Back to School 2023

The ��Ƶ has redesigned its largest need-based financial aid program to offer support that’s more accessible, transparent and better aligned with the cost of living in the Greater Toronto Area.

��Ƶ Advanced Planning for Students (UTAPS) is a program that provides eligible students with grants to help bridge the financial gap between the cost of their total education needs and the amount covered by government student aid programs – particularly, the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).

A recent review of UTAPS concluded that the program can provide a way for the university to better determine and assist in meeting the costs of attending university in the GTA – for all U of T campuses and programs. The resulting redesign, implemented this year, will also streamline the process for U of T students to be considered for need-based supports.

“Our goal was to get more money into students’ hands, particularly given how the price of everything is just so much more expensive,” says Director of Financial Aid and Awards Donna Wall. “It’s about trying to help students so that they’re not as worried about finances and can focus on their studies.”

There are also important changes to the application process – namely that all domestic students who want to be considered for UTAPS must complete an application through U of T’s Need Navigator tool. The information will be validated before grants are disbursed.

U of T provided $94.6 million in need-based supports to U of T students in 2021-2022, including $36.8 million in UTAPS grants. The grants supported more than 15,500 students – the vast majority of them undergraduates.

UTAPS was originally established to fulfil U of T’s guarantee that “no student offered admission to a program at the ��Ƶ should be unable to enter or complete the program due to lack of financial means,” as set out in Governing Council’s 1998 policy.

Wall says the UTAPS redesign upholds this commitment.

“This allows us to be more agile, thoughtful and responsive to the needs of our students.”

Previously, UTAPS grants were based on the OSAP need assessment, which could be influenced by external factors such as changes in government policy. Relying on OSAP assessments also posed challenges for UTAPS planning, Wall says, because they often underestimated the amount of money U of T students needed.

For example, the OSAP need assessment applies the same living allowances across Ontario, even though necessities such as housing, food and transportation are much more expensive in Toronto than other parts of the province, says Wall.

As part of the redesign, UTAPS has developed its own need assessment measure while increasing transparency about how resources are allocated.

The Need Navigator will also streamline the financial aid process by allowing students to be considered simultaneously for UTAPS and supports from faculties and academic divisions, which totalled $57.8 million in 2021-2022.

Wall says more updates to UTAPS can be expected in the years ahead, including tools to aid financial planning for students and their families.

U of T students who have benefited from the existing program were excited to hear the support will better account for rising costs in the GTA.

Maya Povhe, who is in her fourth year of studying business administration at U of T Scarborough, says one of the biggest benefits of UTAPS is how it’s tailored to each student’s individual needs, rather than providing a flat amount.

“It’s been a great aid to my financial planning,” she says. “It meant I didn’t need to worry about how I was going to pay for basic things like rent or food.”

Iqra Sadiq, a third-year student in the Rotman Commerce program, says programs like UTAPS allow students to make the most of the time they spend in university.

“I would definitely say it’s a really big help – not just financially, but also as a motivation to keep pursuing my studies," Sadiq says. “The price of education should never outweigh its value, and UTAPS gave me that boost to stay focused on school and not worry too much about the financials.”

‘Welcome home’: U of T’s on-campus housing offers more than a place to live

lanthierj — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 14:11:10 +0000

‘Welcome home’: U of T’s on-campus housing offers more than a place to live

lanthierj Thu, 10/05/2023 - 10:11

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Harmony Commons, a new, 746-bed student residence at U of T Scarborough, is part of U of T’s broader plan to meet the growing need for student housing across its three campuses (photo by Don Campbell)

Topic

Subheadline

The university expects to add 1,450 more spaces across its three campuses over the next several years

Zupaash Naveed arrived at ��Ƶ just a few weeks ago, but she already feels right at home.

The first-year computer science co-op student is part of the first cohort to live at Harmony Commons, a new, 746-bed student residence at U of T Scarborough that opened at the beginning of September.

The residence is part of U of T’s broader plan to meet the growing need for student housing across its three campuses, with 1,450 more spaces expected to be added over the next three years.

“It’s amazing. There’s so much more here than I expected,” says Naveed, a National Scholar from Oshawa, Ont. “The technology is great, the layout is modern and clean, and it gives me the opportunity to be fully immersed among my first-year peers.”

Zupaash Naveed is one of more than 10,300 students living in university housing this year across U of T’s three campuses (photos by Racquel Russell)

Reserved for first-year students, Harmony Commons has doubled the number of residence spaces at U of T Scarborough as part of the university’s broader strategy to provide more housing options for students. It is also one of the largest buildings in North America built to highly energy-efficient passive house standards.

Then there is the food.

“I love it,” says Naveed, pointing to the breakfast pastries and variety of international cuisines on the menu. She also appreciates the halal options and praises food services staff for being attentive to diverse dietary requirements. “They really take care of me.”

Naveed is one of more than 10,300 students living in university housing this year across U of T’s three campuses. Many are new undergraduate students – both domestic and international – who, like Naveed, qualified for the university’s first-year residence guarantee. Spaces are also available for upper-year and graduate students, as well as students with families.

