WELCOME WEEK COORDINATORS
The responsibilities of the Welcome Week Coordinators include, but are not limited to: selecting, training, and leading the BHSc Welcome Week Reps (aka “Pathogens”); liaising with the Student Success Center, BHSc Office and all other relevant McMaster groups on Welcome Week-related matters; planning a two week long set of activities for first years students and the Pathogens (including rep training/bonding, Faculty Day, and Move-in weekend), and acting as active, voting members during all BHSS meetings throughout the year. There is a high level of visibility, responsibility, and accountability with this position.
The position of Welcome Week Coordinator for BHSS for the 2018-2019 academic year is currently occupied by Stephanie Kay and Nitish Dhingra.
As a reminder to all voters, you do not need to vote for candidates as a pair, and may instead choose to vote for two candidates who are not running together, if you so wish.
Videos:
Kaelyn McGinty
Hey everyone!!!!
My name is Kaelyn McGinty, and I am thrilled to be running to become one of your Welcome Week Coordinators for the 2019/2020 year.
My first year Welcome Week was, and still is to this day, one of the biggest highlights of my university experience.
There was just something about smashing airsticks at Faculty Fusion, screaming cheers and sweating profusely with the people I would be spending the next four years with, that confirmed McMaster and my new BHSc family as home.
As WW Coordinator, I hope to instill that same sense of community, acceptance and inclusivity I had experienced as both a first year student and Pathogen rep.
Read on for a brief summary of a few campaign points.
You may find more information about my campaign on Facebook; “Kaelyn McGinty for BHSc Welcome Week Coordinator”.
If you have any questions, you may contact me via Facebook, LearnLink, discrete mid-lecture AirDrop, or pigeon.
Even better, feel free to approach me whenever and say hi, ask any questions or tell me what you ate for breakfast -- whatever works for you!
0. The Prelude: I hope you catch on that inclusivity is an underlying theme here. There is a definitive place for each and every person with us here today, and their entirety should be recognized and celebrated by whatever means. By striving for inclusivity every step of the way, such as in rep selection or alternative program planning, we are ensuring the Welcome Week experience is as reflective of the current BHSc community as possible.
1. Pathogen Selection: ensure the process is as inclusive as possible
• Work alongside former WWC in evaluating the benefits/drawbacks of the past and current application processes
• Organize a panel discussion with former WWC and BHSc students to receive student input on the overall application; discuss what can be improved and how to promote systemic inclusivity (ex. situational role play round, possible creative component, etc)
• Maintain transparency throughout the process, outline clear expectations and reasoning, enforce blinding and neutrality
2. Feedback: a personal favourite — there is always room for growth!
• Distribute a Welcome Week survey to both new and previous pathogens, second-year transfers and first years on their WW experience; incorporate feedback and address areas in need of improvement before
• Maintain an atmosphere of group feedback and development throughout Training and Welcome Week; have both an anonymous input box in lounge and via Google Form, daily small group debriefs, etc.
3. Welcome Week: fortify the old, innovate the new
• Continue with bomb inter-faculty events; reach out and potentially collaborate with other programs under the faculty umbrella (iBiomed, Nursing, Midwifery, etc)
• Place more emphasis on the second-year transfer student transition and WW experience
• Promote diversity of interest; encourage comprehensive discussion, strive to debunk preconceived notions about the program and university life
• Continued emphasis on both Pathogen and new student wellness throughout the week; expand the Wellness Subcommittee, make these leaders identifiable to first years before WW begins via Facebook
• Increased Shinerama awareness; provide information to new students over summer, promote more fundraising and shining invitations to new students over the summer/during Welcome Week
• Increased support for Pathogens; direct and accessible messaging system (ex. Remind), Pathogen Handbook summarizing training/resources/what-ifs, etc.
Follow up with my Facebook page for more ideas around training week, post-welcome week and strengthening overall communication.
Thank you for reading!
Have a great week :)
KM
Arka Roy
Welcome Week
/waelkum week/
Noun
A week long event held primarily for incoming first year McMaster students, where upper year students work and coordinate to host events and activities to celebrate the welcoming of McMaster freshmen.
