Back to School 2020

As the new academic year begins, the ��Ƶ’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy spoke with students studying in its undergraduate (PharmD), graduate (PharmSci) and PharmD for Pharmacists programs.

In a year unlike any other, the faculty wanted to know: How are students planning to approach online learning, connect with their ‘Pharmacy phamily,’ and balance career, school, caretaking, and other responsibilities?

Meet four U of T pharmacy students who are overcoming challenges, building resilience and cultivating a memorable U of T experience:

Eliza McColl

PharmSci PhD candidate

What does back to school look like for you this fall?

My PhD is research-based and I’ve been working in the lab since mid-June after the COVID-19 shutdown, so back-to-school this fall doesn’t look much different from what I’ve been doing for the past few months.

There are some changes regarding how many people can be in the lab at once due to COVID-19, but other than that I will continue to complete my thesis research in the lab as usual. I will also be a TA, as I was in previous years, but the undergraduate pharmacy course I am supporting is online.

What are you most excited about?

I’m most excited about getting back to being a TA. I really enjoy the opportunity to interact with students in the PharmD program, gain teaching experience, and learn new material from the courses as I TA them, as I haven’t taken them before (they are reserved for PharmD students).

Why did you choose to study here?

The best part about being a grad student at LDFP (Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy) is that the department is relatively small. U of T is a huge school and I am used to smaller communities – I grew up in a small town in rural southwestern Ontario, and I completed my undergraduate degree at Trent University.

Making the change to U of T was intimidating due to its size, but the fact that the department of pharmaceutical sciences is relatively small helped me adjust and find more of a community within the university as a whole.

Despite its smaller size, our department has incredible resources for research, which is why I chose to study here. The equipment and expertise housed within our faculty is unparalleled which makes it a fantastic place to conduct research.

Is there anything that surprised you about the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy?

The thing that surprised me about LDFP after I started as a grad student here is the breadth of research being conducted in the faculty. Some people (myself included) tend to have a very narrow view of what “pharmaceutical sciences” encompasses, but LDFP really opened my eyes to how diverse this field is.

We have labs doing more typical pharmaceutical research such as drug discovery and clinical research, but we also have other labs conducting research in areas such as medical diagnostics, physiology, cell signaling, global health and bioethics. I wasn’t expecting to be exposed to so many different areas of research as a student.

What are your career plans and goals?

After graduating from my PhD, my career plan is to secure a post-doctoral fellowship to complete my training before seeking a position as a university professor with my own research lab. Ideally, this would allow me to pursue my passion for maternal-fetal health research.

Michael Saikali

PharmSci PhD candidate and PRiME fellow

What does back to school look like for you this fall?

Normally, my back to school is full of all the typical things like preparing for my classes, preparing to TA, buying new stationary that I will lose in a few days and preparing a calendar that I will obsessively use for maybe five weeks before I give up on it. Throw in meeting the new class of pharmacy students and the new grad students, undergrads and work-study students joining our lab – that is pretty much my fall.

This fall will obviously be different. I am entering the final stages of my degree, I have finished my course work and, of course, COVID-19. On the school side, I find myself relieved to not have to take any more courses, but thinking hard about how to be an effective TA online while preparing for a semester to remember.

What are you most excited about?

This year, I am most excited about a new project that I have started thanks to a PRiME fellowship I was awarded.

PRiME is a U of T-wide initiative that aims to bring together researchers from two different fields both working on precision medicine. My project aims to uncover new ligands for nuclear receptors involved in the gut-brain axis. To do this, I will be using a mass spectrometry-based assay that I developed in the Cummins Lab to identify where, when and how much of each nuclear receptor is present along the gut-brain axis.

I use that information to guide where and when to look for potential endogenous ligands using a new ligand identification approach developed by the Krause Lab in the Faculty of Medicine. This project will hopefully result in identifying new molecules that can serve as a basis for new therapeutics targeting nuclear receptors.

How do you plan on tackling the challenges associated with online learning?

Interestingly, I am finding myself on the other end of this challenge having finished my own coursework.

My favourite part of the fall is leading the PHM144 (Pharmacokinetics) workshops. I like the small class feel and being able to talk to the students. Not being able to meet the students in person this fall is disappointing, but I will still try to be as engaging online as I aim to be in person.

My biggest piece of advice for students this year is to use the resources that are available to you – for example TAs, forums, tutorials – and don’t let those lectures pile up!

Why did you choose to study here?

I started at the LDFP as an undergraduate student in the pharmaceutical chemistry specialist program. It was after joining the Cummins Lab to do my undergraduate thesis project when I realized that I was not done with this place and wanted more.

The graduate students were so welcoming and I saw a positive culture where the students all seemed to know each other and interact. I was learning a lot from the seminar series and I enjoyed how varied the topics were.

Is there anything that surprised you?

My biggest surprise was the amount of student-driven initiatives at this faculty. We have some super dedicated students here.

The Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Student Association and the Graduate Research in Progress (GRIP) committee provide much-needed graduate extra-curricular activities and events.

It truly is amazing that on top of all the academics, pharmacy students still make time to build up the LDFP community. This is something I found unique to LDFP, as it is made so much easier with the help of our donors and the Shaping Student Life and Learning fund.

Jody Mugford

PharmD for Pharmacists program

What does back to school look like for you this fall?

I am expecting this fall to be quite busy, both in my personal and academic life.

I have two young daughters – one is seven years old and the other will be four years old this month. My youngest is very medically complex and requires a lot of care, which can make my days unpredictable.

To adjust my academic schedule due to a medical emergency we went through with her last year, I am taking one extra course this semester than previously planned. I also have recently resumed full-time work after an extended leave to take care of my daughter, so I'm adjusting to another type of busy.

I'm looking forward to the courses this fall, and I will definitely not be bored.

What are you most excited about?

I love learning. I love the sense of accomplishment that comes from successfully completing a challenge and being empowered with new skills to further my career and professional goals. I have already seen so much benefit from this program in my professional life. My skills in caring for my patients have grown substantially and I love knowing that I am having a positive impact on their health. It is extremely rewarding.

I'm also very excited to connect with my classmates again. Even though we are separated by distance, I have made great friends through this program. We cheer each other on and motivate each other to keep going. They're an amazing group to learn with.

How do you plan on tackling the challenges associated with online learning?

My days are constantly evolving. One day my children could go to bed early, giving me hours to work on assignments and the next day, a stomach flu could hit or I could end up in the hospital with my youngest daughter, leaving no time to do any classwork. I have learned to never procrastinate. I try to have the bulk of my assignments done early because I never know what the next day will bring. I also try to not rely on weekends to catch up because, with small children, it rarely happens.