Staff and volunteers greet new student residents at Harmony Commons on move-in day (photo by Don Campbell)

“Living in residence can be a transformational experience for our students, particularly in their first year as they navigate the transition from high school to university,” says Sandy Welsh, vice-provost, students. “Being far from family and friends, adjusting to the demands of university studies, and, for our international students, adapting to life in a new country can be challenging.

“Our residences provide a ready community and support system that enhance our students’ well-being and academic success.”

Demand for university housing is growing amid rising rents and declining vacancy in the Greater Toronto Area. While surveys suggest more than 55 per cent of U of T students live with family and commute to one of the three campuses, many others, particularly in their upper years, seek off-campus rental options – with U of T providing resources, education and support – or on-campus alternatives.

U of T is already a major provider of student housing, with several new buildings under construction. These include Oak House, a 500-bed residence on the St. George campus near Spadina and Sussex Avenues that is scheduled to open in 2024, and a new, 350-bed residence at Trinity College that is expected to be ready in fall 2025. Two more projects – one at U of T Mississauga and the other on the St. George campus – are in development and will provide 600 additional residence spaces.

“We are working hard to build more residences faster because we know how important they are to our student experience, and we are engaging with governments around policy changes that will help us do this,” says Scott Mabury, vice-president, operations and real estate partnerships.

The university receives no government support for student housing. U of T is advocating for new financing or funding mechanisms to help universities respond to students’ demand for housing, as well as continuing to work with governments at all levels on appropriate zoning frameworks that can lower barriers to adding new spaces.

“Students bring a lot of life and business to the neighbourhoods surrounding our three campuses. Building more student residences makes for a better academic experience for them and for more dynamic neighbourhoods in this city,” Mabury said.

Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop tours Harmony Commons a few days before the residence opened to students (photo by Don Campbell)

For Ana Divarzak, an international student from Brazil, living in residence provided a strong foundation for life at university and in Canada. Now in her third year of a biotechnology specialist and chemistry major, she arrived at U of T Mississauga in 2021 three weeks into the fall term due to visa delays and the then-mandatory 14-day quarantine for travellers entering Canada due to COVID-19. When she finally reached her residence she found a “welcome home” sign with messages from all her floormates that was taped to the door of her room, surrounded by a rainbow of candy.

“The support and welcome I experienced from day one in residence have made a huge difference for me, especially as an international student,” says Divarzak, who now works as a community assistant at U of T Mississauga. In that role, she supports eight residence student staff in Living Learning Communities (LLC), which group together students who share similar interests and areas of study.

Ana Divarzak (supplied image)

Divarzak chose to live in the life sciences Living Learning Community in her first year and credits it with enhancing her overall university experience. “It helped me make friends a lot more easily because we were in the same courses and we saw each other all the time in class, and we also had weekly community gatherings hosted by our residence LLC program facilitators and don that offered opportunities for social interaction and reflection.”

Back at U of T Scarborough, residence adviser Joshua Cloete says that in addition to acting as a resource for students on his floor, one of his main goals is to build an engaged and supportive community.

He says he can already see the difference Harmony Commons is making to the first-year experience.

“In the past month, I’ve seen more social interactions and bonding and friendships form than in my whole first year,” says Cloete, a second-year paramedicine student. “Everyone on my floor already knows everyone else.”

Nursing student seeks to foster change and diversity in health care

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 13:09:18 +0000

Nursing student seeks to foster change and diversity in health care

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 10/05/2023 - 09:09

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Kyle Samuels, a master’s student at U of T’s Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, says he wants to provide competent and compassionate care to patients from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds (supplied image)

Topic

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing

Subheadline

“Many people do not realize the impact that representation can have"

Kyle Samuels didn’t plan to become a nurse.

“I actually thought I was going to be veterinarian,” says Samuels of his original career plan.

But after completing his first degree in animal biology, he worked at an Ontario zoo and later a vet clinic before realizing he needed to make a change.

“It was when I was applying to vet school that it dawned on me that maybe this isn’t for me. I couldn’t come up with an answer to the question, ‘Why do I want to be a vet?’” says Samuels, who is now starting the first year of his master’s degree in nursing at the ��Ƶ’s Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.

Now working as a registered nurse, Samuels, who is in the nurse practitioner program, has developed a passion for expanding his scope of practice to better serve his patients.

He currently works at a hospital in a more rural area of southern Ontario in the medicine/surgical intensive care unit. Within this smaller 80-bed hospital setting, Samuels says nurses have an opportunity to be a part of an interdisciplinary health team, and to care for a variety of patients throughout their health journey.

Historically, however, nurse practitioners are not often hired into hospital settings in smaller communities, and Samuels is hoping to see that change.

“I want to help play a role in fostering growth in health-care spaces for nurse practitioners,” he says. “We have a lot to offer that could help the health-care system as a whole, and serve the health of everyone.”

By becoming a nurse practitioner, Samuels realizes he has a unique opportunity to play a part in increasing the level of diversity and representation of Black nurses in Ontario’s small communities.

