Family Orientation
Wondering how to best support your student? A video from our 2020 Parent and Family Orientation evening (below) will teach you about student and campus life, financial aid information, campus services and more.
Check out the 2020 Parent and Family Orientation video
Whether you were able to attend our virtual parent and family orientation event or not, feel free to view our video from the event. Help facilitate your student's success as a supporter, resource person, sounding board by exploring the following topics with us.
- Student and campus life
- Financial aid
- Campus services and resources
- Online learning resources
If you have any questions, please email family@ucalgary.ca. For more information on the 2021 session, please visit this page in early August.
Family Handbook
Please take a moment to view our Parent and Family Handbook for new UCalgary students. Inside, you will learn about important student services, programs and resources that your student can access to aide in their university experience. For further information about a particular service, please click on the red hyperlink text.
For optimal viewing, please open the PDF file on a desktop computer. For mobile viewing, please download the mobile PDF version of the handbook.
Academic Success
The Student Success Centre (SSC) offers a number of supports that can assist your student academically. Students can visit the SSC to obtain assistance with writing, math, academic planning and improvement, study skill development, scholarship applications, choosing a major, and more.
Money Matters
From paying tuition and fees to receiving scholarships, there's lots of important information to remember about financing a university degree. Your student may draw on a number of resources to finance their education including student loans, scholarships and bursaries, Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP’s), savings, and more.
Health and Wellness
We're committed to ensuring your student has the resources necessary to thrive at UCalgary. We offer on-campus health services including medical, dental, chiropractic, massage, and counselling. Students also have access to the Undergraduate Student Health and Dental Plan. Students also have full access to our Active Living resources including a fitness centre, rock climbing and bouldering wall, gymnastics centre, aquatic centre, racquet centre, and more.
Connection to Campus
It's important that your student is engaged in more than their coursework while at UCalgary. Being involved on campus helps students build positive relationships with peers, and gain valuable skills and experience. Students can:
- develop leadership skills through Camp LEAD and the Emerging Leaders Program
- meet like-minded peers by volunteering with the Peer Helper Program
- give back to the community through ucalgarycares.
Many more opportunities for involvement will be discussed at Fall Orientation so please encourage your student to attend.
Safety
UCalgary takes precautions to ensure that students are safe while they are on campus. Campus Security regularly patrols the campus on foot, bicycle and in vehicles to ensure students are safe. Students are also able to access Safewalk 24/7 if they need to walk somewhere alone on campus and would prefer the company of peers. Encourage your student to download UC Emergency Mobile to ensure that they are alerted to any emergency that occurs on campus.
Career Planning
While they're at university, we're sure you'll want to support your student as they develop the skills they'll need to obtain work after graduation. Career Services offers students support with developing a resume and cover letter, interview skills and more. Students can make appointments with a Career Advisor, attend career workshops and register for the Career Development Program.