I plan out weekly goals and, to the best of my ability, try to schedule in free days to spend with my family and a buffer if projects take longer than expected. My husband and I share household responsibilities, but he generously carries extra load when school gets busy. I graciously accept babysitting and meal help from my in-laws and friends and, if we're being honest, I have been known to fly my mother in on occasion to help me get through finals.

I haven't found the transition to online learning to be challenging, per se, except when my laptop died during the pandemic and nobody was open to fix it. I finished my undergrad in 2006, where very little learning was online, and wasn't sure how online learning would look, but the transition was quite easy.

I love the flexibility that online learning offers. You can start a lecture and pause it if you get pulled away and come back later. You can re-listen to lectures when reviewing material. I particularly love when courses will release large portions of their content all at once, allowing me to get ahead and giving me flexibility for unexpected illnesses or events.

Most professors are very responsive to questions by email or discussion board and they'll also arrange one-on-one phone or Blackboard chats. I have found them to be readily available and easy to access.

The biggest lesson I have learned is to not hesitate to reach out. It helps so much when you develop relationships with your professors and can see that they really are in your corner, wanting you to succeed.

Why did you choose to study here?

I chose to do my PharmD program with U of T for a number of reasons. I wanted to do my second degree at a different university than my first so I could experience another school's methods. U of T's reputation as one of the top pharmacy schools in the world speaks for itself. Its call for excellence and passion to raise standards of health in this country are evident and completing my PharmD from such a well-respected institution means a lot to me.

The program is also very flexible and can be tailored to my interests, which is important as a working professional with previous clinical experience. The program is challenging and motivating, and I am extremely proud of myself for what I have accomplished so far. I love being a part of this school. I respect the high expectations it has of its students, the support I receive and its belief that anyone, including me, who applies themselves can achieve their dreams.

Is there anything that surprised you about the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy?

U of T is much bigger than previous schools I have attended. I expected to be an unknown face amongst a crowd of students and for the relationships with faculty and professors to be distanced and challenging. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I have felt so supported by the faculty and my professors. I have received so much understanding and willingness to help however possible, considering our unique circumstances with my daughter. I have nothing but the highest praise for how supported I have been in meeting my goals.

What are your career plans and goals?

We currently live in a remote area of Canada that offers amazing professional opportunities in a unique environment. For as long as I am here, I want to use my new skills to advance my practice to meet my community needs.

In the future, if we leave the area, I would like to continue to practise in a hospital environment and this degree will assist in making that possible. I love hospital pharmacy and have long-term goals of becoming more specialized in a particular field of interest.

I have discovered a love for practice in infectious diseases and family practice. I also have strong interest in pediatrics and critical care and would love to grow more in those areas. To add to it, I have been told by one of my professors that I have a knack for organizational focuses like policy and procedure development. I am very open to furthering my education to assist in achieving these goals if it was feasible with my work and family life.

The PharmD for Pharmacists experience has been extremely challenging, but immensely rewarding. I feel like it is key to opening doors of opportunity in my career and I truly look forward to where this will take me.

Hanie Yousefi

Third-year PharmSci PhD student

What does back to school look like for you this fall?

With so many activities going online, back to school this year will be a totally different experience for me and I am looking forward to experience this as a new chapter in my life. I have started yoga and mindfulness practices over the past few months and I am going to continue supporting my body and mind during this new school year.

What are you most excited about?

I have been working on a Sars-CoV-2 diagnostics project since the recent pandemic. I am now very passionate about continuing my efforts on developing the final product and offering solutions to our society for attacking the current challenge.

How do you plan on tackling the challenges associated with online learning?

I am taking advantage of so many online platforms as the world is constantly shifting in the same direction. Initiatives such as online lab books, online classrooms and virtual meetings have created a strong infrastructure that made the transformation easier for me.

Moreover, online learning opens many doors to a larger variety of options for learning, which makes the whole process exciting.

Why did you choose to study here?

I decided to join LDFP for its diverse and excellent research environment, as well as its access to a large variety of instruments and interdisciplinary collaborations.

As a chemical engineer by training, the best part of being a pharmaceutical sciences grad student at LDFP are the opportunities to perform multidisciplinary research. Taking advantage of my engineering background, I can propose solutions that contribute to people’s daily lives.

Is there anything that surprised you about LDFP after you started your graduate journey in the Faculty?

The close relationship between students and faculty members as mentors at LDFP surprised me. I have noticed that our mentors proactively take responsibilities to guide students in their journeys as a community, which inspires me to take similar leadership roles for our junior fellows.

What are your future career plans and goals?

By holding different roles in our faculty – such as my PhD research, teaching assistantship and being a member of our graduate association – I am preparing to be a professor and continue my research efforts to advance rapid and effective diagnostics.

This is an area that we’re increasingly seeing as needed in our connected society, and I enjoy leading groups of young fellows to enable them to find success in their scientific and personal lives.

Meet more Pharmacy students

10 things you need to know about the fall semester at U of T

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 20:24:21 +0000

10 things you need to know about the fall semester at U of T

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 09/10/2020 - 16:24

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(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Global Lens

Back to School 2020

Gerstein Science Information Centre

Undergraduate Students

As students, faculty, staff and librarians return to the ��Ƶ for the fall semester, they’ll discover much that is new – about their physical environment, learning experience and the way they engage with campus services and activities.

In response to the ongoing pandemic, U of T has implemented an array of new measures, protocols and procedures that aim to deliver a vibrant, world-class educational experience while keeping students, staff, faculty and librarians safe and healthy.

From how to grab a bite to eat to when to wear a face mask, here are 10 things you need to know about the fall semester at U of T:

Remote learning and working

(photo by PeopleImages via Getty Images)

U of T is offering a mix of remote and in-person classes this fall in an effort to provide an enriching learning experience while protecting the health and safety of students, staff, faculty and librarians.

More than 90 per cent of undergraduate courses now offer a remote option. The shift was planned meticulously over the summer months, with more than 100 educational technologists working closely with faculty and staff to ensure that thousands of fall courses offer a high-quality virtual experience.

At the same time, activities that require an on-campus presence – including research, lab work, group projects and certain seminars and lectures – will be carried out in-person in physically distanced environments. The blended approach recognizes that some instruction is best delivered in person and that some students may be better equipped to participate in remote learning than others because of access to technology or living arrangements. The university has also prioritized the re-opening of libraries on all three campuses to ensure that students have access to computers, internet and related services such as printing and scanning.

University staff, too, will continue to work remotely wherever possible to help promote physical distancing and contribute to U of T’s wider effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Mask policy

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Students, faculty, staff, librarians and visitors to all three U of T campuses are asked to wear a non-medical face mask – or other face covering such as a scarf, bandana or balaclava – in all indoor common-use spaces. The university’s mask policy takes its cue from similar rules implemented by the City of Toronto and City of Mississauga.

