Current Students; Faculty & Staff

Navi virtual assistant expands to incorporate more U of T resources

ksoobria — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 17:19:45 +0000

Navi virtual assistant expands to incorporate more U of T resources ksoobria Tue, 08/15/2023 - 13:19

In August 2023, Navi is widening its scope to offer even more assistance to students, staff, faculty and librarians across the ��߲ݴ�ý’s three campuses.

The virtual assistant, originally implemented to help students access mental health resources on campus and in the community, is expanding to incorporate general U of T resources into its offerings, through the same easy-to-use chat interface.

“Navi has become a critical tool in helping students find mental health resources,” says Sandy Welsh, Vice Provost, Students. “And now we have an opportunity to enhance the service it’s providing. Allowing Navi to guide users to general, tri-campus resources helps Navi become a more robust tool that serves the U of T community on an even larger scale.”

While Navi’s commitment to connecting users with mental health supports remains, the tool will now include other on-campus resources such as study supports, finding community, how to connect with a registrar and more. The automated assistant uses a chat format, so users can communicate in full sentences instead of entering keywords. Typing phrases like “I’m having trouble sleeping” or “I want to learn how to take better notes” allows Navi to recognize what users need and quickly link to appropriate resources.

And it’s not just for students, says Welsh.

“Navi is incredibly helpful for faculty and staff, staff, faculty and librarians as well. When a student or colleague asks for assistance, we don’t need to have all the answers – we can use a tool that directs us to the appropriate resources. Navi can help us all become more familiar with the incredible programs and services offered across the University.”

Welsh encourages all staff, faculty and librarians faculty to include the Navi widget on U of T webpages, and for student-facing staff, in their email signatures.

As always, information shared with Navi is completely anonymous and users are reminded that the resources and supports provided do not replace workshops or one-to-one conversations with experts.

To access the tool, visit uoft.me/navi.

Navi virtual assistant expands to incorporate more U of T resources

Tool will now include on-campus resources such as study supports, finding community, registrarial information and more

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Communications Staff

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Role reversal: U of T student and faculty dean swap jobs, gain insights

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 14:47:25 +0000

Role reversal: U of T student and faculty dean swap jobs, gain insights

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 04/14/2023 - 10:47

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Second-year student Chelsea Wang recently traded places with Faculty of Arts & Science Dean Melanie Woodin for a day, sending Wang to high-level meetings and Woodin to a class on modern East Asia (photo by Sarah Khan)

Christine Elstub

Topic

Our Community

Student Experience

Faculty of Art & Science

Undergraduate Students

Victoria College

Chelsea Wang has been busy during her two years as a ��߲ݴ�ý student. The international relations major is vice-president of the East Asian Studies Students’ Union, a mentor to incoming Victoria College students and a U of T tour guide.

Now she can add “dean” to her already impressive resume – albeit for a single day.

Wang recently got to trade places with Melanie Woodin, dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, after winning a raffle held by the Arts & Science Student Union (ASSU), with the money raised going to food banks. For one day, Wang attended Woodin’s meetings while Woodin attended Wang’s class and worked her shift as a campus tour guide – a role swap that gave each party new insights into the university.

Wang says the highlight of her “Dean for a Day” experience was chairing a meeting of Arts & Science vice-deans, where she learned about ongoing initiatives such as improvements to student spaces like Robarts Common and the Sidney Smith Commons.

“I was able to give feedback on what the student experience is like in those spaces,” says Wang, adding that she was pleased to learn about the team’s efforts to solicit student voices on the projects. “I offered ideas about what can be improved, especially during exam time.”

Chelsea Wang, centre, leads a meeting of Arts & Science vice-deans (photo by Sarah Khan)

Wang’s schedule also included back-to-back meetings with members of the faculty’s academic leadership team, including Acting Vice-Dean of Undergraduate Students Bill Ju and Acting Associate Dean of Student Affairs Alana Boland, as well as meetings with U of T Vice-Provost of Students Sandy Welsh and Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering Dean Christopher Yip.

Chelsea Wang and Sandy Welsh, vice-provost, students (photo by Sarah Khan)

Meanwhile, Woodin attended Wang’s modern East Asia lecture, where she chatted with instructor Yurou Zhong, an associate professor in the department of East Asian studies, interacted with students and even participated in the class discussion – although she admittedly had not completed the required readings.

