UTM welcomes students back to campus with Orientation Week
More than 100 events are lined up for new and returning students as the 2025-26 academic year kicks off.
The first week of school at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) can be particularly daunting for undergraduates, whether they’re first-years just starting to find their way around campus or upper-years re-adjusting to the rhythms of academic life.
But thanks to Orientation Week, the return to classes also brings with it extra-curriculars and networking galore. From August 29 to September 5, UTM is hosting a plethora of events to help new and returning students alike settle into the new semester.
This year, the UTM Students’ Union (UTMSU) is running a series of themed challenges, games, outings, and live performances as part of its frosh program, titled “Legacy 25”.
The program is touted as “an opportunity to meet over 1450 incoming students,” helping first-years to transition into post-secondary life and familiarize themselves with campus alongside peers, as per the UTMSU Orientation web page.
Those who registered for frosh were randomly assigned to one of four houses, each corresponding with an elemental gift of the Anishinaabe: Shkode (fire); Nibi (water); Aki (earth); and Noodin (wind). Members of each house will supposedly work together and compete against other houses throughout Orientation.
Most of Legacy 25 will be held on campus, starting with the Unlock UTM Scavenger Hunt on August 29 and ending with the Paint & Glow Party at South Field on September 5. One Orientation Week event, the Legends of the City Scavenger Hunt, will take place in downtown Toronto on September 1.
The Boat Cruise in Toronto Harbour, a highlight of last year’s Quest 24, is scheduled to return for Legacy 25 on September 12.
Into the thick of it
Dozens of organizations at UTM, including Student Affairs & Services, academic departments, and clubs, are hosting their own events for the busiest week of the season as well. All told, the UTM Orientation 2025 web page promises more than 100 events between August 29 and September 5, inclusive.
Unlike the UTMSU’s frosh week, campus-wide Orientation includes events for all undergraduate students as well as their families. To help attendees navigate the Orientation schedule, the web page gives the option to filter events by their date, target audience, topic, and expected energy level.
In one of the week’s largest initiatives, university-recognized student groups will be taking over the walkways of UTM for tabling during the Student Group Fair on September 4 and 5.
For students with varying levels of sociability, many organizations will host events with a more relaxed atmosphere, such as the Centre for Student Engagement and the Health & Counselling Centre’s Quiet Space event on August 31.
Orientation Week will end on September 5 with the “high-energy” Campus Carnival drop-in event for first-years, which promises “music, games, performances, and free food.”
A week to remember
The Medium interviewed students in the lead-up to Orientation Week.
Fourth-year paleontology student Noah Aguiar believes that Orientation Week is essential for getting to know UTM, “from learning about resources around the university, to learning the layout of the campus and how the courses work.”
He’s most excited about the chance to connect with other students in his program. “Currently, it’s a pretty small program, and being able to meet incoming paleo students and give them some pointers would be great!”
Arhama Jawwad, a fourth-year student studying digital enterprise management, thinks that Orientation Week helped her meet people in her program that she might not have connected with otherwise.
“I met a lot of people through those icebreakers who I then saw in all of my classes later,” she said, recalling a CSE event that grouped students from the same admission category. “If we ever need to work together for a group project or if I need to ask somebody a question, I know that I have somebody from my program that I can go to.”
Similarly, one fourth-year international student, who asked to remain anonymous, said that Residence Move-In helped them to meet students in various programs of study. Overall, they’re looking forward to the atmosphere that Orientation Week brings. “It is supposed to be fun but informative, so take advantage of it as much as possible.”
On the other hand, the atmosphere of Orientation can be overwhelming for many students, especially with so many events to keep track of. “It can feel like a non-stop marathon,” said second-year social sciences student Mustafa Memon, reflecting on last year’s Orientation Week.
“My strategy is to treat it like a mix of sprinting and resting: dive in fully during the events I’m most excited about, then give myself permission to step back, breathe, and recharge when I need it,” he said. “That balance keeps the fun high and the stress low, so by the end of the week I still feel energized rather than drained.”
Orientation events will also be underway at the St. George and Scarborough campuses, starting on August 28.
