New Students / en Back-to-school 2024: 6 things every 福利姬自慰student should know /news/back-school-2024-6-things-every-u-t-student-should-know <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Back-to-school 2024: 6 things every 福利姬自慰student should know</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-08/UofT89751_0W7A1485-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=STZfEbZ3 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-08/UofT89751_0W7A1485-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=Y-dOea1a 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-08/UofT89751_0W7A1485-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=eX4kQ9jT 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-08/UofT89751_0W7A1485-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=STZfEbZ3" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>mattimar</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-08-21T12:37:14-04:00" title="Wednesday, August 21, 2024 - 12:37" class="datetime">Wed, 08/21/2024 - 12:37</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>U of T's ASKme Anything booths are a great resource for help and information on all three campuses (photo by David Lee)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/mariam-matti" hreflang="en">Mariam Matti</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/back-school-2024" hreflang="en">Back to School 2024</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-entrepreneurship" hreflang="en">福利姬自慰Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/clubs" hreflang="en">Clubs</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/current-students" hreflang="en">Current Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/mental-health" hreflang="en">Mental Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/new-students" hreflang="en">New Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">福利姬自慰Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">福利姬自慰Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>There鈥檚 always more to discover at the University of Toronto 鈥 whether you鈥檙e setting foot on <a href="/news/which-u-t-campus-best-you-quick-look-what-makes-each-one-unique" target="_blank">one of its three campuses</a> for the first time or have been here for years.</p> <p>With its diverse opportunities, expansive resources and vibrant community, there are nearly endless ways for students to make the most of their time at one of <a href="/news/u-t-ranked-second-among-north-american-public-universities-among-top-25-globally-qs-world" target="_blank">the world鈥檚 top universities</a>.</p> <p>The following list, though by no means exhaustive, is meant to serve as a starting point for those who are looking for tips on everything from answering basic questions to finding their community 鈥 and even starting their own company.</p> <h4>Navigating campus life&nbsp;</h4> <p><iframe allow="geolocation" height="650px" id="map_frame" scrolling="no" src="https://map.concept3d.com/?id=1809#!sbc/?fh/?sbt/locations" style="border:0px solid #fff; margin:0; padding:0;" title="University of Toronto" width="100%"></iframe></p> <p>Need help finding your way around? <a href="https://map.utoronto.ca/?id=1809#!ct/45469?s/" target="_blank">U of T鈥檚&nbsp;tri-campus map tool</a>&nbsp;is a great resource when it comes to figuring out where to go 鈥 and don鈥檛 forget that most lectures start 10 minutes after the hour to make sure students have time to get where they need to be.</p> <h4>鈥淲here do I get a鈥?鈥</h4> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-08/UofT89746_0W7A1459.jpg?itok=o-2ns3dl" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>U of T's ASKMe Anything ambassadors aim to build a warm and welcoming community for students on all three campuses (photo by David Lee)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Starting out at 福利姬自慰can be both exciting and a bit overwhelming 鈥 and many students have a lot of questions.</p> <p>鈥淗ow do I find out about orientation events and activities?鈥</p> <p>鈥淲hat is a TCard and where do I get it?鈥</p> <p>鈥淗ow much time is there to walk from class to class?鈥</p> <p>Fortunately, <a href="https://studentlife.utoronto.ca/service/askme-anything-pop-up-booths/" target="_blank">U of T鈥檚 ASKme Anything booths</a> and ambassadors are here to help. The initiative is all about building a warm and welcoming community for students on all three campuses.</p> <p>ASKme Anything booths will be operating on the St. George campus from Aug. 19 to Sept. 9 on weekdays, plus Saturday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug. 25. They will be conveniently located at the campus gate at King鈥檚 College Road and College Street, at St. George and Ursula Franklin Streets and near Sidney Smith Hall at St. George and Willcocks Streets.</p> <p>At 福利姬自慰Mississauga, students are encouraged to visit the Hub Hello Desk in the <a href="https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/sas/about-us/student-services-hub" target="_blank">Student Services Hub</a> to have their questions answered and to connect with student services on campus. The desk is open from 9:30 to 5 p.m.</p> <p>At 福利姬自慰Scarborough, ASKme Anything booths will be set up in Scarborough Circle, the lobby of the Sam Ibrahim Building, the front vestibule of the Instructional Centre and in the Bladen Wing hallway just outside of Tim Horton's from Sept. 3 to Sept. 14.</p> <p>There are also <a href="https://internationalexperience.utoronto.ca/international-student-services/resource-and-information-hub/upon-arrival" target="_blank">welcome booths</a>&nbsp;at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Terminals 1 and 3.</p> <h4>Finding your community</h4> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-08/0912ClubsFair017-crop.jpg?itok=7-McNEn9" width="750" height="500" alt="Students at UTM peruse the booths of various clubs during clubs day" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Students attend Clubs Day at the 福利姬自慰Mississauga campus (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Diving into university life by <a href="/news/esports-k-pop-u-t-hosts-hundreds-community-oriented-clubs-and-student-groups" target="_blank">joining a club</a> provides the opportunity to learn new things, connect with others and enrich the student experience. From sports and the arts to social causes, there are hundreds of community-oriented clubs and student groups across the three campuses 鈥 meaning there鈥檚 literally something for everyone.