To help support community members, U of T is distributing two masks each to all students, staff, faculty and librarians. Details on where to pick up your mask can be found at U of T’s UTogether site. Signage reminding members of the university community to wear masks will be found on locations across the three campuses.

Physical distancing in classrooms and buildings

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

From lobbies, elevators and stairwells to classrooms, labs and lounge areas, U of T’s indoor spaces have been carefully mapped and equipped with aids to promote adequate physical distancing of at least two metres – in keeping with public health guidelines.

While many courses will be delivered virtually, some will continue to be delivered in-person and the classrooms in question have had seats removed or blocked off to ensure physical distancing among students and between students and their lecturers, professors and teaching assistants.

Lobbies and stairwells have also been marked with signage to direct foot traffic, while elevators and common areas are subject to capacity limits.

Kiosks and offices where various university services are offered will be fitted with shields to ensure distancing between staff and their clients, while gym equipment at the Athletic Centre will be spaced a generous four metres apart for added safety in that environment.

Online COVID-19 self-assessment

Beginning Sept. 8, students, staff, faculty and librarians can utilize an online self-assessment tool to help them make informed decisions about going to campus during the pandemic.

The UCheck tool guides users through a series of questions, including whether you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, have travelled abroad or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The tool can be accessed by using a UTORid and takes only a few minutes to complete.

Upon completing the self-assessment, users either receive a green notification indicating that they are OK to visit campus, or a red notification signaling that they should not go to campus as well as information about who they should contact and links to further information.

Members of the U of T community are strongly encouraged to complete a self-assessment on a regular basis – for most students, staff, faculty and librarians, that means every time you visit campus. Students living in residence and others who regularly spend time on campus should complete the assessment daily. It’s recommended that you check your status every five days, even if you are not visiting campus.

A focus on cleaning and hygiene

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Classrooms and libraries will be cleaned at least five times a week, while high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs and elevator buttons will be disinfected twice a day. Staff are using a special, chlorine-based cleaning solution approved for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Hand hygiene is a crucial part of the fight against COVID-19, which is why the university installed thousands of touchless hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipe dispensers across the three campuses and added paper towel dispensers in washrooms.

Staff have also inspected ventilation equipment in all buildings and have made upgrades where possible to mitigate the spread of the virus in indoor spaces.

Time for takeout

(photos by Jackie Shapiro/Ancillary Services U of T)

Menus at dining locations across U of T have been redesigned to make them as takeout-friendly as possible, with food services staff working to expand the range of fresh, packaged and quick-service options.

Students on the St. George and U of T Scarborough campuses can now use a mobile app to order their food so that they don’t have wait in line. Students can order both a la carte and customized dishes using the app.

At U of T Mississauga, cutlery will be wrapped for protection, condiment stations will offer single-use condiment packets, while milk and milk alternatives will be handled only by staff behind the counter. U of T Mississauga is also introducing a new service called Sally, which lets you create fresh, customized salads through a vending machine.

Vending machines across campus have also been restocked to offer hot and cold snacks and drinks.

Large seating areas at cafeterias and restaurants around campus will be reconfigured to encourage physical distancing, while outdoor seating areas could be set up, weather-permitting.

Libraries and bookstores

(photo by Mai Lu)

The Robarts and Gerstein libraries on the St. George campus will reopen their doors, with floors one to five on Robarts and the main floor on Gerstein available to students looking for a quiet place to study. Furniture in study areas will be spaced or blocked off to facilitate physical distancing.

The main floor at the U of T Mississauga library will reopen and the third floor may be reopened for study purposes depending on need. Two floors of the U of T Scarborough library will also reopen to offer study areas for the fall semester.

Students will have access to all electronic resources available through the library’s catalogue, including e-books, online journal article databases, primary source databases and streaming videos. Access is also provided to 2.5 million books and other references through the online repository, HathiTrust.

Even library books will not be exempt from quarantine requirements, with libraries at all three U of T campuses set to quarantine all books that are physically borrowed for at least three days after they are returned.

As for bookstores, the St. George and Scarborough locations remain open with new safety and physical distancing protocols, while the Mississauga bookstore reopened on Sept. 1.

All customers will be asked if they have COVID-19 symptoms and must practise physical distancing and follow the one-way direction signs through the store. The number of customers in the store at any given time will be limited and all staff and customers will be required to wear masks. Plexiglass protective shields will create physical separation between customers and staff at payment stations.

Cash payments will not be accepted. Check the bookstore website for updates.

Residences and quarantine accommodations

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Living in residence is a special and memorable part of the university experience, which is why U of T residence staff have worked hard to ensure that residence life remains vibrant, enjoyable and safe amid the new health and safety measures necessitated by the pandemic.

Physical distancing and occupancy limits will be observed throughout the fall, with no more than one student assigned to a room. Exceptions may only be made for siblings or students with specific medical concerns that require accommodation.

As is the case elsewhere on campus, residence buildings will see more frequent cleaning and disinfecting, added hand sanitizer stations and Plexiglas shields at kiosks and counters where student services are provided. Move-in days are being staggered over multiple days to reduce crowding.

The university will also provide access to quarantine spaces for students who won’t be living in residence but need a place to quarantine as per government regulations. International students are asked to contact their registrars to obtain a letter of support and ensure they have confirmation of their enrolment before finalizing travel plans.

Athletics

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OUR DOORS OPEN SEPTEMBER 8 and we are excited to see you again! ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Here is what to expect when you visit the Athletic Centre this Fall. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Registration begins tomorrow! ⁣

A post shared by U of T Sport & Rec (@uoftsportandrec) on Sep 2, 2020 at 8:28am PDT

Gyms and sports facilities at all three campuses will reopen in September with new health and safety measures, which include users having to book a time slot for their workout – a policy that helps control the number of people in the gym at any given time – and wear masks in the building, except during physical activity.

Students looking to lift weights at the Athletic Centre on the St. George campus will notice that equipment is spaced four metres apart, with weights and machines moved to the spacious field house. The Olympic-sized swimming pool will reopen with reduced occupancy.

At U of T Mississauga, students can sign up for one-on-one consultations with a trainer over Zoom as well as a six-week running program called RunUTM. Outdoor sports fields and courts are scheduled to reopen for use in September with new health and safety protocols.

Students at U of T Scarborough can access exercise facilities at the Pan Am Sports Centre. As is the case at other U of T gyms, students must book an appointment and wear a mask while in the building.

All Varsity and tri-campus competitions are suspended for the semester, but an array of mainly outdoor intramural sports are available to students. An e-sports league, which proved a huge hit with students over the summer, will return in the fall, with students able to showcase their e-sports skills in games including NBA 2K20, FIFA 20, NHL 20 and Madden NFL 20.

TCards

Students, faculty, staff and librarians on the St. George campus who require new or replacement TCards to access buildings, labs, meal plans and other services can book an appointment via CLNx to obtain their TCard.