That definition above, does Welcome Week no justice. It provides a scaffolding in our minds to expect from Welcome Week; from what I witnessed, Welcome Week’s fluid nature surprised me every year, based on the perspective that I enter this celebratory week with. I observed my first Welcome Week, feeling like I was wanted and like I was an integral part of this Health Sciences community. I completed my second Welcome Week as a pathogen, a bit more mature and wise, where I directly witnessed the strengths and shortcomings of the week. And it is with these experiences I plan on crafting the best Welcome Week to my abilities, for both the incoming first years, as well as the hard working pathogens that ensure this week is delivered.
My campaign will be solely revolved around one theme: cohesivity. It begins with the pathogen team. Placing an emphasis on group dynamic will be one of my primary priorities – with a robust foundation underlying the team, everything else will run its course smoothly. Executing events and activities, ensuring consistent and genuine communication between the pathogen team and first years, and overall Welcome Week success is inherent when training week addresses the importance of a cohesive team, and hence a cohesive faculty.
My name is Arka Roy, and I am running for your Welcome Week Coordinator. Entrust me with this position, and I promise to deliver a Welcome Week full of laughs, obnoxious Health Sci cheering, and a team like never before. It is our responsibility as a program to ensure the smoothest transition for the Class of 2023; a wolf pack is only as great as its most vulnerable.
For inquiries about my platform, I have listed a glimpse into some modifications and new ideas I have for this upcoming Welcome Week.
Pathogen Tryouts
• Emulating potential Welcome Week scenarios as a role-playing exercise in interviews to evaluate candidates’ response
• Consulting a minimum of three past generations of Welcome Week Coordinators to receive input on positives of past pathogen selection processes, and adjustments they would make
• Removing Welcome Week Coordinators from 2nd and 3rd year Pathogen interviews to eliminate bias
• Instead have 4th years conduct interviews for these years, and Welcome Week Coordinators conduct 4th year interviews
Constructive Appraisal
Feedback as a means of bringing everyone together, working towards a goal and providing input.
• Online forms published twice, before and after summer, to receive feedback, critique, ideas, or comments on what the BHSc faculty would like to see in Welcome Week 2019
• Surveys will be published shortly before the 2018/19 school year ends, and directly after Welcome Week is completed
• Establish an anonymous dropbox in the lounge during Welcome Week where anyone (first years/Pathogens) can address concerns
• Dropbox would be checked by Welcome Week coordinators every night, and input would be applied into daily planning of the day
• Again, consulting at least three generations of Welcome Week Coordinators to gauge strengths of their Welcome Week, and shortcomings that we should address
• Open communication between Pathogen team and Welcome Week Coordinators during the summer, to enhance transparency when planning activities for the incoming First Years
Be sure to check out my Facebook page for further inquiries on my complete platform; please do not hesitate to shoot me a message over Facebook or Learn Link, or simply say hi in person. I'd love to chat.
-Arkie Barkie
Neda Pirouzmand
Hello, thanks for reading my blurb! :) My name is Neda and I am running to be one of your Welcome Week Coordinators. I’m in third year and have repped in the past as a Pathogen and as a Shinerama representative. Both positions have given me valuable insight that would inform my role should I be elected.
I put 100% of my heart and effort into the things that I am involved in, I value being a part of a team, and I want to make this Welcome Week enjoyable for everyone. I think approachability is huge for this role, if you want to discuss my ideas below I would be more than happy to.
The first regards the selection process for Pathogens. I want to revamp this by making interviews longer with more stations. This would include bringing on a committee of Health Sciences students and students from other faculties that have held or are currently holding Welcome Week leadership positions. I also want to focus on Faculty Day, one of the larger days that Coordinators have control over. Using feedback on how Faculty Day went last year, I want to look into how we can improve it for this coming year. Of course, I want to maintain the momentum of Iku/Steven and Nitish/Stephanie in promoting inter-faculty events. These events are crucial because allowing first year exposure to students outside of our program is important to helping first years step outside of our program bubble.
