New Students

There’s always more to discover at the University of Toronto – whether you’re setting foot on one of its three campuses for the first time or have been here for years.

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 the world’s top universities.

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 – and even starting their own company.

Navigating campus life

Need help finding your way around? �鶹��Ƶ’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.

“Where do I get a…?”

�鶹��Ƶ's ASKMe Anything ambassadors aim to build a warm and welcoming community for students on all three campuses (photo by David Lee)

Starting out at �鶹��Ƶ can be both exciting and a bit overwhelming – and many students have a lot of questions.

“How do I find out about orientation events and activities?”

“What is a TCard and where do I get it?”

“How much time is there to walk from class to class?”

Fortunately, �鶹��Ƶ’s ASKme Anything booths and ambassadors are here to help. The initiative is all about building a warm and welcoming community for students on all three campuses.

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’s College Road and College Street, at St. George and Ursula Franklin Streets and near Sidney Smith Hall at St. George and Willcocks Streets.

At �鶹��Ƶ Mississauga, students are encouraged to visit the Hub Hello Desk in the Student Services Hub to have their questions answered and to connect with student services on campus. The desk is open from 9:30 to 5 p.m.

At �鶹��Ƶ 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.

There are also welcome booths at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Terminals 1 and 3.

Finding your community

Students attend Clubs Day at the �鶹��Ƶ Mississauga campus (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Diving into university life by joining a club 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 – meaning there’s literally something for everyone.

Interested students should check out the Clubs Carnival on Aug. 30 at King’s College Circle on Front Campus. At �鶹��Ƶ Mississauga, students are invited to the Student Groups Fair to find out more information on clubs on Sept. 5 and 6 outside the Communication, Culture and Technology Building.

�鶹��Ƶ Scarborough students will get to explore groups and clubs on campus on Sept. 23 at the UTSC Clubs Fair. The location of the event has yet to be determined.

The Student Organization Portal is a great resource to discover campus groups and includes information on what each group does and how to go about joining it.

Explore �鶹��Ƶ’s thriving startup scene

Exhibitors gather at the True Blue Expo during �鶹��Ƶ Entrepreneurship Week

�鶹��Ƶ Entrepreneurship (UTE) is hosting AcceleratorFest on Sept. 18 from 12 to 6 p.m. at the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus.

The event offers an opportunity for aspiring and established entrepreneurs – as well as those who are merely curious about what it takes to effectively create your own job while attending university – to explore the many resources, spaces and programs available to them across �鶹��Ƶ’s tri-campus network.

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’s co-working and community spaced housed inside the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus.

Stay in the know with UTogether and connect with �鶹��Ƶ on social media

There are many ways to connect with the �鶹��Ƶ community and stay in the loop for events happening across the three campuses.

The UTogether web page is a hub of information and helps connect students, faculty members, staff and librarians with important resources – such as health and wellness supports – as well as news and messages from �鶹��Ƶ leadership.

The social media directory 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.

On Instagram

On TikTok

First day of classes (now the same across all three campuses)

Students on the first day of classes at the �鶹��Ƶ Scarborough campus (photo by Ruilin Yuan)

So when does the fall term actually begin? For the first time, students on the St. George campus, �鶹��Ƶ Scarborough and �鶹��Ƶ Mississauga will begin on the same day: Sept. 3.

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.

The new, more co-ordinated approach is expected to provide a more streamlined and predictable academic experience for the university community.

Get a first look at �鶹��Ƶ at the Ontario Universities' Fair

ullahnor — Fri, 23 Sep 2016 17:24:28 +0000

Get a first look at �鶹��Ƶ at the Ontario Universities' Fair

ullahnor Fri, 09/23/2016 - 13:24

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Interested high school students stop by at �鶹��Ƶ's booth at the Ontario Universities' Fair (photos by Noreen Ahmed-Ullah)

Noreen Ahmed-Ullah

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Noreen Ahmed-Ullah

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The University of Toronto is welcoming thousands of eager high school students to its booth at the Ontario Universities’ Fair this weekend, answering questions about its three campuses and diverse faculties.

