start experience!
• Some sessions may not be relevant for all students — refer to the session descriptions in the Jump Start app for any audience-specific details. For example, the International Student Welcome is a core session for international students but not domestic ones, and each Faculty hosts a welcome event that is core for students in that Faculty but not others.
  • Other core activities like Team Time, Kickoff, and Showcase will be recommended for all students to attend.
• Most Jump Start sessions and activities are free of charge. Some individual excursions and activities are offered at an additional cost and require advance registration. If applicable, pricing information can be found in session descriptions in the Jump Start app.

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How do I check in when I arrive?

• If possible, all students are strongly encouraged to check in with their orientation group at Team Time each morning.
• Some students may receive separate check-in instructions for Sep 3 if they are attending Graduate Student Orientation or another specific welcome event. Check your email for alternate check-in instructions, if applicable.
• If you arrive at a different time, simply find our Campus Compass tent located outside of the University Centre and our friendly orientation staff will check you in, help you find or choose a session, and provide any information you need to make the most out of your Jump Start experience.
• If you arrive after hours and the Campus Compass tent is closed when you arrive, speak to your Residence Advisor or find an Orientation Leader with a yellow shirt for directions or support.

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What should I bring to Jump Start?

• Dress for the weather! If it is hot, plan to bring sunscreen, a hat, cool clothes, and sunglasses. If it is a cooler day, make sure to pack enough layers to be comfortable outside while you attend sessions or explore campus.
• Meals are not included, so plan to either bring your own food or obtain food from one of our campus food service locations, either by regular purchase or through your UBCO meal plan, along with a water bottle (water refill stations are available in several buildings on campus).

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Are there any sessions or activities planned for Move-in Day?

• Yes! Although Jump Start doesn’t officially start until the day after Move-in Day, there will be some advance programming and activities offered on Move-in Day for students who are already on campus (or who are keen to start their orientation experience a little early!)
• Move-in Day activities will be included in the Jump Start app, and will include campus tours, social and residence life activities, as well as information sessions for parents and supporters.
• There will also be various services on campus to help you take care of essentials prior to the start of programming, including campus resources, optional tours, airport and shopping shuttles, a free store, and more. 

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Jump Start app FAQs

My login isn’t working; what should I do?

• Ensure you are logging in using the email that you registered with. If you aren’t sure which email you used, search for your Jump Start confirmation email in your inbox.
• If you haven’t already registered for Jump Start, you won’t be able to login to the app. Register now.

Keywords: What are they and how do I search by them?

• Use keywords to find sessions and activities that match your interests. To search, tap the filter icon in the top-right corner, select Keywords, and choose the topic you’d like to filter sessions by.

Why am I seeing schedule conflicts with drop-in activities?

• Drop-in activities often run for several hours and may overlap with other events on your schedule. These conflicts are expected and can be ignored.

Why can I see activities that my friend can’t?

• Some activities are restricted to specific groups (for example, undergraduate, graduate, domestic, international, or faculty). Session visibility is based on your registration information.

What is the leaderboard?

• Earn points to win prizes by participating in Jump Start activities and track your progress on the leaderboard.
• Tap the Points System to see how points are earned and what prizes are available. One of top five participants will win an iPad!

How does the Scavenger Hunt Work?

• Earn points on the leaderboard and explore campus by visiting locations listed in the Scavenger Hunt section of the app!
• At each location, find the Jump Start QR codes and scan them in the app to earn points.
• Need help finding a location? Visit the campus Compass welcome tent.

Why do some activities require advance registration?

• Some recreation activities require registration through a link in the activity description. This is typically needed for activities with limited space, transportation requirements, or participation fees.

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