</p> <p>Interested students should check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8cZcrutGW-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D" target="_blank">Clubs Carnival</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8cZcrutGW-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank"> on Aug. 30</a>&nbsp;at King鈥檚 College Circle on Front Campus. At 福利姬自慰Mississauga, students are invited to the <a href="https://utm-orientation-2024.attendease.com/attendease/networking/experience/ddb70d19-f47a-45c8-be82-686d057b7ff1/8d9eaaf5-9049-427d-a54d-3fa894648ae5" target="_blank">Student Groups Fair</a> to find out more information on clubs on Sept. 5 and 6 outside the Communication, Culture and Technology Building.</p> <p>福利姬自慰Scarborough students will get to explore groups and clubs on campus on <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/orientation/#15" target="_blank">Sept. 23 at the UTSC Clubs Fair</a>. The location of the event has yet to be determined.</p> <p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://sop.utoronto.ca/" target="_blank">Student Organization Portal</a> is a great resource to discover campus groups and includes information on what each group does and how to go about joining it.</p> <h4>Explore U of T鈥檚 thriving startup scene</h4> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-08/download.jpg?itok=_LTtDmMB" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Exhibitors gather at the True Blue Expo during 福利姬自慰Entrepreneurship Week</em></figcaption> </figure> <p><a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/" target="_blank">福利姬自慰Entrepreneurship</a> (UTE) is <a href="https://entrepreneurs.utoronto.ca/event/acceleratorfest-2024/" target="_blank">hosting AcceleratorFest on Sept. 18</a> from 12 to 6 p.m. at the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus.</p> <p>The event offers an opportunity for aspiring and established entrepreneurs 鈥 as well as those who are merely curious about what it takes to effectively create your own job while attending university 鈥 to explore the many resources, spaces and programs available to them across U of T鈥檚 tri-campus network.&nbsp;</p> <p>There will be representatives from more than a dozen campus accelerators, founders who turned their ideas into impactful businesses and a tour of ONRamp, UTE鈥檚 co-working and community spaced housed inside the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus.</p> <h4>Stay in the know with UTogether and connect with 福利姬自慰on social media</h4> <p>There are many ways to connect with the 福利姬自慰community and stay in the loop for events happening across the three campuses.</p> <p>The <a href="/utogether" target="_blank">UTogether web page</a> is a hub of information and helps connect students, faculty members, staff and librarians with important resources&nbsp;鈥 such as <a href="/utogether/student-community#health-and-wellness">health and wellness supports</a> 鈥 as well as news and messages from 福利姬自慰leadership.</p> <p>The <a href="/social-media-directory" target="_blank">social media directory</a> is useful for those looking to find and connect with the various university accounts on social media. Use keywords and filters to search or browse the listings. Below are the quick links to the main social media accounts on each campus.</p> <h6><strong>On Instagram</strong></h6> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/uoft/" target="_blank">@uoft</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/utsc/?hl=en" target="_blank">@utsc</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/uoftmississauga" target="_blank">@uoftmississauga</a></p> <p><strong>On TikTok</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@uoft" target="_blank">@UofT</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@utsc?lang=en" target="_blank">@UTSC</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@utm" target="_blank">@UTM</a></p> <h6><strong>On X/Twitter</strong></h6> <p><a href="https://x.com/uoft" target="_blank">@UofT</a></p> <p><a href="https://x.com/utsc" target="_blank">@UTSC</a></p> <p><a href="https://x.com/UTM" target="_blank">@UTM</a></p> <h6><strong>On Facebook</strong></h6> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/universitytoronto" target="_blank">University of Toronto</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/UofTScarborough/" target="_blank">University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC)&nbsp;</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/UTMississauga" target="_blank">University of Toronto Mississauga</a></p> <h6><strong>On YouTube</strong></h6> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@uoft" target="_blank">University of Toronto</a></p> <h4>First day of classes (now the same across all three campuses)</h4> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-08/vlcsnap-2024-08-20-14h14m56s442.jpg?itok=Bq1YkPTW" width="750" height="500" alt="students walking around UTSC campus" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Students on the first day of classes at the 福利姬自慰Scarborough campus (photo by Ruilin Yuan)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>So when does the fall term actually begin? For the first time, students on the St. George campus, 福利姬自慰Scarborough and 福利姬自慰Mississauga will begin on the same day: Sept. 3.</p> <p>The alignment follows a review that recommended standardizing critical dates such as the start and end of classes, exam periods, reading weeks and fee deadlines across the three campuses.</p> <p>The new, more co-ordinated approach is expected to provide a more streamlined and predictable academic experience for the university community.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:37:14 +0000 mattimar 309052 at Get a first look at 福利姬自慰at the Ontario Universities' Fair /news/get-first-look-u-t-ontario-universities-fair <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Get a first look at 福利姬自慰at the Ontario Universities' Fair</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-09-23-fair-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=xGKuGGDV 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2016-09-23-fair-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=U3Iy1FIJ 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2016-09-23-fair-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=X5_4k6Ia 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-09-23-fair-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=xGKuGGDV" alt="photo of fair"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-09-23T13:24:28-04:00" title="Friday, September 23, 2016 - 13:24" class="datetime">Fri, 09/23/2016 - 13:24</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Interested high school students stop by at U of T's booth at the Ontario Universities' Fair (photos by Noreen Ahmed-Ullah)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/noreen-ahmed-ullah" hreflang="en">Noreen Ahmed-Ullah</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Noreen Ahmed-Ullah</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university" hreflang="en">University</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/recruitment" hreflang="en">Recruitment</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/enrollment-services" hreflang="en">Enrollment Services</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/new-students" hreflang="en">New Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The University of Toronto is welcoming thousands of eager high school students to its booth at the Ontario Universities鈥 Fair this weekend, answering questions about its three campuses and diverse faculties.