University-bound students and their parents also learned about a new campaign launched by the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) at the fair, which runs through the weekend at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The council is asking parents and students to fill out an online survey to begin thinking about what Ontarians need to prepare for the future.

“The challenge that we face is the world is changing so how do we make sure we keep up with those changes,” said David Lindsay, president of the council. “We’re a part of the province of Ontario’s economy and part of the infrastructure, and we want to make sure we’re working with all of our partners to build a bright future. The way to start that is to talk about people’s concerns. So we want to hear from people about their hopes, their fears, their aspirations.”

Results from the survey will be completed by next September, and will be used to further roundtable discussions with parents and student.

Every year, the fair attracts 120,000 high school students and their parents, four months ahead of the application deadlines in January.

This year, �鶹��Ƶ got a bit more space on the exhibition floor to allow for more engaging conversations between university staff and students.

“The campuses and faculties are overwhelmed with traffic over the weekend,” said Richard Levin, executive director of Enrolment Services and the university’s registrar. “We 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’t have to wait as long, they can get their material and they can get their questions answered.”

This year the fair has students registering all their information into a “passport,” which contains a barcode that then gets scanned at a university’s booth.

In �鶹��Ƶ’s case, the university also brought in a service that can help them customize communications with students.

“When it sends out a message, it will collect the students who just want information about engineering and send them a personalized message,” said Ken Withers, �鶹��Ƶ’s director of university student recruitment. “If students have indicated they’re interested in Scarborough, then they’ll 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.”

#UofTBTS16: Introducing �鶹��Ƶ’s Class of 2020

krisha — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 13:53:05 +0000

#UofTBTS16: Introducing �鶹��Ƶ’s Class of 2020

krisha Fri, 09/16/2016 - 09:53

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(Photo courtesy Grace King)

Krisha Ravikantharaja

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Krisha Ravikantharaja

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Incoming first years are ready to make their mark

From an aspiring filmmaker to an environmental activist, a musician who loves math and a student who has already been recognized for his stellar research, �鶹��Ƶ's incoming Class of 2020 is something special.

�鶹��Ƶ News writer Krisha Ravikantharaja spoke to four first years who are all recipients of �鶹��Ƶ’s National Scholarship, a program which is marking its 30th anniversary at the university. While they share an academic 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.

Grace King’s 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 statistics.

When she returned from an expedition to the Arctic in the summer before her final year of high school, King (pictured above) started the Arctic Awareness Program, a program where she used her own experience to “shift the way children were thinking about climate change and culture in the north.”

Last year, King’s program reached nearly 1,000 Grade 4 to Grade 5 students in Newfoundland.

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.

“We wanted to see what happens when you try to replace destruction with self-expression. Above the mirrors, we wrote things like, ‘You are worthy’ and ‘You are appreciated,’” she said.

What are you looking forward to most at �鶹��Ƶ?
I’m 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’s something that we take for granted too often.

What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?
I miss the coast already, but Toronto is bustling, and it’s very alive. Yesterday, I went to my first class, and I am just watching all these humans just walking everywhere. Everyone’s got somewhere to go. I think that can be a very cool thing. Toronto’s got so much happening.

Why did you choose �鶹��Ƶ?
I was attracted to �鶹��Ƶ 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' is taking climate change awareness and turning it into something that people can access more. I’m hoping I can shake things up a bit when it comes to the activism scene here.

Born and raised in Victoria, B.C., Nathan Kuehne comes to �鶹��Ƶ with more experiences as a researcher in life sciences than the average first year. 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.

In Grade 11, he developed an at home test for phenylketonuria (PKU). Kuehne explains that if you have PKU, your body can’t 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’s alternative was a a machine that uses a urine sample.

“After a quick filtration it’s 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.”