New students are asked to submit a photo via MyPhoto. Once a photo is approved, students can set up a remote or in-person appointment via CLNx. Students who live in residence will be provided with their TCards in residence after they have had their photo approved via MyPhoto.

The U of T Scarborough TCard office will issue TCards if they are required for use in the fall semester. Students, faculty and staff can request this service by emailing tacrdoffice@utsc.utoronto.ca Student Housing and Residence Life will arrange distribution of TCards to students who live in residence.

The U of T Mississauga TCard Office will issue or replace TCards on an as-needed basis for building access, meal plans and other essential services. Anyone requiring a new or replacement TCard is asked to open a ticket at the I&ITS Service Portal (log in with UTORid).

In photos: U of T kicks off a fall semester unlike any other

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 14:53:06 +0000

In photos: U of T kicks off a fall semester unlike any other

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 09/10/2020 - 10:53

Cutline

Students at University College take part in physically distanced yoga as part of the college's orientation on the St. George campus (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Topic

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Hart House

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

University College

Students at the ��Ƶ were back to school this week – both online and on campus – as the university embarks on a fall semester unlike any other in its 193-year history.

Face masks, physical distancing and sanitizing stations were the norm on U of T’s largely empty St. George, Mississauga and Scarborough campuses as the university community does its part to slow the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, many students embarked on a semester of virtual instruction.

There were, nevertheless, some familiar sights – including an appearance by U of T Mississauga's resident deer – and social media was full of activity as students and their professors forged connections on platforms like Zoom.

U of T News photographers Johnny Guatto and Nick Iwanyshyn visited U of T’s three campuses to capture a glimpse of the first day of what will no doubt be a history-making school year.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

��Ƶ Mississauga students pick up their U-Pass during the first week of school.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Non-medical face masks are to be worn in indoor common uses spaces, including classrooms. U of T is distributing 250,000 masks – a pair for each student, librarian, staff and faculty member.

Thrilled to welcome the #PharmD Class of 2T4!

From a desire to act as a bridge between health professionals to connecting one-on-one with patients in the community, incoming students to our Pharmacy Phamily are already passionate about #Pharmacy, #UofT, and #PatientCare. pic.twitter.com/cmrukNuMJI
— U of T Pharmacy (@UofTPharmacy) September 9, 2020

“There's no better time to be studying pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences,” said Lisa Dolovich, dean of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, in a welcome video for incoming and returning students.

Jon Lindsay, an assistant professor of political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and at the Munk School for Global Affairs & Public Policy, invokes a James Bond theme for a virtual lecture.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

There's no shortage of quiet study space on the U of T Scarborough campus this year.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Students at U of T Mississauga keep a safe distance at tables rearranged to facilitate physical distancing.

#FIRSTDAYOFCLASSES Happy First Day of Classes! We know this is year is not like the rest, but take a photo of your desk setup for a chance to win prizes! You can submit your photo through the GooseChase app during our Welcome Home Week Challenge. #utmresidence #uoft #utm pic.twitter.com/zvoscjgiqp
— UTM Residence (@UTMResidence) September 9, 2020

“There is just an incredible caution and incredible planning on our part to make sure students and staff are safe,” Chad Nuttall, the director of student housing and residence life at U of T Mississauga, told U of T News earlier this summer.

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Hart House has been open for registered visits as of Sept. 8, and it will be having a virtual open house Sept. 15 and 16 to introduce its chess club, jazz choir, social justice committee and other groups and amenities.

First day of grad school! #UofT #Masters #HumanResources #IndustrialRelations pic.twitter.com/n2j2PmqQ9F
— Banafsha A. (@AziziBanafsha) September 9, 2020

The first day of class, from the comfort of home.

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#UofTEngineering student Adriana Diaz Lozano Patiño's message for the incoming class of 2T4 is a simple and important one: Never hesitate to ask for help : uofteng.capsule.video #WeGotThis #BackToSkule . . . . #BackToSchool #BackToSchool2020 #BackToSkule #uoft #universityoftoronto #studentlife #studentexperience #undergraduate #graduate #classof2024 #engineeringschool #engineering #e4tw #universityoftorontoengineering #university #universitylife

A post shared by U of T Engineering (@uoftengineering) on Sep 9, 2020 at 10:23am PDT

Adriana Diaz Lozano Patiño says incoming engineering students can always count on her and other upper-year students for support. “I can't wait to meet you and I hope that you know that you've got this,” she says.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

The deer at U of T Mississauga have always been experts at physical distancing.

U of T launches web tool to help community members self-screen for COVID-19

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 14:54:10 +0000

U of T launches web tool to help community members self-screen for COVID-19

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 09/08/2020 - 10:54

Cutline

U of T community members are strongly encouraged to use the online UCheck tool to complete regular COVID-19 self-assessments, including before coming to campus (photo by Diana Tyszko)

Topic

The ��Ƶ is launching an online self-assessment web tool to help students, staff, faculty and librarians make informed decisions about coming to campus during COVID-19.

The tool, called UCheck, guides people through a COVID-19 symptom assessment. Questions include whether you are experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms, have travelled outside of the country or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

UCheck is being launched Sept. 8 and will be available for the duration of the pandemic. It only takes a few minutes to fill out and can be accessed via smartphone, tablet or computer.

“As the province reopens and we gradually return to campus, we need to remain vigilant and remember that we have a shared responsibility to keep each other and the community safe,” says Kelly Hannah-Moffat, U of T’s vice-president, human resources and equity.

“UCheck is one of several new initiatives the university has implemented in recent months to limit the spread of the coronavirus.”

Other preventative measures implemented by U of T include offering a remote option for more than 90 per cent of undergraduate courses, enhanced cleaning, reduced occupancy in buildings, disinfecting public spaces and making changes to the physical environment across the three campuses to promote distancing. U of T’s mask policy, meanwhile, calls for non-medical masks or other face coverings to be worn in all indoor public areas. To help facilitate compliance, U of T is providing students, staff, faculty and librarians with two non-medical masks each.

As for UCheck, users can log in using a UTORid. The U of T community is strongly encouraged to complete a self-assessment on a regular basis, even though it is not mandatory. For most students, staff, faculty and librarians, that means completing the self-assessment every time you visit the campus. Students living in residence and others who regularly work on campus should complete the self-assessment daily. Regardless of whether you use UCheck, it is critical that you don’t come to campus if you have any symptoms related to COVID-19.

It’s recommended that you check your status once every five days, even if you are not visiting the campus.

Upon completing a UCheck form, users will either receive a green notifier, signaling that they are OK to visit campus, or a red notifier, indicating they should not go to campus as well as information about who they should contact and links to further information.

Students who receive a red notifier should not come to campus. Students who live in residence should not leave their residence rooms and are asked to contact residence staff.