“I work with many people from different ethnicities and backgrounds who are nurses, but when I think about that next step in leadership and autonomy, it would be amazing to see more people of colour moving into the [nurse practitioner] space,” says Samuels.

Samuels says a patient once said he was the first health-care provider who looked like him.

“That really stuck with me,” says Samuels. “Many people do not realize the impact that representation can have, especially in health care, where there is such a power dynamic at play between the vulnerable patient and those providing care. It is one of the many reasons I’m so excited to be pursuing a degree as a nurse practitioner.”

Samuels is looking forward to the placement opportunities that the Bloomberg Nursing program offers. He wants to work with patients from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds to provide competent and compassionate care.

“That’s why I chose Bloomberg Nursing at U of T,” says Samuels. “The [nurse practitioner] program here is unique – you have an opportunity to work in placements in a hospital setting in addition to other community organizations, and there are avenues to gain skills as a researcher, which throws open the doors to future possibilities including potentially pursing a PhD.”

For now, Samuels is ready to settle into the program and learn as much as he can to provide as a future nurse practitioner, including how to remain an advocate for patients ensuring that they always receive the best quality of care.

Art, math and knowing yourself: Paris Ouma reflects on her journey from Kenya to U of T

mattimar — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 14:54:36 +0000

Art, math and knowing yourself: Paris Ouma reflects on her journey from Kenya to U of T

mattimar Wed, 09/20/2023 - 10:54

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Paris Ouma, pictured here with her artwork, is beginning her studies at U of T Mississauga this fall with the support of the university’s Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (all images courtesy of Paris Ouma)

Topic

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship

Math

Mathematics

U of T Mississauga

Paris Ouma says she always feels hesitant before she begins to paint, questioning herself and her artistic abilities.

But her confidence inevitably returns with each brushstroke.

“What I love about art is how much it encapsulates so much of myself in every way,” she says. “Painting to me is a physical manifestation of how I re-learn over and over again to trust the process and myself.”

Ouma, who lived hours away from her family at age 12 while attending boarding school in Kenya, will once again be looking within herself as she prepares to embark on her next big chapter: moving to Canada to attend the ��Ƶ as a Lester B. Pearson scholar.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to cry a lot,” says Ouma, who is enrolled in a social sciences program at U of T Mississauga. “But I’m ready for change more often than not.”

Named after Lester B. Pearson, a U of T alumnus, former prime minister and Nobel Prize recipient, the Pearson scholarship was created by U of T to bring exceptional students from around the world to study at the university. Awarded to those who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and are recognized as leaders within their high school, the scholarship covers four years of study for first-entry students in undergraduate programs, including tuition, books, incidental fees and residence support.

Ouma says creating art teaches her how to trust herself and the artistic process

Ouma, one of 38 students to be awarded the scholarship this year, says attending boarding school in Molo, Kenya at such a young age taught her discipline, independence and, above all, the importance of speaking up for herself.

The self-confidence she gained through the experience made it easier to trust her instincts and follow her interests, even when they pointed in seemingly different directions.

That’s how she ended up becoming an artist with a passion for solving math problems, which she describes as “a thrill.”

“I used to be really bad at math, so my grandma tutored me. I got my first A in year eight and that’s when I started liking it,” says Ouma, who studied art, math and history in high school.

“It’s so satisfying when you get it.”

While math and art may seem worlds apart, they share a range of creative and cognitive skills that are increasingly valued in a wide range of fields, from medicine to business.

At U of T Mississauga, Ouma plans to pursue a degree that will lead to a career in wealth management or private equity – with a minor in art, of course.

She is also keen to help others discover themselves.

At her boarding school, she mentored younger students, empowering them to take pride in their native language and lending a helping hand in their exam preparations.

“I like listening and sitting down and being in people’s presence,” she says. “There’s so much people can offer you and you can offer them.”

Upon arriving in Canada, Ouma plans to explore the outdoors, including the natural beauty that surrounds the U of T Mississauga campus along the serene banks of Credit River. She has already made connections with fellow Pearson scholars through a group chat and says she’s excited to meet her soon to be roommate Natran Ambaye Tewoldemedhin, who is coming to U of T Mississauga from Ethiopia.

As she was preparing for her flight, Ouma packed her life into three suitcases – bringing with her essential hair products, two puffer jackets to combat the Toronto winter and a secret ingredient to make every meal special.

“It’s a seasoning blend called Royco – it’s Kenyan and I put it on everything.”

ChatGPT 101: The risks and rewards of generative AI in the classroom

bresgead — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 14:42:43 +0000

ChatGPT 101: The risks and rewards of generative AI in the classroom

bresgead Wed, 09/13/2023 - 10:42

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(photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty Images)

Topic

Artificial Intelligence

Subheadline

U of T's Susan McCahan says it's important for teachers to be clear on what technology is – and isn’t – allowed in their courses

The rise of generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT is prompting many educators to reimagine the role of technology in the classroom.