Kuehne went on to present this research at the Canada-wide science fair, and was then invited to present it at TEDxVictoria. 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 his previous research.

Watch Kuehne's TEDx talk

What are you nervous about?
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.

What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?
Being in a big city like Toronto, there’s so much to do and so much to take in. The city is so diverse. Enjoying the city is one of my top priorities.

Why did you choose �鶹��Ƶ?
The research being done here is unbelievable. Being at Canada’s largest research institution has so many opportunities. Participating in research is amazing so I’m excited to try and make that happen.

Rebecca Moranis is pursuing a double degree in two seemingly unrelated topics – 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 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.

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 Alcina, one of Opera Atelier’s 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, Reign.

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.

“I love sharing math with younger students. I’m inspired to do that because a faculty member here at �鶹��Ƶ, Lindsey Shorser, has been a role model to me.

“[As a woman,] sometimes you feel like you can’t be as vocal, and it’s hard to prove yourself. [Shorser] has shown me that it’s possible. Representation is so important, and that’s 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’re intelligent.”

What are you looking forward to most at U of T?
I’m most looking forward to research opportunities, especially because �鶹��Ƶ is known for having a stellar research program. I’m 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.

What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?
I love this city – it’s 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.

Why did you choose �鶹��Ƶ?
I’ve been studying flute with Nora Shulman for the past two years. She plays with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and teaches at the Faculty of Music. I was partly drawn to stay at �鶹��Ƶ because I could keep studying with her. I’ve improved tremendously because of her.

Ben Sprenger has come to �鶹��Ƶ 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.

Eventually, Sprenger 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.

“The great thing about being in university is that there’s 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.”

Sprenger was selected as a semifinalist for the Los Angeles Cinefest for his most recent short film — a mocumentary —When Food Goes Bad, which has been Sprenger’s most labour intensive film to date.

Watch Sprenger's mocumentary

What are you looking forward to most at �鶹��Ƶ?

I’m 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.

Is there anything you’re nervous about?
I have typical first-year concerns about not being able to do well in university, but I keep telling myself it’s something everyone goes through so I think I’ve been good at staying level headed and not too stressed out.

What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?
Toronto is such a huge film hub. It’s 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.

What’s something you want to do before you leave �鶹��Ƶ?
My sister is in second year at �鶹��Ƶ 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’s some way we could work on a research project together, I think that would be quite the family bonding experience.

Why did you choose �鶹��Ƶ?
It’s a fantastic university that’s right here in Toronto where I’m from. I chose engineering at �鶹��Ƶ because they emphasize creativity so much. Even in first year, there’s a design course that applies our learning to solve real-life problems.

#UofTBTS16: Co-curricular record helps boost your �鶹��Ƶ experience

ullahnor — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 19:14:17 +0000

#UofTBTS16: Co-curricular record helps boost your �鶹��Ƶ experience

ullahnor Thu, 09/15/2016 - 15:14

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(Photo by Ken Jones)

Arthur Kaptainis

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Arthur Kaptainis

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As you work on a university degree, keep in mind that academics may not always be enough.

A co-curricular record can help complement what you do in the classroom with workplace experiences and skills.

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.

“It’s a validated document, from the university, and signed by the vice-provost,” says David Newman, �鶹��Ƶ’s senior director of student experience.

There are now more than 10,000 students at �鶹��Ƶ with co-curricular records.

Look through the directory and learn more about the program

The program allows students to track and showcase their experiences, contributions and skills. And Newman says it’s the kind of thing employers and admission officers for graduate and professional programs like to see.

Listen to a �鶹��Ƶ student talking about the program

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’ co-curricular program.

“It’s a great way for students to show that they have been engaged not just in the academic side of the university,” says Susan Froom, a Trinity College philosophy and political science student in her fourth year who is vice-president of the association of part-time undergraduate students.

Pier Angeli Taruc, a third-year Woodsworth College life sciences student is working this year as an ASKme 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.