</p> <p>University-bound students and their parents also learned about a new campaign launched by the&nbsp;Council of Ontario Universities (COU) at the fair, which runs through the weekend at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The council&nbsp;is asking parents and students to fill out an <a href="https://cou.typeform.com/to/IKrMiz">online survey</a>&nbsp;to begin thinking about what Ontarians need to prepare for the future.</p> <p>鈥淭he challenge that we face is the world is changing so how do we make sure we keep up with those changes,鈥 said <strong>David Lindsay</strong>, president of the council. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a part of the province of Ontario鈥檚 economy and part of the&nbsp;infrastructure, and we want to make sure we鈥檙e working with all of our partners to build a bright future. The way to start that is to talk about people鈥檚 concerns. So we want to hear from people about their hopes, their fears, their aspirations.鈥</p> <p>Results from the survey will be completed by next September, and will be used to&nbsp;further roundtable discussions with parents and student.&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__2087 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="563" src="/sites/default/files/fair3-embed_0.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"></p> <p>Every year, the fair attracts 120,000 high school students and their parents, four months ahead of the application deadlines in January.</p> <p>This year, 福利姬自慰got a bit more space on the exhibition floor to allow for more engaging conversations between university staff and students.</p> <p>鈥淭he campuses and faculties are overwhelmed with traffic over the weekend,鈥 said <strong>Richard Levin</strong>, executive director of Enrolment Services and the university鈥檚 registrar. 鈥淲e managed to get a little more space, but we can effectively use much more than we currently have. We really want to make an effort to give students and their families a good experience. That needs space so they don鈥檛 have to wait as long, they can get their material and they can get their questions answered.鈥 &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>This year the fair has students registering all their information into a 鈥減assport,鈥 which contains a barcode that then gets scanned at a university鈥檚 booth.</p> <p>In U of T鈥檚 case, the university also brought in a service that can help them customize communications with students.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淲hen it sends out a message, it will collect the students who just want information about engineering and send them a personalized message,鈥 said <strong>Ken Withers</strong>, U of T鈥檚 director of university student recruitment. 鈥淚f students have indicated they鈥檙e interested in Scarborough, then they鈥檒l receive very tailored information just from Scarborough. So instead of receiving huge volumes of information that may not be applicable to them, the (service) helps us to tailor the message so students can get exactly what they need.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__2088 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="563" src="/sites/default/files/fair2016-09-23-embed.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 23 Sep 2016 17:24:28 +0000 ullahnor 101092 at #UofTBTS16: Introducing U of T鈥檚 Class of 2020 /news/uoftbts16-introducing-u-t-s-class-2020 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTBTS16: Introducing U of T鈥檚 Class of 2020</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-09-16-Grace-King-Class2020-Lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Y2GKeeTm 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2016-09-16-Grace-King-Class2020-Lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=lB2tjUxL 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2016-09-16-Grace-King-Class2020-Lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=_qiUmRQ1 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-09-16-Grace-King-Class2020-Lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Y2GKeeTm" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>krisha</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-09-16T09:53:05-04:00" title="Friday, September 16, 2016 - 09:53" class="datetime">Fri, 09/16/2016 - 09:53</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(Photo courtesy Grace King)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/krisha-ravikantharaja" hreflang="en">Krisha Ravikantharaja</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Krisha Ravikantharaja</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftbts16" hreflang="en">#UofTBTS16</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/back-school" hreflang="en">Back to School</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/new-students" hreflang="en">New Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/class-2020" hreflang="en">Class of 2020</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Incoming first years are ready to make their mark</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>From an aspiring filmmaker to an environmental activist, a musician who loves math&nbsp;and a student who has already been recognized for his&nbsp;stellar research, U of T's incoming Class of 2020 is something special.&nbsp;</p> <p>福利姬自慰News writer <strong>Krisha Ravikantharaja</strong> spoke to four first years who are all recipients of U of T鈥檚 National Scholarship, a program which is marking its 30th&nbsp;anniversary at the university. While they share an academic&nbsp;enthusiasm toward the next four years, these students are a reminder of the wide array of interests and experiences the Class of 2020 is bringing with them.</p> <hr> <p><strong>Grace King</strong>鈥檚 decision to pursue a double major in environmental studies and anthropology is motivated by her belief that effective activism requires a humanistic approach, or rather putting a face to&nbsp;statistics.</p> <p>When she returned from an expedition to the Arctic in the summer before her final year of high school, King (pictured above)&nbsp;started the Arctic Awareness Program, a program where she used her own experience to 鈥渟hift the way children were thinking about climate change and culture in the north.鈥</p> <p>Last year, King鈥檚 program reached nearly 1,000 Grade 4 to&nbsp;Grade 5 students in Newfoundland.