Susan McCahan (supplied image)

At the ��Ƶ, Susan McCahan, vice-provost, academic programs and vice-provost, innovations in undergraduate education, has been on the front lines of the response to this fast-evolving technology.

McCahan, a professor of mechanical and industrial engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, says the proliferation of generative AI tools presents both opportunities and challenges for higher education.

Her office is supporting projects on the applications of generative AI in teaching and learning and providing guidance to help instructors navigate this emerging technology.

She recently spoke to U of T News about the lessons that have been learned about the academic implications of generative AI and the big questions that still remain.

What are some of the ways generative AI is impacting teaching and learning?

Large language models have significant implications for how we teach coding and writing because it will change the way people code and write – particularly when it comes to routine tasks.

A lot of the writing I do in a day isn’t deeply intellectual. It’s the kind of writing that LLMs do pretty well. However, it’s probably not going to write as well as me when I’m writing an academic paper, because of my knowledge and understanding of the field and my own unique perspective.

Right now, the technology is pretty good at writing at the level of a first-year or second-year student, but it’s not up to what would be expected of a student in their third or fourth year.

The biggest challenge is making sure students are still progressing to that third- or fourth-year level if they are taking shortcuts in their first years of university – or even high school or middle school.

People have compared this to a calculator, but I don’t think that’s the right analogy because a calculator is a very domain-specific tool and generative AI has much broader applications.

There was an existential crisis in math education in the 1980s when calculators capable of symbolic manipulation came along. Educators questioned if we should teach our students how to do differentials and integrals if these programs can solve those complex equations. Yet, we came through that, and we still teach students how to add and subtract, multiply and divide, do differentials and integrals. We also teach students how to use these symbolic manipulation programs in ways that allow them to go deeper than if they were to do it all by hand.

I think we will come to a point where people recognize when it is useful to use AI to help and when is it not going to be very helpful. Hopefully, we will arrive in a place where it allows people to advance through the basics faster and move on to more complex writing and coding.

Does U of T consider the use of generative AI tools to be cheating?

We expect students to complete individual assignments on their own. If an instructor decides to explicitly restrict the use of generative AI tools, then their use would be considered an “unauthorized aid” under the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. This is considered an academic offence and will be treated as such.

Some might ask why we don’t classify this as plagiarism. One of the biggest misconceptions that people have is that LLMs take what’s on the internet, mash up the text and ideas and repackage it as a compilation. However, that’s not how the technology works.

Tools like ChatGPT are trained on large amounts of online materials to identify patterns of speech and make predictions about words most likely to go together. If I say, “one, two, three,” it knows that “four” probably comes next. It knows “four” is a noun, but it doesn’t associate the concept with a square or the horsemen of the apocalypse.

When you enter a prompt into ChatGPT, it’s not combing through information to produce sentences or paragraphs or ideas – it’s making word-by-word predictions that imitate patterns of speech around a subject. That’s why we don’t treat the use of these tools as plagiarism; we treat it as an unauthorized aid.

What resources are available to help instructors adapt to this emerging technology? Are there any best practices they should follow?

We’ve put together an FAQ addressing some of the considerations around generative AI, while providing instructors with resources to help them communicate what technology is – or isn’t – allowed in their courses.

I think we’re in a moment when it’s really important for faculty to be really clear on their syllabi about whether they explicitly allow it or explicitly don’t. If it is permitted, it should be clear how AI tools can be used, for what assignments and to what degree, and if students must explain, document or cite what tools they use and how.

This is new, and both faculty and students are not altogether clear if this will be the next Wikipedia of the world – where everyone uses it, but no one talks about it anymore. Or if it should never be used because it’s just unreliable.

What are some other considerations around the use of generative AI in an academic context?

LLMs often get things wrong – and very confidently wrong. For example, back in January, I asked ChatGPT for my biography. It told me that I had worked at the University of British Columbia and I was a leading researcher in biomedical engineering – things that seem believable, but are factually untrue. The technology has improved since then, but LLMs still get things wrong in ways that are not immediately apparent or obvious. These are called “hallucinations,” and they can be so subtle that they’re hard to detect unless you really know the subject.

Ultimately, the student is responsible for the material they submit, and if they’re submitting material that is factually wrong, they’re responsible for it. You can’t blame the chatbot, the same way the chatbot can’t take credit. It’s not like a team project where you’re working with another student, and you can say, ‘It wasn’t me, it was my partner.’ If your partner is AI, you are responsible for all of the work you submit whether or not there are parts that were co-created with AI.

U of T swimmer rediscovers the pool – and the positive impact of athletics

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 15:22:54 +0000

U of T swimmer rediscovers the pool – and the positive impact of athletics

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 09/06/2023 - 11:22

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Despite the challenges of being a student athlete, Amelia Narduzzo says her grades improved during her undergraduate years after she decided to return to competitive swimming (supplied image)

Perry King

Back to School 2023

UTogether

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Graduate Students

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Varsity Blues

Subheadline

Amelia Narduzzo will compete in the 800-metre freestyle while studying for her master’s degree in teaching at OISE

Before joining the ��Ƶ Varsity Blues this summer, Amelia Narduzzo had set aside competitive swimming for years so she could better navigate her undergraduate studies.