Faculty of Arts & Science Dean Melanie Woodin arrives early for Chelsea Wang's morning lecture (photo Christine Elstub)

After the lecture, Woodin headed to the Nona Macdonald Visitors Centre to cover Wang’s shift as a U of T tour guide. She greeted a group of incoming students and their families at the centre before they toured the St. George campus.

Faculty of Arts & Science Dean Melanie Woodin, right, prepares to cover Chelsea Wang’s shift as a U of T tour guide (photo by Sarah Khan)

“I really enjoyed attending class and chatting with current and future students. It was a great reminder of what it’s like to be a student here,” says Woodin, an Arts & Science alumna. “The Dean for a Day fundraiser was a wonderful opportunity for Arts & Science students, faculty and staff to come together to learn from each other while giving back to the community.

“Trading places with Chelsea gave me fresh insight into the student experience, and my team gained invaluable feedback from Chelsea’s participation in meetings.”

For Wang, who is involved in student government, her experience as dean was also not entirely unfamiliar. “I found the meetings I attended similar to how student government meetings work, with members of different teams working together to get feedback and make improvements.”

Wang says she would participate in any future Dean for a Day raffles and encourages other students to do the same. “It supports a great cause, so it’s a nice way to get to know ASSU and participate in administrative life for a day.”

Welcome – or welcome back! Check out these September events

Romi Levine — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Welcome – or welcome back! Check out these September events

Romi Levine Fri, 08/30/2019 - 00:00

Cutline

(photo by Ken Jones)

Isabel Armiento

Topic

Our Community

Back To School 2019

Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre

School of Cities

Faculty of Arts & Science

Rotman School of Management

Student Life

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

Summer has come to a close, but that doesn’t mean the fun is ending. Orientation week is packed with exciting – and informative – events that aren’t just for first-year students, including a parade, street festival, carnival and more.

For a break from ��߲ݴ�ý-related festivities, check out select TIFF films being screened on-campus. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a celebrity.

There are plenty of September events sure to get you excited about going back to school. Here’s just a sample:

Sept. 1

Sign up with U of T for the Academic Bicycle Challenge and win prizes for biking alongside – or against – peers, faculty members and other cyclists worldwide. Download the Naviki app (Google Play, iOS) from Sept. 1 to 30 to participate in this global phenomenon.

Sept. 3

Tri-campus orientation begins. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable first week by familiarizing yourself with information about orientation at the St. George campus, U of T Mississauga or U of T Scarborough.

Join U of T experts at the tri-campus Facebook Live and Instagram conference ASKme Anything about U of T and get the answers to all your campus-related questions.

Sept. 4

Show your school spirit at the tri-campus parade, beginning at 1 p.m. at Varsity Stadium, located at the St. George campus.

Continue the festivities at the Clubs Carnival, beginning at 3 p.m., located at King’s College Circle. St. George campus students should check out their college or faculty’s website to find out about college-specific club fairs.

Sept. 5

TIFF (the Toronto International Film Festival) begins, running until Sept. 15, with student tickets offered for only $11.50. On Sept. 11, catch the world première of Judy, starring Renée Zellweger as the legendary Judy Garland, without even leaving campus. The film is being screened at the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management.

Sept. 6

Hart House celebrates its 100^th anniversary with story-weaving project Encounters at the Edge of the Woods, running at the Hart House Theatre from Sept. 6 to 7.

Sept. 11

Take a break from classes and stop by U of T’s annual Street Festival, located at the St. George campus along St. George Street. Enjoy the activities, music and food trucks while learning more about campus life.

Sept. 12

Join the Faculty of Music for the first installation of the weekly series Thursdays at Noon, featuring the Juno Award-winning Gryphon Trio. Check out the Faculty of Music’s 2019/20 Season guide for a complete list of events, classes and performances.

Sept. 14

Show your support for mental health awareness at the 2019 Toronto Concert for Suicide Awareness, Prevention, and Hope. Listen to inspirational speeches and performances by U of T faculty, lecturers and alumni such as Norine Burgess, Dr. Andrea Levinson, Nathalie Paulin and Monica Whicher.

Sept. 17

Garner mental health resources on- and off-campus while learning to prioritize wellness over academic success at 2019 Minds Redefined, a mental health and wellness conference by the Faculty of Arts & Science that features keynote speakers Margaret Trudeau and Michael Landsberg and workshops such as “Navigating Career Uncertainty” and “failing excellently!”

Navigate Toronto’s rapidly shifting urban landscape with the first lecture in a four-part lecture series, hosted by U of T’s School of Cities in conjunction with the Toronto Public Library. Where We Gather explores the interplay between city life and public spaces.