</p> <p>King was also the leader of the mental health and awareness committee at her high school, and spearheaded a project called Paint it Positive. Over Easter break, the committee painted two washrooms with a mural installation that covered up violent and hurtful comments on the stalls.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淲e wanted to see what happens when you try to replace destruction with self-expression. Above the mirrors, we wrote things like, 鈥榊ou are worthy鈥 and 鈥榊ou are appreciated,鈥欌 she said.</p> <p><strong>What are you looking forward to most at U of T?</strong><br> I鈥檓 looking forward to the beauty of just being a sponge. This time is so special because I get to be here for the main purpose of sitting in a classroom where people who have dedicated their professions to some passion of learning that makes them feel something are able to provide me with enrichment for my brain and allow me to expand it, and I think that鈥檚 something that we take for granted too often.</p> <p><strong>What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?</strong><br> I miss the coast already, but Toronto is bustling, and it鈥檚 very alive. Yesterday, I went to my first class, and I am just watching all these humans just walking everywhere. Everyone鈥檚 got somewhere to go. I think that can be a very cool thing. Toronto鈥檚 got so much happening.</p> <p><strong>Why did you choose U of T?</strong><br> I was attracted to 福利姬自慰also because it has such a such a strong foundation for education students in social sciences and humanities. I was influenced to choose it for how it might shape and shift my opportunities as an activist. I think 'my thing'&nbsp;is taking climate change awareness&nbsp;and turning it into something that people can access more. I鈥檓 hoping I can shake things up a bit when it comes to the activism scene here.</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__1981 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/2016-09-16-Nathan-to-embed-2.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 400px; margin-left: 75px; margin-right: 75px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>Born and raised in Victoria, B.C., <strong>Nathan Kuehne</strong> comes to 福利姬自慰with more experiences as a researcher in life sciences than the average first year.&nbsp;In Grade 9, Nathan was selected to represent British Columbia at the Canada-wide science fair where he was inspired by the work of other students across the country. When he returned to Victoria, he worked in a medicinal chemistry lab at the University of Victoria.</p> <p>In Grade 11, he developed an at home test for phenylketonuria (PKU). Kuehne&nbsp;explains that if you have PKU, your body can鈥檛 metabolize protein because of an amino acid called phenylalanine. Because there is no cure, patients must avoid eating protein, and monitor how much phenylalanine is in their bloodstream. The current method requires that patients send a blood sample to a lab, making it hard to self regulate and including a week-long waiting period. Nathan鈥檚 alternative was a a machine that uses a urine sample.</p> <p>鈥淎fter a quick filtration it鈥檚 automated by turning a device, a colour change is produced which indicates to the patient how much phenylalanine is in their body so they can self-regulate and self-correct their diet.鈥</p> <p>Kuehne went on to present this research at the Canada-wide science fair,&nbsp;and was then invited to present it at TEDxVictoria.&nbsp;In Grade 12, he was selected to be a member of Team Canada at the international science fair which took place in Phoenix for a project which applied the underlying chemistry of&nbsp;his previous research.</p> <h3><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFbF16DVTXY">Watch Kuehne's TEDx talk</a></h3> <p><strong>What are you nervous about?</strong><br> Making new friends: when you know the same people for twelve years you get so comfortable that being in a brand new place with brand new people for four years and having to cultivate all those new relationships is something that is exciting, but also nerve-wracking.</p> <p><strong>What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?</strong><br> Being in a big city like Toronto, there鈥檚 so much to do and so much to take in. The city is so diverse. Enjoying the city is one of my top priorities.</p> <p><strong>Why </strong><strong style="line-height: 20.8px;">did you choose&nbsp;</strong><strong>U of T?</strong><br> The research being done here is unbelievable. Being at Canada鈥檚 largest research institution has so many opportunities. Participating in research is amazing so I鈥檓 excited to try and make that happen.</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__1976 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/2016-09-16-Rebecca-to-embed.jpg" style="line-height: 20.8px; width: 600px; height: 400px; margin-left: 75px; margin-right: 75px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p><strong>Rebecca Moranis</strong> is pursuing a double degree in two seemingly unrelated topics&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;music and mathematics. While she received her ARCT diploma for piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music in the summer of 2015, her musical passion lies with&nbsp;the flute. This past year, she played with two orchestras: the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, the latter of which did a tour to New York last summer, which included a concert at Carnegie Hall.</p> <p>Moranis also started ballet lessons when she was three, and has been studying with Opera Atelier for eight years. She was invited to rehearse for <em>Alcina</em>, one of Opera Atelier鈥檚 operas in the summer of 2014, and was thereafter kept on as a performer. Rebecca has also starred as a background dancer in multiple episodes of the television show, <em>Reign</em>.</p> <p>Moranis was selected to be part of a team that would compete in an international Harvard-MIT Math Tournament, and has tutored math at the University of Toronto Schools for the past five years.</p> <p>鈥淚 love sharing math with younger students. I鈥檓 inspired to do that because a faculty member here at U of T, <strong>Lindsey Shorser</strong>, has been a role model to me.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淸As a woman,] sometimes you feel like you can鈥檛 be as vocal, and it鈥檚 hard to prove yourself. [Shorser] has shown me that it鈥檚 possible. Representation is so important, and that鈥檚 what I hope to do for the girls that I tutor. I want to show them that math is cool, and you can be a girl and not have to hide the fact that you鈥檙e intelligent.鈥</p> <p><strong>What are you&nbsp;looking forward to most at U&nbsp;of T?