First-Year Students FAQs

Move-In Weekend can arguably be the most stressful time of the semester if you don’t know what you’re getting into. Fear not! The Rez Life Team, along with the SRC, will be there to help you every step of the way. Here are some of the most common questions that the Rez Life Team gets that first weekend.

How do we get to the mall?
Bishop’s has two buses that come to campus regularly and it’s easy to hop on the #2 bus into Sherbrooke to visit the mall, movie theatre, restaurants, and other parts of the city. Bus tokens are sold in the bookstore to make travelling by transit that much easier and convenient!

What is the best way to keep in contact with home?
Residence Telephones. Each room does come with a phone with its own extension that you can use to call locally or get a calling card to make long-distance calls.

How do I send care packages to my student?
Every student receives a mailbox on campus where you can get packages and mail sent to. You can also send mail and packages outbound through our Porter’s Office located in the Student Union Building (SUB).

What are some of the fun places to go to in Lennoxville/Sherbrooke?
Depending on what you like to do, there are a variety of things you can do in and around Lennoxville and Sherbrooke. From plenty of walking, hiking, skiing and biking trails, to restaurants and clubs, to the movie theatre and shopping malls, rock climbing and the Lion (our local pub). For more ideas of cool places to head to, check out our Top Sherbrooke and Lennoxville Must Sees!

Is there a curfew?
No, but living in residence does have its rules and one of them is having designated and enforced quiet hours. From Sunday to Thursday, quiet hours start at 11 p.m. From Friday to Saturday, they start at 1 a.m. Quiet hours are in place to ensure that all students have an enjoyable time whether you want to stay in or go out. So, no curfew – just quiet hours.

What should I attend during O-Week?
During the first week of the school year, we host Orientation Week, where the Students’ Representative Council (the SRC) organizes a full week’s worth of academic and social events designed to engage new students and help integrate and welcome them into the Bishop’s community. From tours around campus with upper year students, to serenading the Principal, a concert in the Quad, and scavenger hunts around Lennoxville, there are activities for everyone. It is also the best place to meet upper year students who are involved as leaders, judges, and organizers. As for which event you should attend? As many as you want! But don’t miss out on the mandatory “Bystander Intervention Training” or “Can I Kiss You?” talk, as well as the Closing Ceremony wrapping up O-Week with music, dancing, and awards!

Photo credit : Junru Bian

Where are some quiet study places?
Depending on your own preferences, you can study in a variety of areas. The Library Learning Common and Old Library, of course, have a variety of places for either group or individual study, but each residence also has study rooms or common rooms, which can be used for anything. The local coffee shop, while not always quiet, is a great place to study and enjoy some delicious beverages. The Chapel can also be an amazingly quiet and relaxing place to study and reflect. The Sports Plex as well as Brûlerie Faro, while not alway quiet, offer great spaces to study and enjoy some delicious beverages.

How do I get to Montreal/airport/train station?
A shuttle bus comes to campus on Fridays which takes you to downtown Montreal, but you can also catch the city bus or take a taxi into Sherbrooke to the bus depot throughout the week. Otherwise, we have a few carpooling options that you can find through Facebook and other BU social media sites.

How do I put money on my card for laundry?
To do laundry in residence, you need to use Gaiter Dollars that are put directly on your BU student ID card. You also use this money to print from the computer labs. To put some money on your card, you can either use the Gaiter Dollar machine in the SUB next to the bookstore or in the Learning Commons. You can also put money on your card directly from your room online. Now you have no more excuses for ignoring your growing laundry pile!

To learn more about campus life: https://www.ubishops.ca/future-current-students/student-campus-life/