“For three to four years in total I stopped for a multitude of reasons,” says Narduzzo, who graduated from Western University this past spring and is now studying for her master’s degree in teaching at U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).

Although Narduzzo initially struggled as a student athlete, she found her way back to the sport she loved before graduating – and will now swim for the Blues in the 800-metre freestyle this year.

“I realized that I actually missed swimming," says Narduzzo, 21. “So then in third and my fourth year, I joined the team, and my grades actually got better – way better.”

As a third- and fourth-year student at Western, she broke personal bests in the pool, finally reaching a level she once thought was impossible.

“It just goes to show you that student athletes are a different breed sometimes,” she says. “We can make it happen, but it just takes that extra hour in the morning and at night. Yeah, you have to make sacrifices.”

It’s that discipline that has seen her excel in the classroom as well. With a focus on primary and junior education, Narduzzo comes to OISE looking to realize a lifelong love for education and educational leadership – a passion she has held since middle school.

“I always enjoyed learning,” she says. “I would notice that different teachers made different impacts on me, for the better or worse, and I just resonated with the ones who really took the time to help me out.”

When Narduzzo was looking to begin graduate studies, keep swimming at a high level and return to her hometown Toronto, OISE was a natural fit.

The Blues’ swim head coach, Byron MacDonald, thought so too.

“The recruiting was a bit easier than most because Amelia is from Toronto and was likely heading to U of T as her first choice no matter what. The swim team became a bonus,” MacDonald says. “I had also seen her as a high schooler, as her club team actually rents time at the U of T Athletic Centre.”

(supplied image)

The recruiting process came late for Narduzzo, as she only found the courage to email MacDonald earlier this year. “I told him, ‘Hey, my trajectory is positive right now,’” she says. “‘I know I don't have many times yet because I'm still pretty new.’

“I gave my whole story.”

MacDonald responded and asked to touch base later in the year. So, when Narduzzo was training with Toronto Swim Club at the Athletic Centre, MacDonald came to get a better look.

“Byron came up to me and he said, ‘How would you feel if I told you that you're on the team?,’” she recalls.

Narduzzo has since honed a solid relationship with MacDonald and Linda Kiefer, the team’s assistant head coach.

The key for her, MacDonald says, will be managing everything on her plate, at OISE and in the pool.

“Amelia is a distance swimmer and it's one of the tougher events to master as there is so much training involved,” he says. “As such, Amelia has to have a great internal drive and motivation to stay with that intensity day after day. And, as she is one of the smaller swimmers, she has to be even tougher to overcome the strength advantage some of her rivals will have.”

Despite the challenges, MacDonald says Narduzzo has all the tools she needs to succeed. “Amelia trained with our group this summer as she returned home after graduating from Western,” he says. “I was impressed with her persistence and drive to get better.”

Narduzzo says staying focused on her many responsibilities will be a team effort.

“I find that a strong support system is what makes or breaks you as a student athlete,” she says. “Because if you don't have people around you – that support system – then you crumble because there's only so much you can do by yourself.”

In photos: Students settle into their new homes across U of T's three campuses

bresgead — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 21:56:14 +0000

In photos: Students settle into their new homes across U of T's three campuses

bresgead Tue, 09/05/2023 - 17:56

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(photos by Don Campbell, left, and Nick Iwanyshyn, centre and right)

Topic

Undergraduate Students

University College

Subheadline

From instant ramen noodles to lengthy goodbyes, it was a busy – and emotional – Labour Day weekend 2023 at U of T residences

Incoming students from across Canada and around the world made the ��Ƶ their home over Labour Day weekend, pulling up to their residences across the three campuses with boxes of belongings, preferred snacks and plush creature comforts in tow.

Returning students and residential staff welcomed U of T’s newest community members with enthusiastic cheers and a helping hand in hauling suitcases, boxes and appliances through the hallways and to their rooms.

Parents ticked off items on their to-do lists as they prepared to say goodbye, some admitting they were saving their tears for the trip home, while siblings and friends helped figure out how to decorate new quarters.

First-year students, meanwhile, settled into their surroundings and looked forward to writing an important new chapter in their lives.

Interactive Digital Producer Nick Iwanyshyn and Staff Reporters Adina Bresge and Don Campbell were on hand to capture the emotions and excitement of move-in day in photos at each of the three campuses.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

New arrivals at University College on the St. George campus were greeted with signs and cheers as they unloaded their cars outside Morrison Hall.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Like many students, U of T Mississauga’s Diore Thorpe stocked her dorm room with all the essentials – including a ready supply of instant ramen.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Crystal Zhang, a first-year student at Trinity College, says she felt “mildly terrified” but “very excited” about living on her own for the first time.

While she’s comfortable doing her own laundry, she’s less confident in her cooking skills. “I’m glad I got a meal plan,” said Zhang, who is beginning her studies in Rotman Commerce.