</strong><br> I鈥檓 most looking forward to research opportunities, especially because 福利姬自慰is known for having a stellar research program. I鈥檓 looking forward to being able to do research projects that combine music and math, and seeing how I can weave them together like looking at the science of how we perceive music, and the mathematics and patterning of composition.</p> <p><strong>What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?</strong><br> I love this city 鈥 it鈥檚 my favourite city in the world. I love the culture, and the opportunities to appreciate art that are available like music, ballet and going to galleries. The community of Toronto is so open to different kinds of arts.</p> <p><strong>Why did you choose&nbsp;U of T?</strong><br> I鈥檝e been studying flute with <strong>Nora Shulman</strong> for the past two years. She plays with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;and teaches at the Faculty of Music.&nbsp;I was partly drawn to stay at 福利姬自慰because I could keep studying with her. I鈥檝e improved tremendously because of her.</p> <hr> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__1979 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/2016-09-16-ben-to-embed_1.jpg" style="line-height: 20.8px; width: 600px; height: 400px; margin-left: 75px; margin-right: 75px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p><strong>Ben Sprenger</strong> has come to 福利姬自慰with the plan to combine his interests in engineering and filmmaking. From an early age, Sprenger wanted to be an actor, and even attended acting classes. As he became older though, he wanted to star in movies, and so he made his own with the assistance of a sometimes unwilling younger brother.&nbsp;</p> <p>Eventually, Sprenger&nbsp;became more interested in being behind the camera, and developed his knowledge of lighting, sound, editing, and writing. He hopes to continue his filmmaking endeavours in first year.</p> <p>鈥淭he great thing about being in university is that there鈥檚 so many more people that have the same interests as you, and are willing to put in time and work," he said. "I think it will be nice to find people to collaborate with through the Hart House Film Board.鈥</p> <p>Sprenger was selected as a semifinalist for the Los Angeles Cinefest for his most recent short film 鈥 a mocumentary 鈥擶hen Food Goes Bad, which has been Sprenger鈥檚 most labour intensive film to date.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wqleYknevc">Watch Sprenger's mocumentary</a></p> <p><strong style="line-height: 1.6;">What are you looking forward to most at U of T?</strong></p> <p>I鈥檓 looking forward to opportunities outside of the classroom more than anything to extend my education like opportunities for research and design projects to enrich my experience and develop skills I can use later on.</p> <p><strong>Is there anything you鈥檙e nervous about?</strong><br> I have typical first-year concerns about not being able to do well in university, but I keep telling myself it鈥檚 something everyone goes through so I think I鈥檝e been good at staying level headed and not too stressed out.</p> <p><strong>What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?</strong><br> Toronto is such a huge film hub. It鈥檚 got a ton of things filming here, TIFF, and this huge film culture of filmmakers from Toronto who stay in the city and make films here and want to mentor other younger filmmakers. I would love to be involved in the film industry.</p> <p><strong>What鈥檚 something you want to do before you leave U of T?</strong><br> My sister is in second year at 福利姬自慰for life sciences, and in her first year, she did a research project with another student where they developed a proposal, applied for funding, and they were able to go to Burma. If there鈥檚 some way we could work on a research project together, I think that would be quite the family bonding experience.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Why did you choose U of T?</strong><br> It鈥檚 a fantastic university that鈥檚 right here in Toronto where I鈥檓 from. I chose engineering at 福利姬自慰because they emphasize creativity so much. Even in first year, there鈥檚 a design course that applies our learning to solve real-life problems.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 16 Sep 2016 13:53:05 +0000 krisha 100433 at #UofTBTS16: Co-curricular record helps boost your 福利姬自慰experience /news/uoftbts16-co-curricular-record-helps-boost-your-u-t-experience <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTBTS16: Co-curricular record helps boost your 福利姬自慰experience</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-09-15-co-curricular-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=qoQT2Uc4 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2016-09-15-co-curricular-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=lmacXTqW 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2016-09-15-co-curricular-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=1lpBmMJS 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-09-15-co-curricular-lead.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=qoQT2Uc4" alt="Photo of student walking"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-09-15T15:14:17-04:00" title="Thursday, September 15, 2016 - 15:14" class="datetime">Thu, 09/15/2016 - 15:14</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(Photo by Ken Jones)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/arthur-kaptainis" hreflang="en">Arthur Kaptainis</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Arthur Kaptainis</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftbts16" hreflang="en">#UofTBTS16</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/back-school" hreflang="en">Back to School</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/co-curricular" hreflang="en">Co-curricular</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/work-study" hreflang="en">Work study</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>As you work on a university degree, keep in mind that academics may not always be enough.</p> <p>A co-curricular record can help complement what you do in&nbsp;the classroom with workplace experiences and skills.</p> <p>The co-curricular record (CCR), which began in 2013, is an online centralized directory of activities for which students on all three campuses can get formal recognition for everything from work study jobs to volunteer work, regardless of whether they are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.</p> <p>鈥淚t鈥檚 a validated document, from the university, and signed by the vice-provost,鈥 says <strong>David Newman</strong>, U of T鈥檚 senior director of student experience.<br> &nbsp;<br> There are now more than 10,000 students at 福利姬自慰with co-curricular records.</p> <h3><a href="https://ccr.utoronto.ca/home.htm">Look through the directory and learn more about the program</a></h3> <p>The program allows students to track and showcase their experiences, contributions and skills. And Newman says it鈥檚 the kind of thing employers and admission officers for graduate and professional programs like to see.