First Year News Feed: Orientation, Class Info & What to Expect When Coming to Campus, September 3, 2021

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Greetings,

Your university career is finally about to begin! This week, we’ll go over what you need to know
to get off to a good start. Read on for info about orientation, your classes and what to expect when visiting campus, health insurance, and more.  

Please keep in mind that most U of T offices (including ours) will be closed for Labour Day on Monday, September 6. See the First Year Office website for updated information about our office hours (which will include in-person hours starting September 7!). 

 

For answers to many questions you might have, please be sure to read your Guide
to First Year
follow us on Twitter and if you want to connect with us, you can reach us through our Live Chat service.

Have a wonderful long weekend! 

The First Year Team 

(Leslie, Jennifer, JesusMiracle & Todd) 

P.S. Look out for a “Welcome Survey” from the First Year Office/Campus Labs in your email inbox to tell us about how you are feeling as you enter your first year! 

 

Orientation

Orientation (a.k.a. F!rosh week) will begin on Monday, September 6 with a selection of both online and in-person student-run activities that you hopefully signed up for already (though late registrations are still being accepted). We hope you have a fantastic experience!

Faculty Orientation Day  

On Wednesday, September 8, a number of Faculty-run orientation events will be taking place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. These online events are free for all incoming engineering students, even if you chose not to register for F!rosh week, so please be sure to attend!

Links to access all of these sessions will be posted in the First Year Hub on Quercus.  

  • 9-10 a.m. All new international students are invited to attend an International Student Welcome Session from your academic advisors and our Centre for International Experience to help you adjust to the University and life in Canada.  
  • 10-11 a.m. All students are invited to join an official Welcome to Engineering session via MS Live with staff and faculty members to help you understand the first-year experience and your next steps as a new student.  
  • 11 a.m.-12 p.m.Departmental Presentations will introduce you to your new department and give you a chance to connect with other students in your program.  
  • 1:30-4 p.m. Check out the Engineering Clubs Fair to find out about the great co-curricular activities you can participate as a U of T engineering student! You can also learn more about these anytime in the Club House section of the First Year Hub on Quercus!  

*scroll down to the end of this email for an important note on photography at Orientation  

 

Class Info & Updates
 

  • Lecture sections will start on September 9, but as a general rule Tutorial and Practical sections are normally not held before the first Lecture in a course (i.e. if you have a MAT186 Tutorial on Thursday morning, but your first MAT186 Lecture is on Friday, the tutorial will not be held on Thursday, September 9). Check your announcements on Quercus next week for any exceptions to this policy. 
  • Not sure where your classes are located? Use the U of T Map to find the buildings your classes are in (you should also be able to click the location details in your ACORN timetable). 
  • Keep an eye on your inbox for a message about your courses
    from the Vice-Dean, Undergraduate.

 

 

What to Expect When Coming to Campus
 

We hope that you received yesterday’s U of T COVID-19 weekly planning update and today’s message from Dean Yip. As we all prepare for the Fall Term, it’s important to continue monitoring your email and visit official U of T websites to stay informed about any further changes in protocol or your classes.

Some key things to know: 

 

Health Insurance

Did you know U of T students have extended health and dental coverage? If you’re already covered by an equivalent health and/or dental plan (such as a parent’s or spouse’s employee benefit plan), you can opt out online during the Change-of-Coverage Period from Sept. 1 – 30, 2021.

International students can enrol in their UHIP health insurance and obtain their UHIP card online, and are encouraged to do so right away.  

Cyber security & Fraud alert

The U of T community (like communities everywhere!) is sometimes vulnerable to phishing attempts and attacks, so we encourage you to learn about cyber security best practices as you begin the academic year.  

In addition, the University has become aware of scams that are attempting to defraud newly arrived international students. There are two types of fraud that we are concerned about: scenarios where students are being approached to move
money for other individuals (money mules)
, and scenarios where students
are being defrauded
 of their own money, usually in a threatening manner.  

These scams involve personal contact via the student’s phone, email or social media accounts and can come across as very realistic and threatening. Information about Fraud Prevention and other safety topics can be found on the Community
Safety Office Website

 

Events & Opportunities
 

  • ILead Leadership Lab: Conversation Skills for Meeting New People: It’s easy to start a conversation, but what do you say after getting past “hello, how are you”? Building meaningful social connections is strongly correlated with our academic achievements, mental wellbeing, and professional success. Come meet new people and push your comfort zone at this interactive session on powerful conversations. Tuesday, September 7, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Register online.  
  • Global Chatter Hour: Need a break from lectures and studying? Looking to make new friends? Global Chatter Hour is an opportunity to connect with other international students in a relaxed virtual environment, facilitated by the International Student Experience Ambassadors from the Centre for International Experience. While registration is required, you are welcome to drop in at your leisure and stay as long as you’d like. Join in for games, engaging conversation, and to meet other students studying across U of T. Tuesday,
    September 7
    , 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., or Wednesday, September 8, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. 
  • Mature & Transfer Student Welcome: If you are transferring into U of T from another post-secondary institution, or not starting at U of T directly after completing high school, check out one of these welcome sessions on September 7 & 8Register for these events online in the CLNx (in “Events & Workshops”). 
  • ACE Event: Engineering A Successful Year: Are you hoping to engineer a successful year? Melissa Fernandes, your Mental Health Programs Officer, will reveal 3.5 things that will help set you up for success in this online event. Come prepared with questions for the Q&A! Tuesday, September 14, 10 – 11:00 a.m. Register online
  • ILead Leadership Lab: Kickoff with the Dean: You Belong Here! Are you worried about fitting in as you transition into a global university or back to in-person learning? Join ILead staff, student leaders, and Dean Chris Yip,  for our kick-off event! This hybrid session is part meet-and-greet and part interactive workshop where Dean Yip will share his thoughts on leadership and belonging, and you’ll learn practical skills for creating inclusive teams. Tuesday, September 14, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Register now! 
  • First Nations House Orientation: New and returning students are invited to come and learn about the supports offered by First Nations House at this online orientation event. Meet new people, enjoy a (virtual) cup of coffee and find out how you can get involved in the Indigenous community at U of T. Friday, September 17, 3 – 5 p.m. Register online
  • Browse U of T’s Orientation Calendar for other upcoming events. 
Where to find updated information
The First Year Office team periodically updates our Frequently Asked Questions page, and you’re always welcome to email us or use our live chat during office hours for questions that you can’t find answers to.

In addition, given the ongoing pandemic, there are still details and changes regarding facilities, courses, and policies which are being communicated as they are determined. Be sure to monitor your email regularly for official updates, and you should also check
the following authoritative pages regularly for current information:  

*Photography at Orientation (disclaimer)

Pictures of U of T Engineering students taken at Faculty-run orientation events are featured in our publications, websites, and in brochures and videos. By participating in these events, you hereby grant U of T Engineering permission to use any image that you are included in without compensation, in print, video or any digital form, for the purposes of education, communication or marketing, as both a current or former student. You also understand that all images and materials from any photography taken by the Faculty during orientation are the sole property of U of T Engineering and release all claims against the Faculty and U of T with respect to copyright ownership and publication, including any claim for compensation related to the use of the materials.    

 

First Year Office
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

University of Toronto
35 St. George St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A4