Navi: Your U of T resource finder

Find your way around U of T resources with Navi

Find information and get help navigating University of Toronto resources 24/7 with Navi. Navi is a chat tool trained on U of T resources that responds to your questions. While Navi can point you to the right contacts and services, it doesn’t replace guidance from a staff expert.

Navi can help with

Admissions

Financial aid

Getting involved

Careers

Convocation

Mental health resources

And more!

Navi Your U of T Resource Finder.
Chat with Navi

How to use Navi

  • Find the Navi speech bubble icon or chat button on web pages across U of T websites.
  • Use the icon to open the Navi chat window and start a chat by telling it what you need help with.
  • Use short, simple sentences to ask your question
  • Navi will help point you to the right U of T resources or service.

Things to know about Navi

  • It’s U of T specific and answers are created by campus experts
  • It’s designed with your privacy in mind
  • It’s always available

Privacy and your information

Your privacy matters. Navi is designed to help you find information while keeping your experience simple and safe.

  • You can use Navi anonymously.
  • You don’t need to share any personal, identifying or health information.
  • Navi provides general information only and does not offer medical advice, counselling or personalized recommendations.
  • Chats are not monitored in real time. Some feedback may be reviewed to help improve the tool.

If you have concerns about your health or need immediate support, it’s always best to connect directly with a qualified professional or one of the University’s support services.

Immediate support

If you or someone else is in immediate danger or needs urgent support, please contact one of these services:

  • U of T Telus Health Student Support: 1-844-451-9700
    (Outside North America: 001-416-380-6578)
  • Good2Talk: 1-866-925-5454
  • Emergency services: Call 911

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The virtual assistant is a conversational tool that uses technological “learning” to respond to questions through an online chat. Leveraging IBM’s Watson Virtual Assistant platform, this tool can help you find answers to your questions and act as a wayfinding tool. The tool can be accessed 24/7. While Navi cannot provide personalized or specific advice, it can direct you to the contacts that can. 

Navi has multiple meanings. It’s short for “navigator,” which helps describe what the tool is: a wayfinding resource that helps students navigate the programs, resources and services U of T has to offer. Navi is also means “kind to people” in many languages, which speaks to the culture of caring and excellence that the University strives for.

The tool isn’t monitored, so it’s up to the user to decide when/if to connect to the resources provided. The University reviews some of the chats where feedback was provided as a way to continue to train and develop the tool. 

Throughout most conversations in the tool, there are links to resources where students can find the right contact information for the person to talk to.

No. Navi is a wayfinding tool and is meant to help students find the most appropriate office or resource for their needs.

Navi has been developed by subject-matter experts at the University, which means that all responses have been curated and tailored to the U of T experience. Where Google responds with thousands of results, Navi highlights the most relevant services for U of T students.

We’ve worked with subject-matter experts at the University to identify topics, responses, resources and services for students. Each response has been curated and mapped to topics. If you don’t receive the answer you were looking for, use the thumbs up/thumbs down function to give us feedback, which will help to train and develop the tool.

Navi can answer general questions on a full range of topics for future and current students. Additionally, Navi provides detailed information to support your mental health. Ask Navi about a lot of things including: stress, anxiety, loneliness, harassment, discrimination, bullying, academics, career, sleep issues, accessibility, coping techniques, abuse, eating disorders, how to get involved, health care access, and more.

Navi will be continually enhanced to be able to speak to more topics.

Yes. If you click on a number provided, you can call that number directly.

The virtual agent isn’t currently voice-activated and needs to be manually selected in order for the conversation to begin. Once started, you can use a local speech-to-text program (e.g. speech keyboard on iOS) to interact with the virtual agent.

Yes. Many of the University’s resources and services have been tailored to support our learners from all over the world. This includes access to registrarial services, academic services and various health services. Some services are only available to students in Ontario/Canada, but they’re specified in the tool. You can always access U of T Telus Health Student Support by calling 001-416-380-6578 if you’re outside North America and need access to 24/7 mental health support. U of T Telus Health Student Support has immediate support available over the phone in 35 languages, and over chat in simplified Chinese, English, French and Spanish. Ongoing support is available over the phone in 146 languages.

Yes. Navi is for all students at the University of Toronto. Since Navi is available publicly, parents/families, and university faculty, staff and administrators can also use to the tool help identify resources and services for students.

If you work at the University of Toronto and are interested in adding a link to Navi on your website, email Elicia Giannone, Project Manager, U of T Wayfinder: elicia.giannone@utoronto.ca

If you would like to update content in Navi, please email Elicia Giannone, Project Manager, U of T Wayfinder: elicia.giannone@utoronto.ca.