(photo by Don Campbell)

Hundreds of students moved in to U of T Scarborough’s new sustainable student residence, Harmony Commons, which is built to passive house standard – a type of building designed for energy-efficient heating and cooling.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Sahil Basra, who is studying computer science, battled the heat as he lugged his desktop and monitor up to his room. “I’m exhausted,” Basra said, bracing himself for several more trips up and down the stairs.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Mya Thompson brought an armful of plushies – a shark, a frog and a dinosaur – to keep herself cozy at Innis College.

While the life sciences student was thrilled to be in the big city, her mother admitted that she was holding back tears for the drive back to Port Dover, Ont. “I’m excited for her, though, to chase her dream,” Eva Thompson said.

photo by Don Campbell)

Luggage carts helped with the heavy lifting as students got to know one another at U of T Scarborough.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Staff and volunteers at U of T Mississauga’s Erindale Hall residence ferried students’ belongings to their rooms in giant plastic bins.

(photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Esmé L. Wilson’s parents flew in from San Francisco to get her set up in her room. While she was ready for classes to begin, Wilson felt less prepared for the coming Canadian winter. “I have no idea what kind of jackets I’ll need,” she said. “I’ll probably have to buy a lot of new things.”

President Meric Gertler welcomes students, faculty, librarians and staff to fall term at U of T

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 19:15:48 +0000

President Meric Gertler welcomes students, faculty, librarians and staff to fall term at U of T Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 08/31/2023 - 15:15

Topic

“A new year of learning, discovery and innovation”

Excitement is building across the ��Ƶ’s three campuses as the university prepares to welcome students, faculty, staff and librarians to the start of fall term, U of T President Meric Gertler says.

With more than 90,000 students from across Canada and around the world expected to fill the university’s classrooms, libraries, gyms, lecture halls and laboratories, “it’s a time when anything seems possible,” the president says in a new video message released today.

“There is so much to explore, so many challenges and opportunities here at the one of the world’s great universities in the most diverse and dynamic city-region on the planet,” President Gertler says. “Each of us has a place in this amazing academic community. We’re so glad that you’ve joined us and we’re looking forward to seeing what you will achieve.

“Welcome to a new year of learning, discovery and innovation at the ��Ƶ.”

Watch the president’s message

First-year student arrives at U of T with a plan to improve Toronto’s transit

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 17:25:49 +0000

First-year student arrives at U of T with a plan to improve Toronto’s transit

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 08/28/2023 - 13:25

Cutline

A member of New College, incoming first-year student Zarif Ali is hoping to study computer science and meet others who are passionate about improving transit and “other things that ... could dramatically improve our quality of life” (photo by Polina Teif)

Topic

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Cities

Faculty of Arts & Science

New College

Transit

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

Zarif Ali says the idea for his rewards-focused app grew out of a Grade 9 geography project

Zarif Ali is betting the ��Ƶ – and its culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in particular – can help him get where he wants to go.

A recent graduate of the International Baccalaureate program at Scarborough’s Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate, Ali has been making media headlines in recent months for Transit+, his concept for an app that would incentivize public-transit riders through a rewards program while consolidating other features from existing apps, such as route and schedule information and digital fare payment.

“It was originally part of our Grade 9 geography culminating project,” says Ali, 18, who will be starting first year in the Faculty of Arts & Science as a member of New College with an eye toward entering the computer science program in his second year. “Our teacher assigned us to create something that would improve the quality of life in Toronto.”

He says had wanted to attend U of T ever since middle school and made up his mind when he discovered the university had a specialist program for designing computer interfaces.

“I was immediately interested, as that relates directly to how I want to thrive in my career. It was very clear to me from the beginning that U of T was going to be my top choice – and so I actually didn’t end up applying anywhere else.”

Inspired by a transit-focused episode of comedian Hasan Minhaj’s talk show Patriot Act and his own burgeoning interest in computer science, Ali decided to focus on a digital solution to the issue of transit cuts and fare hikes due to transit agencies’ lack of revenue.

“Transit+ is like Starbucks Rewards for your transit fare,” he explains. “The more you ride the TTC or Metrolinx using your Presto card, the more points you would be able to rack up – and at the end of the week or month, you could redeem them for a free bus ride or even a weekly or monthly pass. And if you wanted to incorporate small businesses around the city, you could have them do promotions within the app for you to redeem using Presto or your credit card.”

Ali points to other transit agencies that have implemented similar systems over the years, such as the STM Merci loyalty program in Montreal that was able to generate $100 million in additional revenue from new ridership over the course of its three-year pilot project, according to a study, or Hong Kong’s Octopus smartcard and its rider perks.

“Right now, the app is very focused on the rewards program – it’s meant to incentivize people who are either considering using transit, or already using it, to use it more frequently. If you're able to increase ridership, you increase the total revenue that the agency is able to bring in,” Ali says.

Encouraged by his teachers and fellow classmates, Ali kept fine-tuning his idea for the Transit+ app throughout high school while continuing to learn more about computing by watching YouTube videos and taking a Grade 10 computer science course.

“I’m interested in computer science because of how it enables you to create things that are accessible to so many people,” Ali says.