Adapt your academic skills for the workplace at the U of T Career Fair, where you can network with more than 100 global organizations and employers.

Sept. 18

The Isuma artists’ collective works in conjunction with the Toronto Biennale of Art to produce Qaggiq: Gathering Place, a collection of video works that focus on storytelling and language. View the exhibition at the ��߲ݴ�ý Art Centre until Nov. 30.

Sept. 19

Explore a host of opportunities in your field at U of T Scarborough’s Get Experience Fair. Whether it’s through volunteering for a not-for-profit, working an on-campus job, assisting a prof’s research or studying abroad, there are plenty of ways to gain valuable – and relevant – experience.

Sept. 21

Learn how to use media and digital art as a narrative and rhetorical tool at Mixture: Digital Art and Compositional Realities, hosted by U of T Mississauga.

Sept. 23

Queer Orientation is a tri-campus week of LGBTQ-focused and community-building programming, running from Sept. 23 to 28.

Stay informed about U of T’s policy on sexual violence and sexual harassment. In-person consultation sessions are being held at all three campuses for staff, faculty and students: U of T Mississauga on Sept. 23, U of T Scarborough on Sept. 24 and St. George campus on Sept. 25.

Sept. 24

Show your support for the CIBC Run for the Cure with U of T Mississauga’s warm-up event – the Pink Campus Walk. For more fundraising events and initiatives, join U of T Mississauga’s Run for the Cure Ice Cream Day on Sept. 10 or their Run for the Cure Pink Luncheon on Sept. 17.

Sept. 26

Kick off the school year with a focus on wellness at Be Well UTM. Discover the wealth of wellness resources located on campus, including mental health supports, conflict resolution tools and fun drop-in fitness classes such as Introduction to Caribbean Dance.

Sept. 27

If you find yourself itching to do the Time Warp again or wondering whatever happened to Saturday night, head down to the Hart House Theatre for the opening night of The Rocky Horror Show. Catch this rendition of the cult classic for $12 to $15 until Oct. 12.

Sept. 28

Muse over works of musical genius with the first instalment of the Faculty of Music’s “What Makes It Great?” series – Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.

Join photographer Aubie Golombek for a presentation on the relationship between form and image. Drawing on Bosch’s triptych painting “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” Golombek uses the dual media of contact print and lecture to synthesize his critical praxis.

Sept. 29

Take advantage of U of T’s photogenic landscapes during the Photo Walk Around Campus. Hosted by the Hart House Camera Club, this is the perfect opportunity to refine your photography practise, curate photos for your portfolio and network with other budding student photographers.

Sept. 30

Take a break from the clamour of courses to listen to a heartrending Faculty of Music performance by soprano Nathalie Paulin and pianist Steven Philcox, inspired by Messiaen’s Chants de Terre et de Ciel.

'Keep improving my game': Twin sisters set to soar with U of T Varsity Blues basketball squad

perry.king — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 04:00:00 +0000

'Keep improving my game': Twin sisters set to soar with U of T Varsity Blues basketball squad

perry.king Wed, 08/28/2019 - 00:00

Cutline

Nakeisha (left) and Mikhaela (right) Ekwandja decided to come to U of T after making their mark in high school basketball playing for St. Joseph's College in Toronto (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Perry King

Topic

Our Community

Back To School 2019

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Rotman Commerce

Undergraduate Students

Varsity Blues

Woodsworth College

On a rainy afternoon on an outdoor basketball court in midtown Toronto, Nakeisha Ekwandja is taking the ball to the hoop, competing one-on-one against her twin sister. She sidesteps Mikhaela Ekwandja’s tight defence – this time – and drains the basket, causing the chain netting to jingle.

Working together, the Ekwandja sisters have risen above the crowd. They are accomplished high school basketball players who were scouted by schools in both Canada and the United States before ultimately deciding to come to U of T. Mikhaela will begin her studies at the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education next month while Nakeisha will be at Woodsworth College and studying at Rotman Commerce – both will play basketball for the Varsity Blues squad.

Despite the attention they received, the sisters say U of T was always a top choice.

“I just remember walking by the university [during high school], and almost at least once a week – just looking at the stadium, the big T with the maple leaf, and being like ‘I want to be there one day,’” says Mikhaela, wearing a black sports tee, navy shorts and black high tops.

“I know the reputation that the university has – the high standards for students to achieve. It would be such an honour to say ‘I graduated from the ��߲ݴ�ý.’”

