USPP Summer Bridge Orientation

Saturday

All Day - Arrival at your summer bridge residence hall: University Heights South

Welcome to your home for the summer! Take this evening to get settled into your room. Introduce yourself to your roommate and Program Advisors (PAs), and try to get to sleep on time – it will help the jetlag!

Sunday

10:00 a.m.: Getting Settled Orientation
Location: UHeights South Study Room & Lounge

Meet Program Advisors Kasey and Will and Lead Program Advisor Alyssa and get tip to get settled in your first few days. They will explain where you can shop (for food, household items, electronics), and how to get around Burlington.  You will also review the USPP Summer Bridge Code of Conduct.

12:00 - 12:15 p.m.: Overview of what to expect this week
Location: Harris Millis Dining Hall

Emma Swift, Assistant Director for International Student Services, will give you an idea of what to expect during this orientation week.

12:30 p.m.: Summer Dining Options
Location: Harris Millis Dining Hall

The majority of your meals during Summer Bridge will be “cafeteria-style” in Harris Millis Dining Hall. Ruby Hsu will answer your questions about dining plans for the summer, how and where to use your meal plan, and information about the types of dining options. You can have lunch in Harris Millis afterwards.

Monday

All Day: Optional Activities with PAs
Various Locations

PAs will coordinate activities and games to help you get acquainted with one another. They will help you understand what “Circles” and “Ice Breakers” are, and help you meet some other UVM students!

• “Circles” are a way for us to connect and share information as a community. You will continue to experience “circles” in your residential community at UVM as well.
• An “ice-breaker” is “a beginning activity that relaxes a tense or formal atmosphere”. Icebreakers are designed to help us relax and get to know each other.
  

Tuesday

Meet in the UHS Lobby at 9:15 a.m. Bring your passport, and a way to pay for books (credit card)!

9:30 a.m.: Get your CatCard (UVM Student ID)
Location: CatCard Office, Davis Center

Program Advisors (PAs) will take you to the CatCard Office where you will get your photo taken for your UVM ID Card. This card is very important and is necessary for many processes (and even discounts!) at UVM and in the Burlington community. You can use this card to ride the busses in Burlington for free!

10:00 a.m.: Locate your mail box for summer
Location: Davis Center

PAs will show you summer mailboxes. Try opening your mailbox, and share the address with your parents!

10:30 a.m.: Davis Center Tour
Location: Davis Center

Tour UVM’s student center, the Davis Center, and visit the dining options available over the summer.

11:00 a.m.: Buy Summer Bridge Books
Location: Davis Center

Pick up and pay for your summer bridge books. ** Bring a Credit Card or other valid form of payment**

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.: Lunch
Location: Harris Millis

Afternoon: Running Errands

Time to go do important things to get settled. Program Advisors can give you advice on setting up a bank account, buying a cell phone, buying a computer, or purchasing any other items you might need.

Wednesday

Please make sure to bring along your: Passport, I-20, I-94 Card, and Immunization Forms

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Introduction to the OIE & Immigration Check-in
Location: L/L Room 216

After an Opening Circle, Meet Office of International Education Staff and learn about how the OIE can support you. We will take copies of your immigration documents during this time.

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: F-1 Immigration Regulations
Location: L/L Room 216

Office of International Education staff will review all of the important things that you need to know about the rules and responsibilities of holding an F-1 status. Pay attention – this is VERY important!

11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.: Complete Paperwork and Tax Information
Location: L/L Room 216

You will fill out an “International Information Sheet” and other OIE paperwork. We will ask you to provide information for an emergency contact person at this time – please bring the name, phone number, and email address of the person or people you would like to have contacted in case of an emergency.

11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Tour of the Office of International Education (OIE)

1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.: Center for Health & Wellbeing and Health Insurance
Location: L/L Room 216

Ms. Margaret Johnson (Insurance and Immunization Records), Ms. Jill Hoppenjans (Student Health Center), Ms. Denise Pickering and Mr. Walter Brownsword (Counseling Services) from the Center for Health and Wellbeing will explain what to do when you are sick, on-campus health services and your health insurance. Immunization forms will be collected.