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=319qCyH1KR8&amp;list=PLlW-cysxDXK5lViEG6MkN7c2XEefrsHuK&amp;index=1"><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__1964 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="419" src="/sites/default/files/2016-09-15-cocurricular-video-embed.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"><br> <em>Listen to a 福利姬自慰student talking about the program</em></a></p> <p>The paid and unpaid opportunities that can qualify a student for a formal co-curricular record include orientation coordinators, resident dons and mentors. Work-study jobs are on the list as are membership in a Varsity sports team and titled positions with student clubs. Click here to find a link to your campus鈥 co-curricular program.<br> &nbsp;<br> 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way for students to show that they have been engaged not just in the academic side of the university,鈥 says <strong>Susan Froom</strong>, a Trinity College philosophy and political science student in her fourth year who is vice-president of the association of part-time undergraduate students.</p> <p><strong>Pier Angeli Taruc</strong>, a third-year Woodsworth College life sciences student is working this year as an ASKme&nbsp;orientation consultant, a position that is recognized for a co-curricular record. She hopes the range of activities will be expanded, in her case positions that will help with getting into medical school.</p> <p>Along with searching for positions that could fit a potential career choice, keep in mind that first-year students are encouraged at orientation to subscribe to Blueprint, a series of workshops related to health and wellness and academic success. Completing the Blueprint program is recognized by CCR.&nbsp;</p> <p>So are activities for Alternative Reading Week, organized by the Centre for Community Partnerships.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚t鈥檚 a really robust program,鈥 Newman says of this initiative. &nbsp;鈥淲e go into about 25 community organizations with about 300 students, generally first- or second-year students.鈥</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 15 Sep 2016 19:14:17 +0000 ullahnor 100430 at #UofTBTS16: Are you a 福利姬自慰student with a question? Check out askastudent /news/uoftbts16-aska-has-answers <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTBTS16: Are you a 福利姬自慰student with a question? Check out askastudent</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-09-06-aska-lead-1_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=rE2DL59D 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2016-09-06-aska-lead-1_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=NsIOYzkt 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2016-09-06-aska-lead-1_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=LUrPsBZS 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-09-06-aska-lead-1_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=rE2DL59D" alt="Two students hiding in the flowers, making peace signs"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>krisha</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-09-12T09:59:33-04:00" title="Monday, September 12, 2016 - 09:59" class="datetime">Mon, 09/12/2016 - 09:59</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Aska prefers to remain anonymous (Photo by Chiao Sun)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/krisha-ravikantharaja" hreflang="en">Krisha Ravikantharaja</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Krisha Ravikantharaja</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftbts16" hreflang="en">#UofTBTS16</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/back-school" hreflang="en">Back to School</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/new-students" hreflang="en">New Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">An anonymous blog with a sassy voice has been answering questions for 福利姬自慰students since 1999</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>They're known as aska,&nbsp;the online persona of the writer(s) of <a href="http://askastudent.utoronto.ca">askastudent</a>, a blog that has been answering questions submitted by future and current University of Toronto students for a decade and a half.&nbsp;</em></p> <p><em>Known for its lighthearted tone and helpful responses, the blog primarily serves as a resource for future and current students about academics and student life at the university. But&nbsp;aska has become accustomed to receiving (and answering) queries about anything and everything.</em></p> <p>福利姬自慰News<em> asked&nbsp;aska a few questions about what it鈥檚 like to lead a double life, what students&nbsp;can expect when they submit a question, and any advice they have for incoming students.&nbsp;</em></p> <hr> <p><strong>What are your names?</strong></p> <p><em>aska 1:</em> People call me aska, people call me askastudent, people call me S O U L &nbsp;D E S T R O Y E R, but seriously, I can鈥檛 tell you my real name. This is Hannah Montana levels of serious, and I don鈥檛 need people to know about my Miley Cyrus side.</p> <p><em>aska 2:</em> I prefer to go by 鈥淵our Excellency鈥 but it hasn鈥檛 really caught on in my social circles.</p> <p><strong>So what exactly can you disclose?</strong></p> <p><em>aska 1:</em> I can tell you that askastudent is a work-study position at Innis College at the UofT. The idea that sparked askastudent is a simple but powerful one: what if students had the tools to communicate openly and honestly about questions relating to the university? askastudent is our answer to that question.&nbsp;</p> <p>In 1999, the first year that askastudent ran, it was actually a phone service (yep! We鈥檙e THAT OLD 鈥 aska would be entering Grade 12 now if they were a person). After year one, we switched to an online blog and never looked back. Right now there are two askas, but that鈥檚 not always the case. There have actually been fifteen askas since 1999, and it鈥檚 a legacy we鈥檙e proud of. Previous askas are now film producers, actors, UofT staff, journalists and more.</p> <p>Our trademark sassy tone is partially a result of the collective student voice that askastudent has naturally developed, and partially a free therapy session for me, personally.</p> <p><em>aska 2:</em> Yeah, what aska 1 said. Askastudent is a great place to find people who are in the same boat as you. We鈥檝e amassed thousands of questions since 1999 and it鈥檚 likely that someone else has worried about the same thing as you. I think another purpose of askastudent is to convey a sense of JLaw-level relatability and to bring a human touch to advice as opposed to cyborg generated information. I didn鈥檛 say that. That was a joke. We don鈥檛 have cyborgs yet.