Stephanie Kay
Hi there!! Thank you for taking the time to read my blurb. My name is Stéphanie and I'm running to be one of your WW Coordinators. After taking on the role this past Welcome Week, I am beyond excited to share my ideas to make Welcome Week 2019 the best one yet. My experience as a Welcome Week coordinator has allowed me to gain better insight into how Welcome Week functions and where it can be greatly improved. I encourage you all to check out my full platform on Facebook to learn more.
I don't want to make this too lengthy, so here’s an incredibly brief summary of my platform:
✨ Revamp rep selection
✨ Invest in future Welcome Weeks
✨ Actually follow feedback
✨ Continue to prioritize inclusivity
✨ Build better partnerships
✨ Create a clear post-Welcome Week plan
The opportunity to once again work on putting together such a memorable week makes me so happy as it is something I care deeply about. If elected, I look forward to working with a new partner in the creation of a wonderful Welcome Week for the Class of 2023.
If you have questions/concerns/suggestions, contact me via LearnLink, Facebook, or whatever works for you.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
Bryan Wong
Hey, Health Sci! My name is Bryan Wong, and I'm incredibly excited to be running as a candidate for one of your Welcome Week Coordinators! Below is an outline of my ideas for Welcome Week 2019. Check out my Facebook page for a detailed version of my platform!
Before WW
◆ Conduct a transparent Pathogen selection process that minimizes bias. Select a team that reflects the diverse BHSc community and supports all McMaster students, regardless of program.
◆ Incorporate your feedback regarding WW through in-person conversations and anonymous forms to improve WW 2019.
◆ Increase hype by reintroducing the “Meet Your Pathogens” website and posting a tutorial for our faculty dance.
◆ Provide accessible ways for first years to ask questions by resuming BHSc Queries.
During WW
◆ Promote an inclusive environment by incorporating more relaxed options for events that currently do not offer alternatives.
◆ Encourage interfaculty interactions by repeating HeArt Sci and creating BH(eng)c, a new event for Health Scis and iBioMeds.
◆ Revamp Faculty Day by replacing the scavenger hunt.
◆ Emphasize self-care for first years and Pathogens by expanding the role of the Wellness Committee and providing first years with information regarding McMaster's support resources.
After WW
◆ Identify costs that can be modified with negligible effect on the WW experience, and use the money saved for other areas of the BHSS during the school year.
◆ Organize an event for Faculty Day groups to reconnect later in the school year.
◆ Assist in the integration of the First Year Council with the rest of the BHSS.
Surabhi Sivaratnam
Hello friends✨,
My name is Surabhi and I’m running to be the Class of 2023’s Welcome Week Coordinator. Thanks for taking the time to read this blurb about my vision for Welcome Week.
Here is a very brief summary of what I’ll be advocating for and implementing if elected as Welcome Week Coordinator:
💙Pathogen Selection Process
• Equitable and Transparent - Use an anonymous form for selection process questions and accommodations requests
• Improvement through Feedback - Contact current first years, past WW Coordinators, and past manager of WW Coordinators for areas of improvement
• Ensure Diverse Personalities and Skill Sets - Select a team with a range of personalities and diverse skill set
💙Emphasis on Support, Self Care and Integration
• Support & Accommodation Form for First Years - First years can anonymously ask for accommodation and peer support throughout the week
• Create a Physical Chill Space - Provide first years with a BHSc tent throughout WW, providing a quiet space for first years to relax and chat
• Self Care for Reps and First Years - Emphasize breaks and adequate amount of sleep
• Increased Interfaculty Events - Increase events with Art Scis and iBiomeds to allow first years to meet their classmates outside of BHSc
💙Post Welcome Week
• Continue Interfaculty Events Throughout the Year - Maintain friendships made with other faculties
• Create a Defined plan for Pathogen-First Year Events - Including coffee-houses, or First Year focused BHSc real talks
• Invest in the Next Welcome Week - Create advice page by Pathogens for Pathogens and WW Coordinator transition reports
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Surabhi-Siva-for-WW-Coordinator-619593831797337
Surabhi Sivaratnam
Bachelor of Health Sciences 2021