2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Closing Circle
Location: L/L Room 216

2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Campus Resources Treasure Hunt
Location: L/L Room 216

Small teams of USPP students will go on a hunt for resources around campus. You must find important offices on campus and complete different tasks. Teams who complete the tasks win a prize, and there is a special reward for the winning team! ** OIE Staff will provide Instructions**

Thursday

8:15 a.m.: Opening Circle
Location: L/L Room 216

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: Overview of Summer Bridge
Location: L/L Room 216

Ms. Janet Nunziata and Ms. Shilpa Dewoolkar of the Continuing Education Department will provide an overview of the Summer Bridge program, introduce staff and answer your questions.

9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Academic Standards at UVM
Location: L/L Room 216

Dr. Brian Reed, Associate Provost, will explain academic standards at the University of Vermont. This presentation will outline what grades are expected of you to succeed and continue your studies at UVM during Summer Bridge and beyond.

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Academic Support Services at UVM
Location: L/L Room 216

Ms. Sue Dinitz and Ms. Patience Whitworth will discuss the various services available at UVM to help you succeed in the classroom. They will also give tips on how to be successful in US University Classrooms!

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: Academic Integrity and the UVM Code of Conduct
Location: L/L Room 216

Ms. Lara Scott and Ms. Deanna Garrett-Ostermiller from the UVM Center for Students Ethics and Standards Office will discuss academic integrity, FERPA, and other important policies that you need to know about. There will also be a review of the USPP Summer Bridge Code of Conduct by Ms. Jilly Warner, from the Office of Admissions.

12:00 p.m.: Closing Circle
Location: L/L Room 216

12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Lunch
Location: Harris Millis

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Accuplacer Test
Location: Kalkin Computer Lab

All USPP students must take a *short* English assessment to understand your current language abilities. Your PA will take you to the computer lab in small groups at a pre-assigned time during this afternoon.

Friday

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Campus Tour
           
PAs will take you on a tour of the UVM campus and point out different buildings that will be important to you during the Summer Bridge and while you are a student here at UVM. You will finish at the Library.

10:00 a.m. -11:00a.m.: Bailey-Howe Library Tour

Trina Magi and Elizabeth Berman from the Bailey-Howe Library will explain the services provided to students. Learn about Reference Librarians, how to request a book, and much more.

11:00 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.: Lunch
Location: Harris Millis

12:45 p.m.: Opening Circle
Location: L/L 315

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Safety and You (with Sue)
Location: L/L 315

Officer Sue Roberts from Campus Safety will give you tips on staying safe and obeying laws in the USA.

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.: Adjusting to Life in the USA
Location: L/L 315

OIE Staff will discuss how to make a successful transition to living in the USA, and a panel of international students will share tips for meeting Americans, living away from home, and being successful in Vermont!

3:30 p.m.: Closing Circle
Location: L/L 315

4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: USPP Presidential Reception
Location: Davis Center, Livak Ballroom

Acting President John Bramley, his wife Janet Bramley, and Provost Knodell host a reception to celebrate the new class of USPP Students. A group photo will be taken at this time. Dress up a bit, perhaps!

Saturday

9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Ropes Course

Students spend the day at the Adventure Ropes Course on the UVM Campus, which consists of elements, constructed of cables, ropes and wood, attached to trees. Your day will begin with warm-up and trust activities, then move into problem-solving initiatives, and low and high challenge course elements. You will spend the day getting to know this summer's USPP Summer Bridge group in the great outdoors.

6:00 p.m.: Free Time to Discover Burlington

Program Advisors will take groups of students downtown, or show you how to get there. Try out a new restaurant, explore the stores, or visit the waterfront. Time to get to know Burlington a little bit better.

Sunday

All Day: Free Time

Spend time unpacking, relaxing, and hanging out with friends. Your PAs will let you know of any activities!

Last modified February 22 2013 08:12 AM