Anyone who has symptoms is also advised to refer to the Ontario Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 page for further direction and to find a local assessment centre.

Students should also complete the illness self-declaration form on ACORN. Students may also contact their registrar to request academic accommodation.

Anyone that requires additional health information is encouraged to reach out to: Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000, their local health-care practitioner or, for students, their campus health centre:

St. George: 416-978-8030
U of T Scarborough: 416-287-7065
U of T Mississauga: 905-828-5255

All self-assessment responses will be kept confidential and will not be received by the university. The data collected through the platform is encrypted and stored within Canada. The web portal was developed in partnership with Thrive Health, a B.C.-based health-care technology company with experience handling sensitive data. The company exceeds data security and privacy standards for handling health information safely and are the developers of the Canada COVID-19 app, which they built in partnership with Health Canada.

UCheck is not a contact tracing or exposure notification app. Members of the U of T community are encouraged to install Canada’s COVID Alert app, which provides potential exposure notifications.

Sandy Welsh, U of T’s vice-provost, students, says UCheck is one of the many ways the university aims to support students this fall.

“It’s important that we each do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19,” she says. “We’re all in this together.”

Access the UCheck self-screening tool here

'I wish you good health and great success': President Meric Gertler welcomes U of T community

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 16:56:44 +0000

'I wish you good health and great success': President Meric Gertler welcomes U of T community Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 09/03/2020 - 12:56

Topic

��Ƶ President Meric Gertler is welcoming new and returning students, faculty, staff and librarians to the start of an academic year unlike any other.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has meant some teaching and learning will take place in-person, and much will happen online – with many students attending U of T at a distance this semester.

“The situation is challenging – but we view this challenge as an opportunity,” President Gertler says in a video welcoming the U of T community to the new academic year. “An opportunity to apply our vision and creativity in new ways; to achieve the highest standards of excellence when the problems before us are harder than ever to solve. To learn, to grow and to lead positive, far-reaching change.”

In the video, the president urges members of the community to reach out if they need help and to take advantage of everything U of T has to offer, inside and outside the classroom.

“As we respond to an unprecedented public-health emergency, as we confront systemic injustices in our society, and as we develop new ideas, new discoveries and new inventions in every field of human endeavour, U of T’s mission has never been more relevant,” President Gertler says. “So, I thank you all for joining us in that mission. And I wish you good health and great success in the extraordinary year to come.”

Visit U-Together to learn more about the fall semester at U of T

U of T programs ease transition to university for first-year students during COVID-19

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 16:33:12 +0000

U of T programs ease transition to university for first-year students during COVID-19

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 09/03/2020 - 12:33

Cutline

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Elaine Smith

Topic

Our Community

Back to School 2020

Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences

UTogether

Centre for Student Engagement

Student Experience

Chemistry

Computer Science

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

The first year of university is always exciting and challenging but what if your final year of high school was disrupted by a pandemic – would you feel ready?

To welcome incoming ��Ƶ students and help them feel confident and prepared for the fall semester amid COVID-19, faculty across the three campuses created a wide range of courses, programs and workshops.

Offered throughout the summer, the free, optional initiatives were designed to help first-year students connect with peers, mentors and professors, and ensure they have the required course skills to succeed.

“Planning for the start of this academic year has been like no other in our history,” says Melanie Woodin, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. “We have reimagined every aspect of the U of T experience, not only from how we teach and learn, but to how we connect, socialize and stay informed.

“As a faculty, we worked to provide online programs to help students prepare for their classes in September – including the development of small collaborative study groups that build both on learning and a sense of community, as well as preparatory summer courses that helped students make the transition into university life.”

In the department of computer science, for example, professors created a summer prep course on Quercus to help incoming first-year students enrolled in a Foundations of Computer Science course get up to speed and become acquainted with the department. That included introducing them to student clubs and other resources that are designed to help them find their feet on campus.

At U of T Mississauga, meanwhile, incoming students were invited to participate in Eagle Connect, a 13-week, student-led online program that provided them with on-demand information and helped them make personal connections with fellow students before classes even start.

Each week featured a themed module using the Quercus online learning platform. Topics included course selection, applying for residence, campus clubs and other necessary information. A discussion board gave students a chance to ask questions and get to know one another.

The goal of Eagle Connect was to give students the tools to feel confident, ready and excited to start their time at U of T Mississauga, says Trent Barwick, student success co-ordinator, orientation and transition programs with the Centre for Student Engagement. The program also allowed students to begin developing friendships and prepared them for working in a new online environment.

U of T Mississauga’s Robert Gillespie Academic Learning Centre also offered a free mathematics workshop to prepare students for their university-level courses.

“It was a very turbulent time for high school teachers as well as students,” when classes suddenly moved online, says Andie Burazin, assistant professor in the department of mathematical and computational sciences.

“Math is a big hurdle for many students – it creates a lot of anxiety. Even in regular situations, math is just one of those things they struggle with.”

Mindful that incoming students might not have the usual level of preparation before they enter first year, the dean’s office reached out to the academic skills centre. The result: a series of six, two-hour workshops designed to assist students taking calculus this fall by enhancing their foundational math skills.

U of T Scarborough also ran a month-long math preparedness program for students: the Online Mathematics Preparedness course, organized by Manaal Hussain, a program manager in the department of arts, culture and media.

Meanwhile, students registered for a chemistry course at U of T Scarborough were given the opportunity to better prepare for the start of classes with a six-week chemistry course.

“I know there are knowledge gaps and, with online learning, it may be more difficult for (students),” says Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis, an assistant professor, teaching stream, of chemistry at U of T Scarborough. “This course offered a low stakes way to refresh their knowledge and practice problems.

“A post-session survey indicates that most students found it helpful, and I plan to run it every summer.”

The Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering gave incoming students a chance to brush up on their skills with the newly-created U of T Engineering Academy, an optional and not-for-credit program free to all incoming students in the fall 2020 semester.

Designed in close consultation with high school teachers and curriculum leads in the U of T Engineering First-Year Office, as well as the Troost Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering, the academy offered students access to a suite of self-paced learning modules in chemistry, math and physics, as well as the opportunity to connect with upper-year mentors for assistance.

“U of T Engineering Academy gives students what they need to fill in any gaps in their Grade 12 year, as well as a friendly introduction to our faculty with the support of our incredible students and professors,” explains Micah Stickel, vice-dean, first year engineering.

The faculty also offers an optional First Year Foundations program that includes sessions, workshops and courses to help incoming students prepare for various aspects of university life, such as developing effective study and learning skills, and offering introductions to concepts like the engineering design process and communications.

“The year so far hasn’t gone the way any of us expected,” says Chris Yip, dean of U of T Engineering. “We’re here to make sure that no matter what happened in the final year of high school, we’re giving our students the tools and supports they need to be comfortable, prepared and ready to have a terrific experience when they start this fall at Skule.”

