A brand new academic year

Welcome - or welcome back - to the start of another academic year. If you need help or advice, the place to start for all advice and information is your college registrar's office - "your reliable first stop for advice and information." Your college is here to give you friendly and helpful attention. If you have a question about a particular course or academic program, you can directly approach the department or college responsible for it. If you need an answer or need some help, reach out: many are here to help you find what you need. More information

Changes this year

You noticed the unusually early start for classes this year. Remember the other changes too. The add/change period for course enrolment on ROSI will only be one week long (ending September 15), with only extraordinary adds for the week after that (September 16-22). We will have a break in November, preceded by Virtual Monday (otherwise known as "Wacky Wednesday") on November 11, when the Monday classes that week will meet on Monday and again on Wednesday, to make up for Thanksgiving Monday. See the Calendar or the Arts & Science website for full details, including some one-day-only room relocations to prevent conflicts. More information

ROSI this summer

ROSI had some performance issues this summer and was not able to respond with her usual speed, especially under high volume. We recognize and appreciate that many of you were extraordinarily patient and persistent when enrolling in your courses. Thank you. Those who look after the care and feeding of ROSI are working to ensure that in future we can return to the level of responsiveness you have come to expect in recent years.

Arts & Science Council elections

As a result of an appeal filed last Spring, the May elections of last year for this year's Arts & Science Council were set aside; therefore, we will be holding elections in September/October for all positions, including those on Council and its committees. Arts & Science Council is the main governance body of the Faculty. Council is made up of students, faculty and staff representatives, all of whom are elected by their peers. It approves policy and curriculum shaping the academic lives of every Arts & Science student. It is also an important consultative body for the Dean. This is a chance to influence the shape of your education and put your hard-earned experience to use for the benefit of all.

The nomination period for all positions on the 2009-2010 Council and its committees will begin September 16 and close at 5:00pm on September 23, the final deadline for submission of nomination forms. The campaign period will be September 24 to October 7 and the election will run (on an Arts & Science website) on October 8 and 9. Details of the election mechanics will be sent to you in a special email broadcast, and can also be found on the governance web site. More information

Protecting yourself against H1N1 flu

The university takes seriously the health and wellness of everyone on our campuses, and we're taking steps to help you avoid contracting or spreading H1N1 influenza. Remember the three keys to minimizing the spread of the flu: 1. Wash or sanitize your hands often. 2. Sneeze or cough into your sleeve or a tissue. 3. Stay at home if you are ill. For up-to-date information on our plans and to learn about precautions you should take, visit http://www.preparedness.utoronto.ca.

Dean's Student Initiatives Fund

The application deadline for the winter competition for the Faculty of Arts and Science Dean's Student Initiatives Fund is November 2. This award was established to provide financial support for undergraduate or graduate student initiatives that aspire to create dialogue and foster a greater sense of community. Find out more

Scientists uncover alarming invasion of round goby into Great Lakes tributaries

A team of scientists from the University of Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the University of Guelph has identified a drastic invasion of round goby into many Great Lakes tributaries, threatening serious impact on several species of endangered fish. Learn more

Provost lands on 2008 list of top articles in philosophy

Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Misak balances being U of T's top academic and budget officer with being a top philosopher. She recently landed a spot in an annual listing of the top 10 articles in philosophy, and it's a first for the Faculty of Arts & Science's Department of Philosophy. Read more

Wide Open House

On Wednesday, September 16, from 11:00am to 2:00pm, Hart House invites you to plug into a real social network at its annual Wide Open House. Chill out and chow down on the famous $5-Buck lunch, win fab prizes, listen to live music, and more. Check it out

Humanities for Inhumane Times

The promise of the humanities is to make us more able to care for and enhance the humanity of each other, but we live in an inhumane time of economic crisis, terror, repression, and fanaticism. Join a group of leading Canadian humanists for a discussion on what scholarship on the human record of cultures, languages and thought can contribute to our world. Find out more

Earthcycle greens the campus

Earthcycle, running from September 21 to 26, is an entire week of environmental events that features films, lectures, and fun events, including a Car-Free Day on September 22 and a talk with the world's leading experts on carbon sequestration on September 23. This is the biggest and most ambitious Environment Week at U of T to date. Don't miss out on opportunities to get involved in issues ranging from renewable energy to climate change, from biking to eco-art, and much more. Check it out

Ralph Nader speaks on publicly funded health care in Canada

On Thursday, September 24, in Hart House's Great Hall, the Health Studies Program will honour Tommy Douglas and the introduction of the Universal Health Care in Saskatchewan in 1962. American icon and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader will give a talk entitled "Publicly Funded Health Care & Its Preservation in Canada". It will include a special appearance by Shirley Douglas, daughter of Tommy Douglas. Tickets are available from UofTtix. More information


For detailed listings of events and opportunities for students, be sure to check out Ulife at www.ulife.utoronto.ca. What are you doing after class?

Bring Your Family to School Day

Here's your chance to give the special people in your life a glimpse of student life. On Friday, November 6, U of T introduces its first-ever "Bring Your Family to School Day." Invite your family members - parents, guardians, siblings, or your own children - to attend an undergraduate lecture, tour the nooks and crannies of campus and lunch on student comfort food... Read more

Find work on campus

You don't have to look far at U of T to find part-time work! We post thousands of paid and volunteer jobs each year from on and off-campus employers who feel that a student would make a valuable part of their team. Find out more

Communication Café

Working on a group project or want to contribute more in tutorial discussion? The Communication Café offers challenging and fun activities to help you develop your speaking skills in English. Join other multilingual students learning English to improve your ability to discuss academic topics and present your ideas to a group. Sessions are relevant for a wide range of disciplines, free of charge, and do not require advance registration. Sessions are held at New College and Woodsworth College. If you want to increase your vocabulary, read more quickly and accurately, and develop your writing, you are encouraged to check out our Reading eWriting program as well. More information