</p> <p><strong>What are the most frequently asked questions?</strong></p> <p><em>aska 1:</em> Colleges, colleges, colleges. People are always asking my advice about which college on the downtown campus they should be in. It puts me in an awkward spot because I have no unbiased way of answering that question. I try to explain that there is no 鈥榖est鈥 college, and it鈥檚 all down to personal preference.</p> <p><em>aska 2:</em> I鈥檝e only been aska for a couple of months, but so far I would say that the most frequently asked questions are: How do I make friends if I鈥檓 an international student or commuter? How do I come back from a bad semester and stay motivated? How do I get into my subject POst in second year if I don鈥檛 have enough credits? I鈥檓 on a waitlist for residence or a class, will I get in? If we were psychic, we鈥檇 probably get a lot more page views.</p> <p><strong>How long does it typically take to answer a question?</strong></p> <p><em>aska 1:</em> If I could write without interruption, I could probably answer a question in an hour flat 鈥 research, writing, adding funny pictures, and all. However, aska also works at a front desk, and so it can sometimes take a whole day to get through one question with all the other tasks we do.</p> <p>aska has the benefit of knowing a lot about 福利姬自慰just from working at a 福利姬自慰office, but I do often have to go on Google odysseys or call other offices for help if I don鈥檛&nbsp;have the answer to a question. (I find I鈥檓 always calling the UTSC registrar鈥檚 office. Sorry, UTSC.)</p> <p><em>aska 2:</em> It really depends on my touring schedule. I try to answer questions as soon as I can, but it鈥檚 really nice to have another person to answer questions while I鈥檓 away touring with my ABBA tribute band.&nbsp;</p> <p>In terms of how long it takes me to write each answer, I try to do a lot of research and put a lot of effort into making the response as well-informed as possible. It can take a while. A lot of the times, I鈥檒l consult my colleagues for help if I鈥檓 not sure&nbsp;how to respond. Believe it or not, we don鈥檛 actually know everything!</p> <p><strong>Can every student expect to hear back from you?</strong></p> <p><em>aska 1:</em> We answer every question, and we try to answer within two weeks鈥 time. askastudent is definitely not an urgent hotline, so if you have a question you need answered that same day, or even within the week, DEFINITELY consult your college registrar鈥檚 office for assistance.</p> <p><em>aska 2: </em>If they contain super private information, we tend to not post the question on the blog and answer it over email instead. Again, it really depends on my band鈥檚 touring schedule. We鈥檙e HUGE in Stockholm.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Are there any&nbsp;questions&nbsp;that stand out?</strong></p> <p><em>aska 1:</em> &nbsp;We do have a category called 鈥<a href="http://askastudent.utoronto.ca/?cat=181">odds are that won鈥檛 be asked again</a>鈥 and another called 鈥<a href="http://askastudent.utoronto.ca/?cat=26">weirdness</a>,鈥 which catch most of the bizarre questions.</p> <p>My all-time favourite question, though, is <a href="http://askastudent.utoronto.ca/?p=14638">from this Grade 9 student, who was afraid they wouldn鈥檛 get into 福利姬自慰Engineering</a> because they accidentally lit their Axe body spray on fire at school and got suspended for three days. Seriously, just read it. It鈥檚 worth your time.</p> <p><em>aska 2:</em> Looking at the 'weirdness' category is always a fun surprise.&nbsp;When we say you can ask us anything, we really do mean it, so I guess we鈥檙e kind of asking for some weird ones. On the other hand, hardcore keeners always stand out because I鈥檓 the complete opposite and can鈥檛 imagine what it would be like to have that mindset.</p> <p><strong>What鈥檚 your #1&nbsp;piece of advice for incoming first years?</strong></p> <p><em>aska 1:</em> As a breakthrough star in failure, my advice is: don鈥檛 be afraid of failing. It鈥檚 natural to be nervous, but try to embrace the uncertainty ahead. There鈥檚 nothing you can鈥檛 bounce back from. If you don鈥檛 get into the program of your dreams, you can try again or find something else that鈥檚 a better fit for you. Try to do right by yourself and learn from your experiences, even if other people are telling you you鈥檙e not doing the 鈥榬ight鈥 thing because you鈥檙e not going the doctor/lawyer/engineer route.</p> <p><em>aska 2:</em> Sleep, eat, go to lecture, and don鈥檛 forget to have a life. Try to find a balance between work and play, and you鈥檒l have a great time at U of T.</p> <p><strong>Why should students submit questions?</strong></p> <p><em>aska 1: </em>The university is great at providing information, but making the information fun is a way to make it more accessible to people. That鈥檚 my pedagogical justification for why I link to so many <a href="http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/506/223/2ab.gif">Sonic the hedgehog memes</a> in my posts.</p> <p>You should ask us questions if a) you have a question that鈥檚 not too urgent and b) you don鈥檛 mind being teased a little bit for the good of the website. I hope people understand that it鈥檚 all in good fun, and remember that we鈥檙e all on this wild 福利姬自慰adventure together.</p> <p><em>aska 2: </em>I just want students to know that there are people out there who care and that you鈥檙e not alone. Even though this is technically a job, we do actually enjoy helping people who feel lost. I try to make sure that the asker feels like their question is valid and that I am leaving them with as much information as possible. We genuinely hope that we have helped in some way, shape or form.</p> <p>Students should write to us if they want to hear advice from an honest, student perspective. Please don鈥檛 give up hope if we take a while to respond. After all, we are students too. (Or in my case, an international tribute band pop star). We are trying our best and you will definitely get a response from us eventually.&nbsp;</p> <p>Don鈥檛 hesitate to share our posts, comment on them, like or follow! We love praise.</p> <p><br> <em>Those looking to submit a question to aska, can email <a href="mailto:askastudent.innis@utoronto.ca">askastudent.innis@utoronto.ca</a>, or send a message to their <a href="http://askastudentuoft.tumblr.com">tumblr inbox</a>.&nbsp;</em></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Mon, 12 Sep 2016 13:59:33 +0000 krisha 100240 at #UofTBTS16: Classroom upgrades coming to a room near you /news/uoftbts16-classroom-upgrades-coming-room-near-you <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">#UofTBTS16: Classroom upgrades coming to a room near you</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-09-09-facilities-lead_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=QeJXqFot 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2016-09-09-facilities-lead_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=NJs9LwDQ 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2016-09-09-facilities-lead_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=vzSK3CwM 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-09-09-facilities-lead_0.