THE University of New England (UNE) is well under way with preparations for its annual Orientation - a week-long program of entertaining and informative events introducing new students to the university itself and to the wider Armidale community.

Professor James Barber, who takes up the position of UNE Vice-Chancellor, will - as his first official function - welcome the new students to the university.

Prof Barber’s welcome to UNE’s new international students will be at the beginning of a special day of orientation for them on Friday.

Orientation for all new students will begin on Monday, when Prof Barber - speaking on the lawns of ‘Booloominbah’ at 11 am - will extend his welcome to them all.

The orientation program is aimed both at students living in UNE’s residential colleges and those living in town.

As well as introducing the students to each other, the program will inform them about the wide range of personal and academic support services available at UNE, provide tours of the academic campus and the Dixson Library, and present introductory course lectures.

Social events during the week will include a sports afternoon at Sport UNE on Thursday, February 11, ‘Freshers’ Bash’ - featuring Bag Raiders - in the Bistro at 8 o’clock that evening, a film night at the Belgrave Cinema on the same evening as an alternative, and barbecues for students sponsored by Services UNE.

A traditional highlight of orientation at UNE is ‘Lifesaver Day’, when student and community organisations and local businesses set up stalls to alert new students to the vast potential for involvement - both on and off campus - in sporting, cultural, and community-oriented activities.

This year, ‘Lifesaver Day’ will be in UNE’s Lazenby Hall at 10am on Monday.

With 56 stalls already booked, organisers say there is room in the hall for many more.

The stall-holders include government, church and political organisations, sports clubs, banks and other commercial businesses, student organisations, cafes and hotels, transport companies, music, drama and arts societies, and organisations such as St John’s Ambulance, Amnesty International, and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.

Organisations interested in booking a stall should email Marina Schneider at: marina.schneider@une.edu.au.