He credits his experience at Wilfrid Laurier for helping him prepare to enter university.

“The teachers there were absolutely wonderful in guiding everyone throughout our high school career – especially in the last two years in the IB program,” Ali says.

“There was definitely a competitive atmosphere, but it just fueled everybody to try and do the absolute best they could in whatever field they wanted to get into. And happily, everybody in my friend group was able to get into their top choice for university.”

Ali’s former geography teacher, Karen Pak – who graduated from the master's program at U of T's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in 2017 – says the school project that led to Ali's app was based on principles from the Global Ideas Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, where she was formerly the mentor program manager. She says Ali's enthusiasm for learning will serve him well in university.

“As an educator, you always hope that students will be sparked by something to make learning truly tangible and applicable,” Pak says.

“Zarif deserves all the credit in taking this opportunity and turning it into a pathway for his creativity and intellect – a winning combination. I know he will go on to accomplish incredible innovations and inspire others to do the same.”

As he gets ready to start at U of T in September, Ali is as focused on his academic goals as he was on building Transit+.

“I’m hoping that I can meet the requirements to get into the computer science major. After second year, I want to go into the focus in human-computer interaction program, because that’s where you get to learn about design fundamentals.

“And I’m hoping to meet like-minded people at U of T who are also as passionate about computer science and improving things like transit or looking at other things that could be very simple to implement, but could dramatically improve our quality of life,” Ali says, adding that he’s planning to join some of U of T’s entrepreneurship clubs and accelerators to help him further develop his app.

For Transit+ to become a reality, Ali knows he’d need buy-in from TTC and Metrolinx – and has already reached out to local politicians, activists and transit staff who've offered feedback and even helped him refine his pitch.

Ironically, Ali – who immigrated to Scarborough from Bangladesh with his parents in 2010 – has never been much of a transit rider himself. But that’s all about to change as he gears up for his daily commute to campus this fall.

“I've always been lucky enough to have my schools or wherever I need to go really close by, so I never really rode transit that much,” he says. “But now that I'm coming downtown to attend U of T, I feel like having a program like Transit+ in place would be great.”

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Back to School 2023

5 things students need to know as U of T gears up for classes this fall

mattimar — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 19:09:00 +0000

5 things students need to know as U of T gears up for classes this fall

mattimar Thu, 08/24/2023 - 15:09

Cutline

Ela Dai, a recent grad and this year’s ASKme program assistant, says ASKme booths are a “campus compass” for new and returning students (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Topic

Undergraduate Students

Subheadline

From orientation events to community gatherings, there's a flurry of activity happening across the university's three campuses

Ela Dai was too nervous to ask questions when she first arrived at the ��Ƶ in 2018 – so, her father encouraged her to approach an ASKme booth on the St. George campus.

The booth’s volunteers helped Dai, who was arriving from Türkiye, and her father sort out a question about the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) – and now, four years later, Dai is a recent graduate of the Faculty of Arts & Science and this year’s ASKme program assistant.

“The ASKme booths have become the campus compass for a lot of students,” says Dai.

“The ambassadors are students or recent grads, so they know where you’re coming from because they experienced being a new student. It creates a safe environment.”

The booths are just one of the many resources that staff, faculty, librarians and student volunteers are rolling out on U of T’s three campuses over the next several weeks in preparation for the arrival of more than 90,000 new and returning students from across Canada and around the world.

That includes online and in-person workshops, seminars and orientation events focused on everything from academic skills to finances, housing and more.

Here’s a brief snapshot of the many ways U of T is rolling out the welcome mat for students this fall – and a few suggestions on how they can make the most of the upcoming year:

Get to know U of T

Attendees at last year’s Homecoming event at U of T Scarborough (photo via UTSC)

There’s a flurry of events scheduled at St. George, U of T Scarborough and U of T Mississauga during the month of September – but if there’s one day students won’t want to miss, it’s Sept. 6.

In the morning, a tri-campus “cheer-off” will take place at Varsity Stadium at 10:30 a.m., bringing together students from all three campuses in advance of a tri-campus student parade that will march – loudly – from Varsity Stadium to the intersection of St. George and College Streets.

Later in the day, the annual tri-campus clubs fair will take place on St. George Street between College and Harbord/Hoskin Streets from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Students are invited to explore hundreds of clubs at U of T – from eSports and K-pop to Afro-dance and culture – to find their community.

And that’s only the beginning. Here are just a few of the other events scheduled to take place at U of T Mississauga, U of T Scarborough and the St. George campus to welcome students to the fall term.

Sept. 1. Snap the 6ix photo scavenger hunt at U of T St. George
Sept. 2. The Scarborough Campus Students’ Union Frosh at U of T Scarborough
Sept. 5. Resources and Involvement Fair at U of T Mississauga
Sept 5. Black Excellence Orientation – Bonnet and Durag Bash at U of T Mississauga
Sept. 6. Campus Bites and Sights at U of T Mississauga
Sept. 7. Healthy Campus Day at U of T Scarborough
Sept. 8. Spadina Block Party at U of T St. George
Sept. 13. First Nations House Orientation at U of T St. George
Sept. 23. Homecoming at U of T Scarborough

There's also a tri-campus Xplore Hart House event on Sept. 1 on the St. George campus that includes shuttle bus access from U of T Scarborough and U of T Mississauga.