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.

So are activities for Alternative Reading Week, organized by the Centre for Community Partnerships.

“It’s a really robust program,” Newman says of this initiative. “We go into about 25 community organizations with about 300 students, generally first- or second-year students.”

#UofTBTS16: Are you a �鶹��Ƶ student with a question? Check out askastudent

krisha — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 13:59:33 +0000

#UofTBTS16: Are you a �鶹��Ƶ student with a question? Check out askastudent

krisha Mon, 09/12/2016 - 09:59

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Aska prefers to remain anonymous (Photo by Chiao Sun)

Krisha Ravikantharaja

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Krisha Ravikantharaja

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An anonymous blog with a sassy voice has been answering questions for �鶹��Ƶ students since 1999

They're known as aska, the online persona of the writer(s) of askastudent, a blog that has been answering questions submitted by future and current University of Toronto students for a decade and a half.

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 aska has become accustomed to receiving (and answering) queries about anything and everything.

�鶹��Ƶ News asked aska a few questions about what it’s like to lead a double life, what students can expect when they submit a question, and any advice they have for incoming students.

What are your names?

aska 1: People call me aska, people call me askastudent, people call me S O U L D E S T R O Y E R, but seriously, I can’t tell you my real name. This is Hannah Montana levels of serious, and I don’t need people to know about my Miley Cyrus side.

aska 2: I prefer to go by “Your Excellency” but it hasn’t really caught on in my social circles.

So what exactly can you disclose?

aska 1: 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.

In 1999, the first year that askastudent ran, it was actually a phone service (yep! We’re THAT OLD – 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’s not always the case. There have actually been fifteen askas since 1999, and it’s a legacy we’re proud of. Previous askas are now film producers, actors, UofT staff, journalists and more.

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.

aska 2: Yeah, what aska 1 said. Askastudent is a great place to find people who are in the same boat as you. We’ve amassed thousands of questions since 1999 and it’s 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’t say that. That was a joke. We don’t have cyborgs yet.

What are the most frequently asked questions?

aska 1: 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 ‘best’ college, and it’s all down to personal preference.

aska 2: I’ve 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’m 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’t have enough credits? I’m on a waitlist for residence or a class, will I get in? If we were psychic, we’d probably get a lot more page views.

How long does it typically take to answer a question?

aska 1: If I could write without interruption, I could probably answer a question in an hour flat – 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.

aska has the benefit of knowing a lot about �鶹��Ƶ just from working at a �鶹��Ƶ office, but I do often have to go on Google odysseys or call other offices for help if I don’t have the answer to a question. (I find I’m always calling the UTSC registrar’s office. Sorry, UTSC.)

aska 2: It really depends on my touring schedule. I try to answer questions as soon as I can, but it’s really nice to have another person to answer questions while I’m away touring with my ABBA tribute band.

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’ll consult my colleagues for help if I’m not sure how to respond. Believe it or not, we don’t actually know everything!

Can every student expect to hear back from you?

aska 1: We answer every question, and we try to answer within two weeks’ 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’s office for assistance.

aska 2: 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’s touring schedule. We’re HUGE in Stockholm.

Are there any questions that stand out?

aska 1: We do have a category called ‘odds are that won’t be asked again’ and another called ‘weirdness,’ which catch most of the bizarre questions.

My all-time favourite question, though, is from this Grade 9 student, who was afraid they wouldn’t get into �鶹��Ƶ Engineering because they accidentally lit their Axe body spray on fire at school and got suspended for three days. Seriously, just read it. It’s worth your time.

aska 2: Looking at the 'weirdness' category is always a fun surprise. When we say you can ask us anything, we really do mean it, so I guess we’re kind of asking for some weird ones. On the other hand, hardcore keeners always stand out because I’m the complete opposite and can’t imagine what it would be like to have that mindset.

