First Year News Feed: Your August To-Do List & Online Tools

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Hello,

In this week’s edition of the First Year News Feed, we would like to go over your August To-Do list, share details on the technology you should get familiar with for the upcoming year, and introduce you to the First Year Hub.

 

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 great weekend!

The First Year Team

(Leslie, Todd, JesusMiracle & Jennifer)

P.S. Not joining U of T Engineering? If your plans have changed, please notify our Admissions Office at
admit@engineering.utoronto.ca.

 

Your August To-Do List
The summer is flying by! Here are a few important things that you’ll need to do during the month of August to get ready for September:

 

Regularly read your emails, and check authoritative University sources to stay up to date on the latest information.

Worried you may have missed some of the to-do’s from earlier in the summer? Review these in the Guide to First Year.

Online Tools & Technology Requirements

First-year engineering students use a variety of online tools and resources for their courses. We have put together this list of the most commonly-used engineering online tools that you can explore before classes start in September.

The Engineering Computing Facility (ECF) will provide you with in-person computer lab access when on campus, and is available 24/7 through remote access to computers and software within U of T Engineering.

If you are purchasing a personal computer to support your learning needs, a suitable system may be Windows- or macOS-based, a laptop can offer you additional flexibility. Please visit www.uoft.me/techspecs for full recommendations.

 

First Year Hub

We’d like to introduce you to our new First Year Hub, a resource that we encourage you to explore on Quercus. Quercus is U of T’s Learning Management System, an online space that you will use daily during your time as a student at U of T. Once the semester begins, course content, assignments, grades, and any announcements from your instructors will be posted here, so it’s wise to get familiar with it early!

The First Year Hub is a space that has been created on Quercus by the First Year Office team with the help of current upper-year students, which will be a place that you can find important links, info and announcements, and online first-year community events throughout the year. Please feel free to explore – content will be added regularly.

Upcoming Events

Here is a recap of some upcoming events that you might be interested in! All events are online, and are free unless otherwise indicated. 

  • Toronto Tips: Are you a new international student or did you spend your first year studying remotely? Are you hoping to come to Toronto soon, or have you just moved here? Returning international students will share their tips, experiences, and general info related to living in Toronto (weather, transportation, rent, food, cultural attractions, etc.) on WednesdayAugust 4 from 9:30am – 10:30am. Register here to attend the session.
  • Study Permits, Work Permits, Entry Visas, etc. Drop-in Question & Answer (Q&A) Session: International students can connect directly with a CIE immigration advisor for guidance and answers to any questions that you may have about study permits, work permits, entry visas, and other types of applications to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). This session will take place on Wednesday, August 4 from 9:30am – 10:30am. Register for the session here. 
  • EXPLORE THE 6IX – THE ROUGE: CANADA’S FIRST NATIONAL URBAN PARK: From the iconic Niagara Falls to the cosmopolitan wonders of Nuit Blanche, international students are invited to join us as UTSC explores the sights and sounds of Scarborough and beyond. The “6ix” is the nickname for the city of Toronto. This event is open to students from all three campuses and will take place on Wednesday, August 4 from 4pm – 5pm. Register to attend EXPLORE THE 6IX here.
  • First-year Immigration Advising Workshop #2: Have questions about your study permit, immigration documents and/or arrival in Canada? If you missed the first of two immigration advising workshops held by the First Year Office and the Centre for International Experience, be sure to attend this opportunity on Wednesday, August 11 from 8:30 – 10 a.m. EDT to help you understand your legal rights and responsibilities as an international student. This program is free of charge for new U of T Engineering students, and you only need to attend one of the two Immigration Advising Workshops.Register for the First-year Engineering Immigration Advising Workshop 2 here.
  • First Year Foundations: It’s not too late to register for many upcoming free and paid First Year Foundations summer programs, including the week-long Engineering Design 101 and Engineering Problem Solving & Mathematics online experiences, Success 101, and the Summer Math Success Program. For those of you who missed our Academic Orientation sessions, presentation slides and handouts are posted online.

 

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:  

First Year Office
Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

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