Mac101: Introduction to University Life

July 20–27, 2021

Get introduced to university life at Mac101

July 20–27, 2021

Welcome to McMaster! This summer, join students, staff and faculty for Mac101, a series of sessions, discussions and activities to ease your transition to university life. Learn about strategies, skills, programs, tools and campus resources to support your success at McMaster.

Mac101 offers something for all first-year undergraduate students.

Strengthen and develop your academic skills.
Explore online learning tools and platforms.
Join in panel discussions and Q&A sessions with student leaders.
Meet your classmates and make friends through a fun and memorable community-building event.
Learn about financing your education.
Participate in a virtual student services fair.
For parents and guardians of new international and domestic students, engage in panel discussions with senior leaders.

Get to Know the SSC: Academic Skills

July 20, 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. EDT (recording available)

People have probably told you that it’s important to find support early at university. But how can you ask for help if you don’t know what supports are available? In this session, learn how to find a tutor and get support with writing, reading and studying, so that you can better meet university expectations. The academic skills team in the Student Success Centre can provide valuable tips and strategies to support you in your first year and beyond.

Get to Know the SSC: Academic Skills (Recording)

Academic Advisor Panel and Q&A

July 20, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT (recording available)

As a student preparing to come to university, you might have a lot of questions. What is an academic advisor, and how can they help? How is my GPA calculated? How can I transfer out of my program and into another program? Join a panel of academic advisors and have your questions answered.

Academic Advisor Panel and Q&A (recording)

Submit a written question

We’d like you to play a role in your Mac101 experience. Contribute a written question for the panel at this event. Please note that we may not be able to answer all questions during this Mac101 session. However, we will do our best to include the questions in other Mac101 events or through other summer opportunities planned.

Your personal information will only be shared during Mac101 with your consent.

Submit a written question

Being an Online Learner

July 20, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. EDT (recording available)

If you’re feeling anxious about online learning, know that you’re not alone. And the SSC academic skills team is here to help. In this session, learn how to collaborate and connect with your peers, establish a balanced workflow and maintain focus while studying in both online (asynchronous) and virtual (synchronous) classrooms. This is a great opportunity to develop personal management and leadership skills.

Being an Online Learner (Recording)

International Undergraduate Student Panel Q&A and Ask Me Anything (AMA)

July 21, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT

Learn from current McMaster international students about their experience and how to make the most out of your first year at Mac.

Student Life Panel and Q&A

July 21, 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. EDT (recording available)

University is about more than just academics. Come and meet a panel of upper-year McMaster students from a range of campus services, academic programs and student groups. Learn more about the McMaster community and how to make connections so you can discover opportunities to make connections at Mac.

Student Life Panel and Q&A (recording)

Meet the panellists (video)

Submit a video question (15–20 seconds)

We’d like you to play a role in your Mac101 experience. Contribute a video question for the panel at this event. You can also let us know your Faculty and where you’re joining us from. Submit your video question (15–20 seconds) by Wednesday, July 14. To participate, upload your video file to MacDrive. MP4 format is preferred. Please submit only one video and include the following details in the file title:

Full name_Faculty_Location(province/state/territory/area and country)
Example: “Elizabeth_James_Health Sciences_Ontario Canada”

Please note that, by choosing to upload your video, you grant the Student Success Centre permission to use your content as part of orientation activities and social media promotion. We will do our best to address your question during Mac101 or through other summer opportunities.

Upload a video question

Submit a written question

Your personal information will only be shared during Mac101 with your consent.

Submit a written question

Virtual campus tours

July 21, 8:00 p.m. EDT
July 22, 4:00 p.m. EDT
July 23, 3:00 p.m. EDT
July 24, 4:00 p.m. EDT
July 26, 3:00 p.m. EDT
July 27, 4:00 p.m. EDT

Are you interested in getting to explore your future home before classes start? Our virtual tour of McMaster’s campus brings you our exceptional in-person tour experience online. Interact and ask questions live as one of the friendly guides takes you digitally across campus. During this 60-minute guided tour, tour guides will:

Show you a variety of buildings and facilities.
Discuss student life at McMaster.
Introduce resources and answer questions about your first-year experience.

Get to Know the SSC: Experience Building (Volunteering and Global Opportunities)

July 22, 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. EDT (recording available)

Join us at this session to discover how the Student Success Centre can help you build experience during your time at McMaster, both at home and abroad. Learn about local and global volunteer opportunities, experience-building programs and opportunities, the McMaster Exchange Program and the Global Experience Program.

Experience Building: Volunteering and Global (recording)

Get to Know the SSC: Paid Work Experience

July 22, 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. EDT (recording available)

Get to know the Student Success Centre (SSC) and how we can support you in gaining valuable paid work experiences. Join this webinar as our staff provide information about the OSCARplus platform, employment resources, Career Access Professional Services (CAPS) and much more to help you succeed in your career path.

Paid Work Experience (recording)

Paid Work Experience (PDF)

Make the Most out of First-Year Through Volunteering

July 22, 4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. EDT (recording available)

Volunteering is a great way to get involved, develop skills and gain experience. At this session, explore how to make the most of your first-year experience through volunteering with McMaster organizations like the Student Success Centre and McMaster Students Union (MSU) services and clubs.

