Society of Off-Campus Students (SOCS)

OC LogoStudent Leaders in the Society of Off-Campus Students (SOCS) not only get to experience the fast-paced and hyped-up excitement of Orientation Week, but are also committed to the year-long Western experience. SOCS provides an inclusive and welcoming community for first-year students living off-campus through increased accessibility to resources and various events and activities throughout the year. The Off-Campus Team is a group of highly motivated individuals that encourage the academic and social success of all off-campus first-year students while having the time of their lives themselves!

Got Questions?

Please contact Jarrett McCourt, SOCS Coordinator/Head Soph 2012-2013, at socs@uwo.ca.

Coming in September? Check out a Message from the SOCS Coordinator!

Get your 2012 Off-Campus Orientation Week schedule here!

Information About OC's 2012 Orientation Week Late-Night Shuttle Buses (pdf).

About the Program

The Society of Off Campus Students is a university-run group lead by upper year students, designed to help you make connections with other first-year students, have a student mentor, learn about the services at Western, and build lasting friendships.

SOCS Leaders/OC Sophs are high caliber student leaders representing all faculties who are carefully selected and extensively trained. For all SOCS Leaders, the first-year experience is still a fresh memory, and they are sensitive to the challenges faced by first-year students.

SOCS Leaders are committed to:
  • Ensuring that all first year students are welcomed to Western in a positive and healthy manner.
  • Meeting the needs of first-year, off-campus students by maintaining regular contact with fist-year students via phone and email.
  • Providing information about resources on and off-campus.
  • Providing a support network for first-year, off-campus students in areas related to academic, social and personal development.
  • Being a friendly resource for those first-year students that chose not to live in the residences on campus.
  • Giving off-campus students the same opportunities and channels of reference as on-campus students
How will involvement in SOCS improve your transition to university? You Will...
  • Be welcomed to the Western community with orientation activities
  • Have opportunities to meet other students and to make new friends
  • Go to off-campus events and residence-matching events to provide you with the social and academic opportunities that students living in residence have
  • Be paired with an upper –year student volunteer who will address your questions and concerns
  • Be contacted throughout the year with important announcements and updates
  • Be connected with resources and information available on and off campus
  • Have enhanced connection to your faculty of study