Find more orientation events by using Student Life’s calendar (St. George), the orientation events page at U of T Mississauga and the orientation events page at U of T Scarborough.

Don’t be afraid to ASK(me)!

ASKme Anything volunteers are on hand to answer all of students’ questions (photo by Johnny Guatto)

No matter how big or small the question, students can find help across all three campuses.

Dai stresses that the ASKme booths are there to provide essential information to make the transition to university – or getting reacquainted with campus – that much easier.

She says they get questions ranging from, “Where is Hart House?” to “How do I study as a new university student?”

On the St. George campus, there are four booths set up at the Koffler Student Services Centre, the campus gates at King’s College Road and College Street, near Sidney Smith Hall and at Robarts Library from Aug. 21 until Sept. 15.

At U of T Scarborough, ASKme Anything booths will be located by the bus loop outside Highland Hall, at the front of the Student Centre, at the front of the Instructional Centre and at the Bladen Wing Hallway.

Students at U of T Mississauga are encouraged to visit the Centre for Student Engagement front desk office to have their questions answered. The office is open from 9:30 to 5 p.m. and an available resource to students year around.

There are even welcome booths at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Terminals 1 and 3. They will be open from Aug. 21 to Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Find your first class – and arrive on time

U of T Mississauga campus map

The first day of classes varies for each campus.

At U of T Scarborough, students will start on Sept. 5, while U of T Mississauga kicks off the fall semester on Sept. 6. Students on the St. George campus begin heading to class on Sept. 7.

U of T’s tri-campus map tool is a great resource when it comes to figuring out where to go – and don’t forget that most lectures start 10 minutes after the hour to make sure students have time to get where they need to be. And, when it finally comes time to hit the books, U of T Libraries has put together a helpful tip sheet about accessing its collections and other resources, as well as where to find study spaces across the three campuses.

Find your community

Students from the LGBTOUT Centre for Queer, Questioning & Allied Students promote their organization at Clubs Day (photo by James Poremba)

One of the best things about attending U of T is that it’s located in a city renowned for its diversity, which is reflected in the university’s many groups and student associations.

From First Nations House to the Black Students’ Association to LGBTOUT and the Multi-Faith Centre, there is a wide range of opportunities on the three campuses for students to connect, share their experiences and make meaningful connections.

Joining a club at U of T also provides an avenue to try something new, or delve deeper into your hobbies, and fosters a sense of belonging within the university community. From eSports to art, there are literally hundreds of community-oriented clubs and student groups across the three campuses – meaning there’s something for everyone.

In addition to the Sept. 6 clubs fair, the Student Organization Portal – a clubs directory – is a great resource to discover campus groups and includes information on what each group does and how to go about joining it.

Make health, wellness and safety a priority

U of T strives to provide a safe supportive environment where students, staff, faculty and librarians can thrive in their academic and personal pursuits.

The U of T Campus Safety app features emergency contacts, tips, support services, and a live chat feature that connects users with U of T safety staff in real-time. App users can also use a Mobile Bluelight feature which sends the user’s on-campus location to a safety team in case of a crisis. Other features include TravelSafer, enabling safety staff to monitor users’ on-campus walks, and Friend Walk, which allows a trusted contact to monitor your walk anywhere in the world.

Additionally, U of T community members are automatically enrolled in UTAlert – a service that allows the university to send important messages via email. Students can log into the UTAlert portal to ensure that their info is up to date, and add a phone number to receive text messages.

Students are also encouraged to stay safe online by practicing good password hygiene, using multifactor identification where available and generally being on the alert for suspicious websites, emails and texts. More information can be found on the university’s Security Matters website, including a tool to report phishing attempts.

Students seeking mental health support can visit the Student Mental Health Resource site or health and wellness at St. George, U of T Scarborough and U of T Mississauga.

Back to School 2023

U of T redesigns its need-based financial aid program to better account for Toronto’s high cost of living

‘Welcome home’: U of T’s on-campus housing offers more than a place to live

Nursing student seeks to foster change and diversity in health care

Art, math and knowing yourself: Paris Ouma reflects on her journey from Kenya to U of T

ChatGPT 101: The risks and rewards of generative AI in the classroom

U of T swimmer rediscovers the pool – and the positive impact of athletics

In photos: Students settle into their new homes across U of T's three campuses

President Meric Gertler welcomes students, faculty, librarians and staff to fall term at U of T

Watch the president’s message

Read more about the start of the fall term at U of T

First-year student arrives at U of T with a plan to improve Toronto’s transit

5 things students need to know as U of T gears up for classes this fall

Get to know U of T

Don’t be afraid to ASK(me)!

Find your first class – and arrive on time

Find your community

Make health, wellness and safety a priority

More information about U of T can be found at UTogether