Access & Inclusion Peer Programs

Mentor navigators will be unavailable for individual appointments or drop-ins starting April 2 until approximately mid-August 2021. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive information about summer events and job opportunities. You will be contacted as soon as appointments and drop-ins resume.

Access & Inclusion Peer Programs is a mentorship program for African Black Caribbean, Latin American, Southeast Asian and First Generation students (whose parents/guardians did not complete post-secondary education in Canada). As per the National Survey of Student Engagement, these students are more likely to report that they experience barriers to financial aid, supports, relationships with faculty and involvement outside the classroom.

Mentor navigators are caring upper-year students who work in our program, and who themselves are first generation African Black Caribbean, Latin American and Southeast Asian students with intersectional identities that include: Racialized, international, 2SLGBTQIA+, mature, Transitional Year Programme students (current & former), and other lived identities.

Mentor navigators provide connections to academic, career, wellness, engagement and many other services to foster a sense of belonging and community. They also help students navigate barriers to access and inclusion, and connect students to each other and the broader U of T community.

Program Eligibility

Access & Inclusion Peer Programs is for African Black Caribbean, Latin American, Southeast Asian and First Generation students (parents/guardians did not complete post-secondary education in Canada), with intersectional identities including: Racialized, international, 2SLGBTQIA+, mature, Transitional Year Programme students (current & former), and other lived identities.
How The Program Works
1. Find a mentor navigator. Read about the six mentor navigators below, under Program Student Team.

2. Book an appointment with a mentor navigator.

3. Attend weekly drop-ins for undergraduate students from all disciplines to address questions, discuss ideas and connect with other students. Each drop-in is hosted by mentor navigators from your community.

Winter 2021 schedule:
- Mondays 2 – 3 p.m., First Generation Undergrad Students Drop-in
- Tuesdays 2 – 3 p.m., Latin American Undergrad Students Drop-in
- Wednesdays 2 – 3 p.m., Southeast Asian Undergrad Students Drop-in
- Thursdays 2 – 3 p.m., African, Black, Caribbean Undergrad Students Drop-in
Registration is required: Log in to CLNx.

4. Attend an event or workshop: Access & Inclusion Peer Programs hosts several events and workshops throughout the year for African Black Caribbean, Latin American, Southeast Asian and First Generation students. Events are running virtually due to COVID-19.

Note: If you don’t want to attend events by yourself, you can book an appointment with a mentor navigator to join you when in-person events resume.

5. Subscribe to our newsletter: The Access & Inclusion Peer Programs newsletter lists our upcoming events and opportunities.

6. Join our Facebook group: Join the Access & Inclusion Peer Programs Facebook group!
Program Activities & Schedule

26 Aug

Financial Aid for First Generation Undergrad Students & Their Families/Friends

Learn how to access OSAP, awards, financial planning and counselling. Bring your family and friends.

Date: 26 Aug 2021
Start Time: 10:00 am
End Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Online

Register
Considerations & Exceptions
Past event titles for the 2021-2022 academic year:
- Southeast Asian, African Black Caribbean & Latin American Students Confront Discrimination in Housing
- Latin American, Southeast Asian & African Black Caribbean Students Applying to On & Off Campus Jobs
Past event titles for the 2020-2021 academic year:
- Brave Storytelling: Finding our Voice
- Black Students Talk with Black Profs!: Confronting MACROagressions in the Classroom
- LatinX Wellness Café
- Conversations with Registrars: Academic Planning for First Gen Students
- How Identity Impacts Learning for Southeast Asian Students
- Black Futures: Let’s Talk Careers in Law
- First Gen Students Facing the Future: What Are You Doing After Undergrad?
- Southeast Asian Undergraduate Students Clubs Fair UTSG
- Latin American Undergraduate Students Clubs Fair UTSG
- Engaging in Research as Black, Latin American & Southeast Asian Undergraduate Students
- First Generation Students & Experiences Living With Others During COVID-19
- Black Students Talk With Black Profs!: Confronting Imposter Syndrome
- Black Students Welcome and Black Clubs Fair UTSG
- Black, Latinx & Southeast Asian Men Need Mentors Too!
- First Generation Students, Their Parents/Guardians/Supporters & Financial Aid
- Black Students and the Impact of Police Killings of Black People
- Black Students Talk With Black Profs!: Black Hair Care During COVID-19
- Strategies to Help First Generation Students Succeed in this eLearning Environment
Past event titles for the 2019-2020 academic year:
- Financial Aid & Financial Literacy for First Generation Students & Their Parents/Guardians/Supporters
- Indigenous Corn Husk Doll Making Workshop
- Black Students Talk With Black Profs!
- First Generation Students Get Ready for Midterms
- Accessibility Services Presents Hitting the Midterm Slump: Catching Up and Using Reading Week Productively
- Engaging in Research as Indigenous, Black & Racialized Students
- Students with Family Responsibilities Advocating for Themselves & Their Family Through Writing
- Navigating Faith & Career Decisions
- Indigenous, Black & Racialized Students Confront Imposter Syndrome
- Black Futures: Let’s Talk Careers in Tech
- First Generation Students & Families Talk About Choosing Programs & Academic Plans
- Indigenous, Black & Racialized Students Get Ready for Exams!