Make the Most out of First-Year Through Volunteering (recording)

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI): How to Build an Inclusive Community

July 23, 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. EDT (recording available)

Equity, diversity and inclusion add value to all experiences in university and beyond. At this session, familiarize yourself with EDI concepts and language, and discover basic tools to help you identify and analyze privilege and oppression. These concepts will set the groundwork for ongoing conversations on creating a more inclusive McMaster community.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (recording)

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) 101

July 23, 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. EDT (recording available)

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) provides compassionate, individualized services for students with disabilities with an integrated support structure, including academic accommodations, programming and support services. We assist students with disabilities in achieving their full potential with a service that focuses on full participation, autonomy, empowerment and equity.

Services include:

Individualized academic accommodation planning
Individual and group sessions on learning strategies and assistive technologies
Student support services, including one-on-one and group peer support
Wellness Learning Hub
Transition programming
Centralized testing centre for accommodated tests and exams

Join this session to discover how SAS can support you during your time at McMaster.

SAS 101 (recording)

Marauders in Motion

July 23, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT (recording available)

At this interactive session, discover recreation and sport opportunities at McMaster. Explore resources available to Marauders for physical activity and learn about the importance of movement for overall wellness. Plus, connect in smaller groups based on shared interests related to physical activity.

Marauders in Motion (recording)

Let’s Talk About: Asking for Help

July 23, 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. EDT (recording available)

Asking for help can be scary, especially in a new environment such as university. It can be hard to admit, even to ourselves sometimes, that we are struggling. We all need and deserve some support. In this workshop, let’s discuss why it can be hard to ask for support, address some assumptions we tend to make about other people and learn how we can overcome these things to ask for help when we need it.

Asking for Help (recording)

Parent Panel: Student Life Outside the Classroom

July 24, 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. EDT (recording available)

How is the university preparing for online learning and student life beyond the classroom? How are services and programs adapting to serve the evolving campus community and introduce students to university academics? Join senior administrators for a panel discussion and live Q&A session. When you register, you will be prompted to share your questions and comments. Parents and family members of international students are encouraged to attend this session.

Student Life Outside the Classroom (recording)

Financing Your Education

July 24, 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. EDT (presentation PDF available)
July 24, 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. EDT

There are many resources at McMaster available to help you finance your education, in addition to your personal and family contributions! Join this session to learn about government aid, scholarships, bursaries and campus work opportunities. Our financial experts will share the many resources available at McMaster to help you along the way.

Financing Your Education (presentation PDF)

Parent Panel: Academic/Technology Focus

July 24, 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. EDT (recording available)

How is the university building on the academic and technological challenges and learnings experienced over the past 16 months? How are services and programs evolving to meet student needs? Join university administrators for a panel discussion and live Q&A session. When you register, you will be prompted to share your questions and comments. Parents and family members of international students are encouraged to attend this session.

Academic/Technology (recording)

Online Student Services Fair

July 26, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT

Your orientation wouldn’t be complete without a fair, right? We agree. Join us at the Student Success Centre’s online Student Services Fair to discover many of the services and programs available in our supporting campus community. Families are welcome to attend!

Why attend?

Participate in one-on-one chats with knowledgeable campus staff.
Make meaningful connections online.
Explore services to support your success at McMaster.

Discover these campus and community services

Archway
Athletics & Recreation
Campus Store
City of Hamilton, Strategic Youth Initiatives
The Forge
MacChangers Program
McMaster University Libraries
Office of the Registrar | Student Services
Security & Parking Services
Security Services
Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office
Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
Student Success Centre (SSC)
- Academics
- Careers
- Global Opportunities
- International Student Services
Student Support and Case Management (SSCM) Office
Student Wellness Centre (SWC)
University Technology Services (UTS)
WIlson Leader Scholar Award (WLSA)
McMaster Students Union (MSU)
- Diversity Services
- Emergency First Response Team (EFRT)
- Maccess
- Spark
- Women & Gender Equity Network (WGEN)
Welcome Week

Archway is a support program for all incoming first-year undergraduate students at McMaster. Learn more about the program on the Archway website.

Archway Trivia

July 27, 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT

Start your day the right way — with a chance to win a prize from the Archway Program! Join Archway’s Kahoot activity to test your knowledge of McMaster, Hamilton and Canada. The top three contestants will receive some McMaster swag! This trivia session has a registration cap of 300 students, so save your spot before it’s gone!

Get to Know Archway

July 27, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT (recording available)

If you’re a first-year undergraduate student at McMaster, Archway is here for you! Join this webinar to fully understand what Archway is and how the program can support you.

At this session, you will learn…

What the Archway program is
How your mentor and coach will help you
How Archway stays connected with you through Microsoft Teams and social media
What kind of events Archway hosts
How you can make the most of the program
And more!

Note: If the event is full when you register, you can watch the recording on the Archway Instagram (@archwaymcmaster) and Archway website.

Get to Know Archway (recording)

There Is No I in TEAM: An Intro to Microsoft Teams and Archway Q&A

July 27, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. EDT (recording available)

Join Archway for a virtual tutorial of Microsoft Teams! It’s a great tool to stay connected with your peers and form virtual study groups. MS Teams is also the primary platform used by Archway to connect first-year undergraduate students with their communities, mentors and coaches.

In the virtual tutorial, you will learn…

How Archway uses teams, channels and chats
Where to find your Archway community in MS Teams once you are added
MS Teams 101: Archway representatives will show you how to use the basic functions of MS Teams.

Archway representatives will hold a brief Q&A session at the end of the training session to answer any general questions students have about the Archway program.

Note: If the event is full when you register, you can download a PDF version of the presentation, which will be available in the days following the session.

Teams Training and Archway Q&A (recording)

Start university with success and earn full academic course credit with INSPIRE Intersession courses on academic skills, professional skills and student wellness. Visit the Intersession Learning website for more information and register on Mosaic.

Learn about INSPIRE courses