Professors, too, have received assistance preparing for this unusual fall semester. The Faculty of Arts & Science launched the A&S Online Learning Academy this summer, offering courses for faculty taught by peers with experience in online instruction. These experts were able share technical advice, best practices and resources toward creating a seamless online learning experience for all Faculty Arts & Science students.

“The university has come together to ensure that the year ahead will be full of rewarding and enriching experiences for all of our students – both near and far,” Woodin says.

Get to know U of T: Virtual orientation events beam university community into students’ homes

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 21:47:41 +0000

Get to know U of T: Virtual orientation events beam university community into students’ homes

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 09/02/2020 - 17:47

Cutline

John Peri (left) and Gabriel Sher (right) of U of T’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering prepare nearly 800 orientation packages that will be delivered across the country and as far away as Japan, Brazil and Italy (photo by Dana Kokoska)

Topic

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Undergraduate Students

Orientation typically takes place once new ��Ƶ students arrive on campus. This year, however, U of T will be coming to them.

With many undergraduates set to take courses remotely this fall, staff and student leaders at the university have organized a host of creative virtual orientation events designed to introduce incoming students to the school and its communities – and make their first few weeks as fun and memorable as possible.

Among this year’s highlights: An online concert headlined by Brampton singer, rapper and song-writer Roy Woods, virtual “club crawls,” inspiring remarks from America’s most high-profile infectious disease expert and orientation kits mailed out to households around the world.

Here’s a small sample of events to kick off the semester across the three campuses:

St. George

At the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, students who are participating in orientation can expect a package in the mail containing a first-year starter kit, including a hard hat, sew-on patches, copies of the engineering campus newspapers and purple face paint.

The seemingly random collection of items is all part of the faculty’s storied undergraduate traditions, which aim to build bonds for life.

Gabriel Sher, orientation chair of U of T’s Engineering Society, says nearly 800 orientation packages will be delivered across the country and as far away as Japan, Brazil and Italy.

Students have also been invited to take a 360-degree video tour of the downtown Toronto campus alongside a small group of their peers, with an upper-year student as their tour guide.

“We’ve narrowed our focus to be an exercise in friend-making, and that’s really critical this year,” Sher says.

Students in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering who are participating in orientation can expect a package containing a first-year starter kit, including a hard hat, sew-on patches, copies of the engineering campus newspapers and purple face paint (photo by Dana Kokoska)

For those keen on experiencing a party-like atmosphere – albeit virtually – the ��Ƶ Students’ Union (UTSU), which represents students on the St. George campus, is hosting a video concert called U-Nite featuring singer Alina Baraz and Brampton-born rapper Roy Woods. The event will be hosted on MS Live, an audiovisual broadcasting tool, and is being supported U of T’s division of campus events and the classroom technology support group – one of more than 30 orientation events they’re helping to stage.

“Student orientation co-ordinators have an important and unique task,” says Arielle Berube, manager, campus events. “They deserve a lot of recognition for navigating uncharted territory.”

The UTSU also plans to host a series of virtual “club crawls,” where students can become acquainted with different campus groups during sessions reminiscent of speed dating that take place in Zoom break-out rooms.

View this post on Instagram

U NITE LIVE welcomes students to the ��Ƶ. Hosted on September 11th 2020 at 6pm, U NITE is an online livestream event dedicated to welcome students to UofT. Stay tuned for our artist line up and special guests ⠀ ⠀ Link in Bio to Sign up! ⠀ .⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ .⠀⠀ #UNITE #UTSUORIENTATION #JOLLYGOODFUN #ORIENTATION #UOFTBACKTOSCHOOL #utsu #UFEST2020 #uoft #toronto #uoftstudentlife #universityoftoronto #uoftsu #UNiteLive

A post shared by U of T Students' Union (UTSU) (@uoftsu) on Aug 20, 2020 at 9:20am PDT

At New College, one of U of T’s seven colleges, orientation leaders will support incoming students not just for the first couple of weeks of the term – but throughout their entire first year.The mentor-like program is meant to address a dilemma that many new students face after orientation is over – one that orientation co-ordinator Laura Gallo describes as: “I survived the first week of classes, but what do I do now?”

The college’s all-digital orientation schedule also includes a video games night, trivia night, student-life edition of Family Feud and an event focusing on mental health that was organized with Health & Wellness.

“More than ever, people are feeling isolated right now,” says Emily Yu, another New College orientation co-ordinator. “So, we wanted to promote a discussion about mental health and techniques to lower stress to make sure students are making time for themselves and are able to relax.”

View this post on Instagram

HI NEW COLLEGE! Announcing the final schedule for Orientation 2020! Get hyped for NEW1X‼️ Check out our other posts for details and descriptions of events.

A post shared by New College Orientation (@ncorientation) on Aug 30, 2020 at 12:21pm PDT

Incoming students in the Faculty of Medicine have already received a greeting from one of the most prominent names in their field: Dr. Anthony Fauci.

In a video posted on social media, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the U.S. coronavirus task force urged students to stay well, look out for each other and view the pandemic as a rare learning opportunity revealing insights at the “intersection of medical science, public health and human behaviour.”

“Now more than ever, we need your energy, your talent, your character and your resolve – qualities I’m confident you have in abundance,” he said.

"Now, more than ever, we need your energy, your talent, your character, and your resolve. Qualities I am confident you have in abundance," says Dr. Anthony Fauci to the @UofTMDprogram Class of 2T4. #UofT

: @UofTMedicine pic.twitter.com/8axBPia7iY
— ��Ƶ (@UofT) August 25, 2020

U of T Mississauga

At U of T Mississauga, the students’ union organized an outer space-themed orientation to go with a calendar of events hosted in cyberspace.

The festivities began this week with a “journey across the cosmos” – otherwise known as a virtual campus tour. Students can also show off their skills at an online UTM Got Talent event, take part in virtual scavenger hunts and get to know the many different student clubs and societies.

Meanwhile,” O-week” will officially kick off Sept. 7 with a live Welcome Day – reimagined for an online space – during which new students can meet upper-year mentors and listen to a message from Alexandra Gillespie, vice-president and principal of U of T Mississauga.

“We thought that by opening the week with a live event, students can know that they’re in a Zoom webinar of their own peers,” says Janina Malapitan, orientation team lead at U of T Mississauga.

On Sept. 8, students can join an academic orientation where they can have one-on-one conversations with their future professors and advisers. The following day, there’s an opportunity to learn about everything the campus has to offer through a virtual resource fair. Students can also familiarize themselves with the U of T Mississauga Career Centre, U of T Mississauga Students Union, Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre and more by hopping from one “booth” – or Zoom break-out room – to another.

U of T Scarborough

In Scarborough, incoming first-year students will also set off on a new adventure among the stars.

The Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) has adopted a Starship Launching theme for this year’s orientation.

Michael Sobowale, frosh co-ordinator, says one of the highlights will be an online clubs fair – a presentation of two-minute videos about the variety of student groups on campus.

“I want people to have the notion that, although U of T might be challenging, it’s also fun,” Sobowale says. “We want to make it easier for first year students to recognize that there’s also a social aspect to U of T and that we have a community.”

Orientation co-ordinators have put a lot of thought into the program to overcome the challenge of hosting online activities for the first time, adds Sobowale.

“Even though people are staying home, we can bring the community to them.”

In parallel with the SCSU events, U of T Scarborough is hosting an LGBTQ-focused orientation, an event for international students, an athletics open house and welcome day on Sept. 8.

View this post on Instagram

SCSU FROSH 2020 is FREE FOR ALL first years Meet our lovely FROSH TEAM. Sign up link in bio

A post shared by @ scsuorientation on Aug 19, 2020 at 12:18pm PDT

Students can join the sessions online and can play icebreaker games through the Kahoot! platform.

“I hope (new) students will feel connected to the campus and that they know we care and we’re trying to meet them where they’re at – like literally, in their homes,” says Nadia Rosemond, assistant dean, student affairs and student life at U of T Scarborough. “Even though we might not physically be on campus, the same services are open to them to utilize.

“We’re working hard behind the scenes to make sure they receive all the support they need to succeed.”

‘As though we’re all in the same room’: How two U of T professors built a better remote learning experience

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 21:36:04 +0000

‘As though we’re all in the same room’: How two U of T professors built a better remote learning experience

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 08/27/2020 - 17:36

Cutline

Donna Orwin, a professor of Russian literature, says the small number of students sitting in her physically distanced classroom this fall will be able to see and talk with students who participate online (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Topic

Slavic languages and literatures

Faculty of Arts & Science

Global

Joseph Wong

Munk One

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

When class starts at the ��Ƶ the week of Sept. 7, Joseph Wong and Donna Orwin will be ready.

The two professors have several decades of combined experience teaching at the post-secondary level, but they nevertheless spent much of the summer in full-on learning mode.

The subject: How to enhance the learning experience for their students in the fall semester – the first in the COVID-19 era. Specifically, the goal was how to create an engaging “dual delivery” format to teach students who will participate online alongside those who be sitting – physically distanced, wearing masks – in a mostly empty classroom.

“We learned a lot in the spring when we all had to use online technology and just try to get to the end of the term,” says Wong, a professor in the department of political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science and Ralph and Roz Halbert Professor of Innovation at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.

“We all tried hard and U of T was remarkable in moving 6,000 courses to remote delivery over the course of a weekend. But this fall students should be expecting a much better learning experience.”

Wong and Orwin are just two of the hundreds of U of T professors who are retooling their courses for this fall as part of U of T’s gradual and safe return to campus. More than 90 per cent of undergraduate courses give students the option of studying online and most of these courses will be offered online only.

To become more adept at leading an online seminar, Wong offered several “bonus” seminars this summer so he could practice.

“I asked the Munk School to send out a note to students saying that I would be doing a bonus seminar online on a certain day,” he says. “I gave them a pre-read on the topic and said the first nine students to sign up can be in the seminar.”

Wong says he limited the seminar’s size to nine in order to form a three-by-three grid on his computer screen. “I wanted to be able to see everyone,” he says. “From there I went to 16 for a four-by-four grid and I just practised. I wanted to learn how to use the chat function, how to maintain eye contact.

“Now, I feel like I have quite a bit of practice under my belt.”

Wong also practised with the 25 people on his research team – all while still attending to his new role as U of T’s interim vice-president, international.

Orwin, on the other hand, had never taught online before. The professor of Russian literature and chair of the department of Slavic languages and literatures in the Faculty of Arts & Science says she emerged from her experience in the spring semester ready to prepare thoroughly for the fall term – especially given the fact many students were interested in attending her “Russia at War” first-year seminar in-person.

She will have 14 students in that seminar, eight of them in room 101 in Teefy Hall at St. Michael’s College and six participating online.

Professor Donna Orwin’s physically distanced classroom will have an external webcam and microphone. Students sitting in the physically distanced classroom will be able to see and talk with the students online via their laptops (photo by Johnny Guatto)

“I want everyone in this seminar to be able to participate fully and for it to be as if we are all sitting together,” says Orwin, a noted expert on Leo Tolstoy who is affiliated with the Munk School’s Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies. “So, I’ve planned the in-person and online group experience together.”

Using their laptops, students sitting in the physically distanced classroom will be able to see and talk with the students online. Orwin will also have a webcam to capture the entire room and an external microphone will make sure voices are amplified.

“The camera will be on a tripod so I can move it around if I want to show a PowerPoint presentation,” she says. “While I’m talking, I’ll have the camera facing me and while the students are talking, the camera will be on them. In that way, our online people will be working together with the people in the room.”

Orwin’s students will have a lot to discuss – the seminar covers centuries of Russian war and how it is expressed in literature and other artistic forms.

“We’ll be talking about the different genres, watching film and reading poetry, short stories, novels, discussing war itself in Russia and beyond,” she says. “It’s an important topic – Russia is a country that loves peace, but is almost continuously at war, so we’ll explore why that is.”

She adds that it’s important to make sure students, particularly those in their first year, feel like they’re part of the broader U of T community.

“These students are coming from high school to university for the first time,” she says. “Most of their other courses will be online and I want to give them an in-class experience. I want them to get to know each other and to get to know me. These first-year seminars are an opportunity for first-year students to be part of an academic community.”

For Wong’s Munk One first year “Global Innovation” class, he will have 15 students physically distanced in a room in the Canadiana Gallery building, which normally seats 64. Another 10 students will participate remotely. Drop-down microphones will be placed throughout the room to compensate for voices muffled through masks.

Professor Joseph Wong’s Munk One class on global innovation will be held in a room equipped with drop-down microphones, which are intended to compensate for voices muffled through masks (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

“The students will be on three screens around the room,” says Wong. “The configuration will ensure that, no matter if they’re on screen or in the classroom, they will be able to see each other clearly. I want to make it as though we are all in the same room.

“The aim is to run the seminar as we have in the past. There will be a fair amount of flexibility, and we’ll be learning as we go. All the students I’ve spoken with are very excited about it. And they recognize that things might not be perfect from day one.”

Wong is also the founder of the REACH Alliance, where about 25 students travel the world annually to understand poverty and social services in underserved communities. While REACH will not be able to send students abroad this year, Wong has nevertheless found a way to inject an international flavour into the global innovation seminar.

