18 February 2022
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Story Gerben van Niekerk and Anthony Mthembu
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First-Year Orientation 2022: Dream Walk Event 19 February 2022
Step 1: Register on the RSVP Evasys link attached below (link will close on 18 February 2022 at 22:00).
RSVP link: https://surveys.ufs.ac.za/evasys/online.php?p=SAPL4
Step 2: On 19 February 2022, wear your Gateway faculty T-shirt and UFS mask and meet us at the
outdoor gym next to the Main Gate (Gate 1). Arrive 20 minutes before your start time. (Please see table below for the schedule and start times.)
Step 3: Collect your dream card from the FYO crew. Write down your dreams and aspirations for 2022 on the dream card.
Step 4: With your dream card in hand, mask on, and cheerful spirit, join your group in front of the Main Gate (please follow instructions given by the marshals on duty).
Step 5: Walk to the Red Square with your group. NB!! Remember to sing and dance as you walk in celebration of your beautiful dream (route: Main Gate Callie Human Red
Square).
Step 6: At the Red Square, stop and strike a pose as you walk under the banner. Allow the moment to sink in … let it be engraved in your mind and memory as the point and
moment where you took your first steps towards achieving your dream(s).
Step 7: Walk to Pellies Park in your group.
Step 8: Get into formation on the field for the aerial photo of the 2022 Kovsie class
Step 9: Grab your snack pack and proceed to the different venues for the Gateway Sports Tournament.
Step 10: Go home and marvel at the big step you have taken towards achieving your goals.
Step 11: Buckle up and enjoy the ride. It’s going to be an epic!!!
Please see table below for the schedule and start times:
| | GROUP | START TIME |
|---|
| Group 1 | Tswelopele and Welwitschia | 07:45 |
| Group 2 | Vergeet-my-nie and Madelief | 08:00 |
| Group 3 | *City College /Commuter students | 08:15 |
| Group 4 | *City College /Commuter students | 08: 30 |
| Group 5 | Abraham Fischer and Outeniqua | 08:45 |
| Group 6 | Conlaurês and Villa Bravado | 09:00 |
| Group 7 | City College (*City College /Commuter students) | 09:15 |
| Group 8 | Armentum and Khayalami | 09:30 |
| Group 9 | Harmony and Soetdoring | 09:45 |
| Group 10 | *City College /Commuter students | 10:00 |
| Group 11 | *City College /Commuter students | 10:15 |
| Group 12 | Roosmaryn and Emily Hobhouse | 10:30 |
| Group 13 | Kestell, Karee, and Lehakwe | 10:45 |
| Group 14 | Wag-’n-Bietjie, Karee, and Kagiso | 11:00 |
| Group 15 | Akasia and Beyers Naude | 11:15 |
| Group 16 | SHU and Beyers Naude | 11:30 |
| Group 17 | *City College /Commuter students | 11:45 |
| Group 18 | Sonnedou, Imperium, Legatum, and Veritas | 12:00 |
*Group limited to 220 students per slot
Bloemfontein Campus (19 February 2022) l Qwaqwa Campus (26 February 2022) l South Campus (4 March 2022)
Gateway Sports Tournament
First year students at the University of the Free State (UFS) can prepare themselves for a full sports programme during the 2022 Gateway Orientation Programme. The Gateway Sports Tournament will be an opportunity for first year students to showcase their skills. First year students on the Bloemfontein Campus can join in on some serious sporting action starting on the following days:
| 18 February | - Chess (all)
- Table Tennis (all) |
| 19 February | - Netball
- Volleyball (ladies)
- Soccer (ladies)
-
Basketball (men) |
| 20 February | - Basketball (ladies)
- Volleyball (men)
- Soccer (men) |
- First year students on the QwaQwa Campus can partake in the following activities between 25 and 27 February:
| 25 February | - Chess (all)
- Table Tennis (all) |
| 26 February | - Netball (ladies)
- Volleyball (ladies)
- Basketball (ladies)
- Soccer (ladies) |
| 27 February | - Netball (men)
- Volleyball (men)
- Basketball (men)
-
Soccer (men) |
- First year students on the South Campus can partake in the following activities on 4 and 5 March:
| 4 March | - Chess (all)
- Table Tennis (all) |
| 5 March | - Netball (all)
- Volleyball (all)
- Basketball (all)
-
Soccer (all) |
First-year students at the University of the Free State (UFS) can look forward to a 2022 welcome programme full of activities and programmes to make sure they are ready to make a successful start at Kovsies.
The Gateway Orientation programme is a programme that is purposefully designed to orientate new students effectively to the university environment, and in this way assist their transition to higher education. Prospective students can visit the UFS
website to find important information
before registration.
As in 2021, the first-year orientation programme will be hosted virtually. The Gateway Orientation programme will be held on Blackboard, an online platform that helps students navigate their lives at Kovsies. Students can join the sessions on Blackboard
after their registration. The online orientation sessions will remain available from 7 February to 31 March 2022, and registered students are welcome to access this material at any time.
Additionally, Gateway provides first-year students with an extensive offering, including library orientations, faculty-specific orientations, sports tournaments, and Dreamwalks on the Bloemfontein, Qwaqwa, and South campuses (see detailed programme below).
It also offers first-year students the opportunity to meet new friends, to build new relationships, and to join new communities.
Students are encouraged to actively participate in the Student Life Peer Mentor Programme. Get more information about the programme here or contact PeerMentor@ufs.ac.za
Log in for the Gateway Programme
To join the Gateway Orientation programme after registration, following the steps below:
STEP 1: Access the Blackboard organisation (How to log on)
STEP 2: Click on the Organisations link in the left navigation
STEP 3: Select the "First-year Orientation" organisation for your specific campus
STEP 4: Work through and complete the
themes under the "First-year Orientation" organisation for your specific campus
Peer Mentor Programme
First-year students can also contact the
WhatsApp chatbot at +27 87 240 6370 to conduct an online chat conversation via text messages.