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=QeJXqFot" alt="Photo of engineering students looking at a video screen in newly renovated classroom"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>ullahnor</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-09-09T12:42:54-04:00" title="Friday, September 9, 2016 - 12:42" class="datetime">Fri, 09/09/2016 - 12:42</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Engineering students learn at one of many video screens in a newly renovated classroom (photo by Johnny Guatto)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/noreen-ahmed-ullah" hreflang="en">Noreen Ahmed-Ullah</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/arthur-kaptainis" hreflang="en">Arthur Kaptainis</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Arthur Kaptainis and Noreen Ahmed-Ullah</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/uoftbts16" hreflang="en">#UofTBTS16</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/back-school" hreflang="en">Back to School</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/classroom" hreflang="en">Classroom</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/upgrade" hreflang="en">Upgrade</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/renovate" hreflang="en">Renovate</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/new-students" hreflang="en">New Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/returning-students" hreflang="en">Returning Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty" hreflang="en">Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/engineering" hreflang="en">Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/medicine" hreflang="en">Medicine</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/oise" hreflang="en">OISE</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sid-smith" hreflang="en">Sid Smith</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Students returning to school may see wider seats, more writing space 鈥 and get this 鈥 electrical outlets within reach to charge laptops and phones.</p> <p>This school year, a handful of classrooms at the St. George campus have the new amenities. In eight years, 福利姬自慰administrators hope to have all of the classes retrofitted with new furniture and amenities that are timed to bring 福利姬自慰into a new era of teaching and learning.</p> <p>鈥淢odern day learners need power, more comfortable seats and more writing space,鈥 said <strong>Steve Bailey</strong>, director of Academic and Campus Events. 鈥淭he intent is that in eight years, we鈥檒l have gone through all the classrooms on campus, transforming the instructional landscape.鈥</p> <p>As part of the program, the university is also looking at creating more active (also known as interactive)&nbsp;learning spaces. So, gone are the blackboards at the front of the classroom. You won鈥檛 see rectangular desks lined up in rows.</p> <p>Instead, think of hexagonal shaped desks that invite more student collaboration. And video screens and whiteboards hanging on multiple walls that allow for students to display their work and more teacher-student interaction.</p> <p>This year the university is piloting a second&nbsp;renovated active learning space at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education building on Bloor Street. There's a similarly retrofitted&nbsp;classroom&nbsp;at the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering鈥檚 Sanford Fleming building.</p> <p>Once they鈥檝e solicited faculty feedback, university officials will see whether more classrooms like this should be created across the campus. Right now, the goal is to add to the&nbsp;active learning spaces planned for&nbsp;the new&nbsp;Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entreprenuership&nbsp;in the next two years.</p> <p>鈥淚t鈥檚 about recognizing that instruction in the current form takes many capacities,鈥 Bailey said. 鈥淔or some people, lecturing is the way to do it. For other people, it鈥檚 not about lecture theatres. They want to do more active learning. We鈥檙e introducing these spaces to the teaching community and then getting feedback from them on what works and what doesn鈥檛 work.鈥</p> <p><img alt class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__1911 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" height="500" src="/sites/default/files/2016-09-09-oulet-embed.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" width="750" loading="lazy"><br> <br> With the St. George campus alone home to 300 classrooms, some rooms over the years have been upgraded but more than 200 instructional spaces remain unchanged. Investments are planned over the next few years to upgrade and revitalize the rooms. The cost is estimated at $12 million, paid through both the operating budget and income generated from renting out university spaces.</p> <p>The upgrades can鈥檛 happen all at once. They need to be spaced out, taking place mostly during the quieter summer months when not all classrooms are in use. There are more classrooms expected to be upgraded over the winter break as well.</p> <p>In the eight upgraded classrooms located across St. George<span style="line-height: 20.8px;">&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;</span>at Galbraith, Health Sciences, McLennan Physical Laboratories, Medical Sciences, Ramsey Wright, Sanford Fleming, Sid Smith and OISE<span style="line-height: 20.8px;">&nbsp;鈥&nbsp;</span>students will see wider, more comfortable seats.</p> <p>In smaller classrooms, stiff chairs have been replaced with comfortable bucket seats that can move. In larger lecture halls, the chairs still may be fixed but can swing around or have more room, making it easier for students to get in and out of their seat.</p> <p>The small kidney-shaped desks have also been upgraded with in some cases flat tabletops, and in other cases wider writing surfaces&nbsp;鈥 to accommodate laptops.</p> <p>Where possible, for every seat in a renovated classroom, there is an electrical outlet.</p> <p>Student feedback has made it clear that charging capacity is essential, Bailey said.</p> <p>Along with the upgrades to the classroom, Bailey鈥檚 office is working with faculties on a new approach to classroom assignment 鈥 one that considers a professor鈥檚 needs in the classroom rather than focusing on their faculty assignment first.</p> <p>鈥淚t鈥檚 a two-parter,鈥 Bailey said. 鈥淲e need a commitment to invest in our classrooms. But we also need a plan and direction on how we can get the right people in the right space.鈥</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 09 Sep 2016 16:42:54 +0000 ullahnor 100373 at