What’s your #1 piece of advice for incoming first years?

aska 1: As a breakthrough star in failure, my advice is: don’t be afraid of failing. It’s natural to be nervous, but try to embrace the uncertainty ahead. There’s nothing you can’t bounce back from. If you don’t get into the program of your dreams, you can try again or find something else that’s a better fit for you. Try to do right by yourself and learn from your experiences, even if other people are telling you you’re not doing the ‘right’ thing because you’re not going the doctor/lawyer/engineer route.

aska 2: Sleep, eat, go to lecture, and don’t forget to have a life. Try to find a balance between work and play, and you’ll have a great time at �鶹��Ƶ.

Why should students submit questions?

aska 1: The university is great at providing information, but making the information fun is a way to make it more accessible to people. That’s my pedagogical justification for why I link to so many Sonic the hedgehog memes in my posts.

You should ask us questions if a) you have a question that’s not too urgent and b) you don’t mind being teased a little bit for the good of the website. I hope people understand that it’s all in good fun, and remember that we’re all on this wild �鶹��Ƶ adventure together.

aska 2: I just want students to know that there are people out there who care and that you’re 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.

Students should write to us if they want to hear advice from an honest, student perspective. Please don’t 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.

Don’t hesitate to share our posts, comment on them, like or follow! We love praise.

Those looking to submit a question to aska, can email askastudent.innis@utoronto.ca, or send a message to their tumblr inbox.

#UofTBTS16: Classroom upgrades coming to a room near you

ullahnor — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 16:42:54 +0000

#UofTBTS16: Classroom upgrades coming to a room near you

ullahnor Fri, 09/09/2016 - 12:42

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Engineering students learn at one of many video screens in a newly renovated classroom (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Noreen Ahmed-Ullah

Arthur Kaptainis

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Arthur Kaptainis and Noreen Ahmed-Ullah

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Students returning to school may see wider seats, more writing space – and get this – electrical outlets within reach to charge laptops and phones.

This school year, a handful of classrooms at the St. George campus have the new amenities. In eight years, �鶹��Ƶ administrators hope to have all of the classes retrofitted with new furniture and amenities that are timed to bring �鶹��Ƶ into a new era of teaching and learning.

“Modern day learners need power, more comfortable seats and more writing space,” said Steve Bailey, director of Academic and Campus Events. “The intent is that in eight years, we’ll have gone through all the classrooms on campus, transforming the instructional landscape.”

As part of the program, the university is also looking at creating more active (also known as interactive) learning spaces. So, gone are the blackboards at the front of the classroom. You won’t see rectangular desks lined up in rows.

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.

This year the university is piloting a second renovated active learning space at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education building on Bloor Street. There's a similarly retrofitted classroom at the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering’s Sanford Fleming building.

Once they’ve 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 active learning spaces planned for the new Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entreprenuership in the next two years.

“It’s about recognizing that instruction in the current form takes many capacities,” Bailey said. “For some people, lecturing is the way to do it. For other people, it’s not about lecture theatres. They want to do more active learning. We’re introducing these spaces to the teaching community and then getting feedback from them on what works and what doesn’t work.”

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.

The upgrades can’t 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.

In the eight upgraded classrooms located across St. George – at Galbraith, Health Sciences, McLennan Physical Laboratories, Medical Sciences, Ramsey Wright, Sanford Fleming, Sid Smith and OISE – students will see wider, more comfortable seats.

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.

The small kidney-shaped desks have also been upgraded with in some cases flat tabletops, and in other cases wider writing surfaces – to accommodate laptops.

Where possible, for every seat in a renovated classroom, there is an electrical outlet.

Student feedback has made it clear that charging capacity is essential, Bailey said.

Along with the upgrades to the classroom, Bailey’s office is working with faculties on a new approach to classroom assignment – one that considers a professor’s needs in the classroom rather than focusing on their faculty assignment first.

“It’s a two-parter,” Bailey said. “We 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.”

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