“I’ve added a new component to this course called a global classroom module,” he says. “Our seminar will be connected with a class with Tec de Monterrey in Mexico City. We’re going to do a three-class module on COVID-19 and inequality. So, the U of T students, in the room and online, will be working with Mexican students on a variety of creative projects around the topic.”

For two hours each week, the Toronto and Mexico City classes will be connected through technology.

“That’s an exciting component where our students have an opportunity to learn by talking to the Mexican students using the remote platforms,” he says. “The pandemic has been awful but technology and a willingness to connect with each other around the world is enabling us to do things I have certainly never done before.”

Joseph Wong says students in his global innovation seminar will be connected with a class at Tec de Monterrey in Mexico City as part of a three-class module on COVID-19 and inequality (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Preparing for the “synchronous” method of teaching – in-person and online together – has taken time and financial support, Wong says. He points out that from the moment students shifted to learning remotely in March, faculty and staff across the university were analyzing what worked and planning for fall.

“It’s not just about turning on Zoom; we did that in the spring. The experience students will have in the fall will be much different,” Wong says. “The infrastructure and reconfigurations are quite extensive. People are working very hard.

“We’ve put a huge amount of work into this and I think the students will find it very exciting.”

For Orwin, redesigning the way she delivers the class was critical to ensure “as much as possible, they can all take part in the discussion, those in the physical room and those online, as one group.”

In a normal year, she says, a first-year seminar can be an important part of “learning how to be independent thinkers and learning how to discuss their ideas with one another.” In a pandemic year, it’s all the more important.

“That’s what university is about.”

Meet three top students from Toronto high schools who are attending U of T this fall

rahul.kalvapalle — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 18:48:20 +0000

Meet three top students from Toronto high schools who are attending U of T this fall

rahul.kalvapalle Wed, 08/26/2020 - 14:48

Cutline

Michael Acquaviva is one of six students named a top scholar this year by the Toronto District School Board and one of three who will be attending U of T this fall (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Back to School 2020

UTogether

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Faculty of Arts & Science

Mathematics

Trinity College

Undergraduate Students

The upcoming fall semester will be unlike any other in the ��Ƶ’s history due to the shift to virtual learning necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. But for incoming student Michael Acquaviva the unusual start to his post-secondary journey represents more of an opportunity than a hinderance.

“My generation will be viewed as the one that lived through a pandemic and that had to adapt to certain changes in the world,” says Acquaviva, who graduated from William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute and will pursue a degree in engineering science at U of T’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

“I think that ultimately is a strength when it comes to adaptability. It builds resilience.”

Acquaviva is one of six students named top scholars this year by the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) – students who achieved an average of 99 per cent or higher in Grade 12 – and one of three who will be attending U of T this fall.

Not surprisingly, Acquaviva had his pick of universities. But he says there was only ever one choice for him.

“U of T has always felt like the right place for me,” he says. “When I went for a campus tour, it just felt like I belong there.”

His peers in the engineering science program will include fellow TDSB top scholar Qingyuan Wu, who graduated from Forest Hill Collegiate Institute.

“I chose U of T because it’s the best university in Canada and the engineering program is also the best in Canada,” says Wu. “The engineering science program appeals to me because it brings both the practical aspect of engineering and the science aspect which is more theoretical, and I think that’s a perfect mix.”

Wu says the shift to online classes and assessments towards the end of Grade 12 emphasized the importance of self-discipline, which will be key for succeeding in university.

“If you go to school, you have to physically sit there for each class and listen. But for online courses, nobody’s pushing you,” Wu says. “So, what I tried to do to keep myself engaged was to make sure I did [work] every day so I didn’t get into that bad habit.”

Qingyuan Wu, who graduated from Forest Hill Collegiate Institute and will study in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering this fall, says the shift to online learning last spring helped prepare him for university by emphasizing the importance of a disciplined approach to his studies (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Wu is also looking to tap into the energy and enthusiasm of his engineering science peers. That includes proactively looking to forge connections and make friends with classmates by adding them on Instagram.

“Apart from me pushing myself, I’ll also try to meet other people in my program and try to study with them online,” Wu says. “For me, making friends is a huge thing.”

Acquaviva, too, says that interpersonal connections will still be a feature of his fall plans, even if he’ll miss the in-person social interactions of a typical university semester.

“With all the technology today, it’s still possible to build interpersonal connections, whether it’s through Zoom, Facetime or social media,” he says. “Of course, I’d rather have that in-person interaction, so that’s something I’m really looking forward to when we eventually go back [to class]. But, for the time being with the pandemic, we have to manage with what we have.”

Acquaviva says he was drawn to the engineering science program because it’s designed to gradually take students from general engineering to a specialization by the third year. “I’m really looking forward to all the resources U of T has to offer for engineering students,” he says. “That was a big selling point for me when I was making my decision on which university to go to.”

Acquaviva adds that he’s also open to exploring opportunities in entrepreneurship and business – which further enhanced the appeal of going to U of T.

“The business aspect of how you can implement engineering into business is something that appeals to me,” he says. “I know U of T has all kinds of resources for that – there’s the engineering business major, the Myhal Centre [for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship] ... there’s also the program in partnership with Rotman where, directly after your engineering degree, you can go for an MBA. So that’s also something I’m considering.”

Michael Li is another top Toronto student who will be attending U of T in the fall. Li, who graduated from Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, says he is excited by the prospect of delving into his favourite subject: math.

“I was really excited to hear about the math clubs at U of T and opportunities to participate in math contests,” says Li, who has enrolled in the math specialist program at the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“There weren’t many opportunities in high school because not a lot of people were interested in math, so that’s something that I’m really looking forward to in university.”

Li says he chose U of T because of its “impressive international reputation in mathematics” and the fact that it’s home to the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences. But he says the warm welcome he received at Fall Campus Day also played a big role.

“I felt like the U of T community was very welcoming,” he says. “I learned a lot about support programs and health and wellness programs – I felt like they really care about student life and want to help us succeed in university.”

Li says he also got a flavour for the array of supports and social activities organized by Trinity College by tuning in to their virtual presentations and Q&A sessions this summer.

“There was a trivia session where we got into groups and worked together to answer questions. That was really fun because I was able to interact with my peers, who were all very welcoming.”

Michael Li, who graduated from Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, enrolled in the math specialist program in the Faculty of Arts & Science and says he has received a warm welcome from Trinity College (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Li, who wants to become a math researcher and professor in the future, says the last few months of high school – where classes and assessments were moved online – helped him realize the importance of taking responsibility and ownership of his work.

“I think it was a good experience in that I was able to get used to that responsibility and it will help me a lot in university,” he says.

For his part, Acquaviva says that, in addition to that sense of responsibility, a love of learning will likely help him and other incoming U of T students navigate the unusual fall semester.

“I enjoy learning,” he says. “It actually motivates me every day to get out of bed. If you have a passion for learning, I think that’s the most important thing.”