Physical players with smooth-looking jumpers, the pair of five-foot-nine power forwards helped St. Joseph College School – not considered a basketball powerhouse – win four city championships. The St. Joseph’s Bears also won a 2017 provincial championship, the first time the all-girls’ high school has won the title. As co-captains in their senior year, the twins shared most valuable player honours.

The pair look back fondly at their high school career, noting how they pushed past expectations to achieve success.

“I think we surprised some people,” says Nakeisha, dressed almost identically to her sister save for a pair of bright yellow socks.

“Since we weren’t that big basketball presence yet, we did find some challenges. We would play a few exhibition games against some schools that were really known for their basketball [and lose]. It was a process, I’d say: first, establishing that we’re starting to make a team here; throughout the four years, that’s when we started to climb that mountain.”

The sisters’ relationship with U of T began years ago when they were just 11 years old and had been playing basketball for about a year. They attended a practice session, held by U of T basketball guru Michèle Bélanger, that was part of the Varsity Blues’ summer academy.

The meeting made an impression.

“To see the way that she sees basketball, and the way she coaches, was a coaching style I loved so much,” recalls Mikhaela.

“I feel like it’s a style that, as I get older, was something I was searching for again.”

“I’ve had many coaches in my life, all great coaches, but I felt [coach Bélanger] had something new that she could teach me as well,” agrees Nakeisha, applauding Bélanger’s strong communication skills and patience. “I just want to keep improving my game, keep reinventing myself in basketball, and I feel like she can really help me with that.”

“I just want to keep improving my game, keep reinventing myself in basketball, and I feel like she can really help me with that,” says Nakeisha Ekwandja of U of T basketball coach Michèle Bélanger (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Bélanger, for her part, recalls watching the sisters play at the club level with the Brampton Warriors, which competes with some of the best teams in Ontario. She was impressed by their basketball IQ and balanced demeanour on the court.

“They are hard workers and never ever back down from challenges,” says Bélanger, who is entering her 40^th season as the women’s basketball coach. “They want and love to push themselves to be the best that they could be in all they do.

“[They’re] great young women who will have great successes in all facets of life.”

When it came to finding a university, the Ekwandja sisters say they were looking to find a balance between a good education and a great basketball environment. And Bélanger, who has coached Team Canada at all levels of international competition, says the Varsity Blues program was the “perfect fit.”

“We pitch the same thing to all [our athletes]: our strong academic institution and great programs; our great staff; our athlete services; our care for each individual,” she says.

“I look forward to seeing their development on and off the court.”

“What really helped was that we got into basketball together; we had the same goals going in,” says Nakeisha about her twin sister Mikhaela (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

That development is already well under way. The sisters have started training with the team. Off the court, they say their Blues’ teammates are a supportive community, helping to prepare them for the months ahead.

“We’ve been told by coaches, our teammates, that it’s hard first year. We’ve done the whole basketball-high-school thing, but university is a different level of managing our schoolwork and basketball,” says Mikhaela while her sister nods in agreement.

“Success for myself includes getting through first year. Once it’s out of the way, they say the next three years are so much easier. It’s not letting any of the late night studying, the early morning practices get to me.”

Fortunately, the twins also have each other to lean on – a relationship they credit for helping them get to where they are today.

“What really helped was that we got into basketball together; we had the same goals going in,” says Nakeisha. “At an early age, not being the most skilled players out there, we decided that we have to try and get better.”

The strategy, which includes playing one-on-one ball against each other, appears to have worked. Yet, as competitive as the two sisters are, neither claims to be the better player.

“We play the same way, but there are different skills that we have – I think my ball handling is a little stronger than hers, but she’s a lot better in the post,” Mikhaela volunteers.

“We’re pretty equal – let’s keep it at that.”

Current Students; Faculty & Staff

Navi virtual assistant expands to incorporate more U of T resources

Role reversal: U of T student and faculty dean swap jobs, gain insights

Welcome – or welcome back! Check out these September events

Sept. 1

Sept. 3

Sept. 4

Sept. 5

Sept. 6

Sept. 11

Sept. 12

Sept. 14

Sept. 17

Sept. 18

Sept. 19

Sept. 21

Sept. 23

Sept. 24

Sept. 26

Sept. 27

Sept. 28

Sept. 29

Sept. 30

'Keep improving my game': Twin sisters set to soar with U of T Varsity Blues basketball squad

Read more about Back to School at U of T