New employee orientation
Welcome to UVic!
As you prepare to begin your new role, this page will highlight what all UVic employees need to know and do as they start out.
Situate yourself
We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
Get to campus
UVic is commuter-friendly and accessible with lots of ways to get to and around campus. Consider sustainable transit choices when planning your commute to work.
Once you're ready, explore UVic with your preferred navigational orientation:
- book a campus tour via golf cart
- explore UVic in
- download a campus map
Get set up
In your first week, focus on getting your work space set up and familiarizing yourself with common campus services and procedures.
In addition to the areas below, your manager will add you to department-specific Microsoft Teams, show you departmental file management processes and tour you around your new workspace.
Enroll in benefits
Benefit enrollment is mandatory for most employees. If you do not submit enrollment paperwork, you will be auto-enrolled as a single person after the first month of employment.- get building & office keys from your manager
- meet your colleagues
- get your staff ID (ONECard)
- review ergonomic practices
- review working alone protocols
- review employment accommodation policy
- review air quality, scents and fragrances guidelines
- set up your email signature
- access online tools
- download the UVic Safety App
- complete the Better Data Project questionnaire
- turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- get the VPN client for remote or secure work
Workplace policies help keep us safe, healthy and productive. Some apply to everyone, others depend on your role. Take time to review the policies below, and the full range of policies that apply at UVic. Ask your supervisor which ones to review closely based on your role.
New employees must complete standard training and, in some cases, review it annually. Required courses you should complete now:
- Health and Safety (~60 minutes)
Check with your supervisor if the WHMIS module is required. - (~15 minutes)
We also recommend that you register for:
- (in person)
- (online, self-paced, ~1hr)
- (online, self-paced, ~1hr)
Probation process
A probation or trial period is a chance for you to show that you can do your new job well, with help and guidance from your supervisor. It usually starts on your first day and lasts for a set amount of time, based on your collective agreement or terms of employment. Your supervisor will guide the probationary period and explain what’s expected in your new job.
Union groups
Most UVic employees are unionized; if you are unsure which union you are a member of, review your offer letter or ask your supervisor. Learn more about your union through the Collective Agreement and union website. As well, you will be added to a distribution list to receive communications directly from your union.About UVic
In your first month, set aside some time to learn more about UVic's history, current aspirations and what makes us unique. Start with , a self-paced online course to better understand UVic's values, culture, institutional plans and strategic priorities, history, governance and community.
Familiarize yourself with these key institutional plans. This will help you situate your work in the broader goals of UVic and think about how you can contribute in your new role.
Xʷkʷənəŋistəl | W̱ȻENEṈISTEL | Helping to move each other forward
Indigenous Culture and Protocol
Learn more about how we work together to create a warm, welcoming and respectful learning environment and sense of place to support our goals of creating a campus community that is accepting of diversity and inclusive of Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
Take time to think about how you can contribute.
Respectful workplace
Everyone has the right to work in a respectful environment. At UVic, all employees help create and maintain a workplace where people feel safe and valued. A respectful workplace means treating others fairly, listening to different opinions, speaking politely, solving problems early and working together as a team.
All members of the UVic community are expected to be honest, act professionally, treat others with kindness, respect differences and take responsibility for their actions. Respect doesn’t happen on its own—it’s something we build together. Here are some helpful resources:
New Indigenous Employees
Information and resources for new Indigenous employees.
Resources, events and initiatives designed to support Indigenous employees.
Once a year a New Indigenous Employees Welcome and Honouring Ceremony is hosted at the First Peoples House. This is a significant cultural event where new Indigenous employees have the opportunity to ask for permission to live and work on these lands. New Indigenous employees who are from this territory will also have the opportunity to be blanketed and honoured at the Ceremony.
If you are Indigenous and would like to be honoured at this Ceremony, we invite you to register by clicking on the link below.
We also encourage new non-Indigenous employees to join the Ceremony as witnesses. This is a great opportunity to engage with and learn about local Coast Salish culture and protocol, in alignment with Xʷkʷənəŋ istəl | W̱ȻENEṈISTEL , UVic’s Indigenous Plan.
If you are a new non-Indigenous employee and would like to witness the Ceremony, please register by following the link below.
Employee Learning Program
The Employee Learning Program helps UVic staff grow in their careers by offering free learning sessions all year. On the you will find a wide range of courses, leadership resources, and tools to help you reach your career goals. If you're new to UVic, it's a good idea to start with the UVic Citizen learning suite.
UVic Brand
From logos and imagery, to messaging and more, we have the tools you need to communicate our uniqe story.
Connecting with others
As a new employee, it may take a while to settle in and build a flow for yourself. It can be helpful to connect with others at a New Employee Welcome event. Invitations with registration details are circulated to new employees via email, usually a couple months in advance of a schedule event.
In the meantime, explore other ways to get involved in the UVic community:
- attend campus update sessions
- sign up to volunteer at convocation
- take a course in the
- learn about Black Inclusion and Flourishing at UVic
- attend a and cheer on the home team!
- take in a show at the Farquhar Auditorium, or a movie at
- join the Staff Sustainability Network
- participate in the
- support the UVic United Way Campaign
- volunteer with the
Employee perks
There are a number of other resources or perks you may enjoy depending on your role, your personal needs, and your employee group.
- UVic Child Care
- log into the TELUS Health Total Wellbeing platform and click on for a range of discounted products and services!
- professional development funds for some employee groups.
- employee recognition
- personal use discount program through UVic Purchasing Services.
- flexible work arrangements
New to 樱花影视?
Settlement services
If you are new to Canada, we encourage you to review Additionally, there are several local agencies in 樱花影视 that can support you in your transition to Canada:
Discover 樱花影视
is a great resource for those visiting or those new to town. Discover things to do, where to eat and what events are happening in the city.
Feedback
We'd like to hear your ideas to continuously evolve this space to better meet the needs of new employees. Your input matters—help us create a new employee hub that is engaging and makes for a smoother ride settling in part of the UVic community. Share your thoughts by taking our quick survey.