An official Dalhousie welcome

No student is ever completely sure where their Dalhousie journey will take them. But the endpoint of that journey is the same: hopefully crossing the stage at convocation and becoming a proud Dal alum.

New students get an initial taste of that experience during their first days on campus at induction, the official ceremony welcoming them to Dal’s academic community. The event serves as a bookend of sorts with convocation. In the case of the Halifax campuses, it even takes place in the same room — the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium — where their future convocation will take place. In Truro, induction is held in the Alumni Theatre. (Convocation in Truro happens in the Langille Athletic Centre.)

Dal President Richard Florizone delivered the keynote speech in both Halifax and Truro this year.

“Dalhousie is full of committed and talented people who are there for you to provide advice, offer encourage, and support you on this great journey,” he said, encouraging students to take advantage of the opportunities available to them, in and out of the classroom.

“Here’s to an amazing week of firsts, and to many more amazing weeks to come,” he concluded, just before stepping aside and taking a full "class picture" to share on his Twitter account.

Left: President Florizone taking a class photo in Halifax. Right: President Florizone's photos from Halifax (above) and Truro inductions.

In addition to an academic procession of student leaders, senior university officials, and faculty and staff, induction features two prominent traditions: the Dalhousie University Pledge and the University Pledge.

The Dalhousie University Pledge is taken by the students, who respond to it with “I will”:

Today, each of you takes your place as a member of the Dalhousie University scholarly community—a community with two centuries of proud tradition, scholarly excellence and academic achievement. Will you as Dalhousie University students promise to uphold and protect the integrity, good character and scholarly legacy of Dalhousie University?

The University Pledge, in comparison, is taken by the members of the academic procession, who promise to support the students in their studies:

Today, as each of you stand, you commit yourselves to the academic success of your students in the lifelong learning process. Will you, as Dalhousie University faculty and staff, promise to provide students with an enriched educational experience; with academic challenge through active and collaborative interactions; and with a supportive and engaging campus environment?

The student leaders who spoke at the ceremonies reinforced that message of support. They included Dalhousie Agricultural Students’ Association President Robyn McCallum in Truro, and Dalhousie Student Union President Dan Nicholson and Vice-President Student Life Kathleen Reid in Halifax. (Reid gave an enthusiastic speech in notably whispered tones: she had lost her voice in all the Orientation Week hoopla.)

"You’ll learn, make mistakes, and learn from those too," said McCallum at the Truro induction. "You will make connections that will help you for the rest of your life. You will find mentors that will help shape you into the person you were meant to become. You will fit into your new family and become an integral part of this campus."

Nicholson (left) said that one of the best things about post-secondary education is the opportunity to discover the sort of person you’ll eventually become.   

“Set your own agenda,” he advised the new students. “Always defend your principles. Never be too proud to ask for help. And challenge yourself to do something you’ve never done before — at the end of the day, you have no idea what experience will change your life forever.”