2023-2024 Year in Review: Student life and support

Efforts to build and strengthen student life and support programs continued this past year with a focus on student engagement and mentorship.

Below is an overview of many of the platforms and initiatives developed over the 2023-2024 academic year.

Student life and support efforts made possible through the generosity of FIFSW alumni can be found in the Alumni and Friends page section of the 2023-2024 Year in Review. Additional student support initiatives are listed in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion section.

Large audience of new students siting around conference tables in Hart House during an Orientation presentation

Orientation and Introduction to Social Work Conference

On September 6, the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work welcomed new students to its Master of Social Work and PhD programs. View photos and learn about the featured speakers who shared information and insight with students during orientation events and the Introduction to Social Work Conference attended by students in the Two-Year MSW program.

three FIFSW student ambassadors pose in front of FIFSW's stop-and-repeat

MSW Ambassadors

The 2023-2024 academic year marked the launch of the MSW Ambassador program. MSW Ambassadors provide prospective students with insight and information about the Faculty’s programs and help orient new students during orientation events. The work of our ambassadors was supported by the new “FIFSW PeerPal” platform – a website that facilitates connections between prospective and incoming students. Prospective students could use the platform to reach out to current students and ask them about their experiences in FIFSW programs. FIFSW Ambassadors also played a key role in helping first-year MSW students select their field of study by hosting office hours and being present for questions during the Field of Study information sessions.

“I wanted to encourage students to embark on their educational paths with confidence by helping them navigate the application process, answering questions and addressing concerns, and sharing a holistic understanding of the academic, practical and experiential aspects of being an MSW student at the Faculty. I had the pleasure of connecting with several prospective students and helping them make informed decisions about their education and career in social work. Overall, this has been an incredibly pleasant and rewarding experience!”

— Varruna, 2023-2024 FIFSW Ambassador

“As an international student arriving in Toronto last year, the transition was daunting yet made remarkably smoother thanks to the support from the student ambassador program. Moreover, the program informed me about the Graduate Centre for Academic Communication, where I enrolled in a preparatory course. This course not only sharpened my academic skills but also connected me with a peer, who has since become a close friend. Moved by the warmth and assistance I received, I am eager to give back in the same way.”

— Noah, 2023-2024 FIFSW Ambassador

FIFSW Connect

Launched in the fall of 2023, the FIFSW Connect platform helps current students connect, not only with each other, but also with our broader community. The new internal online platform also helps current students stay up to date on news, events, announcements, job opportunities and more. Designed to facilitate conversation and information sharing, FIFSW Connect served as a hub for our mentorship programs and other community groups for students. We are looking forward to strengthening the use of this platform in the new academic year ahead.

Reading Week Lunch for International Students

On February 22, FIFSW hosted a lunch for international students who stayed in the city during the Winter Term Reading Week. The lunchtime event provided an opportunity for international students to come together, bond, and connect with fellow students. Two MSW Ambassadors attended this lunch and shared their experiences and insights as upper-year students.

Welcome Back Treats

To help our students get back into the swing of things after long breaks, FIFSW hosted two welcome back sessions: one after the University of Toronto holiday break and one after Winter Term Reading Week. These drop-in sessions took place across two days. Students could stop by in the morning, during their breaks, and at lunch to pick up some healthy snacks, drinks, and fruit. The welcome back sessions also provided students with a moment to decompress from their classes and connect with each other.

One students jugs a dog while another looks on

Therapy Dogs

To end the Winter 2024 term, FIFSW provided a wellness space for students to decompress after their final week of classes and rejuvenate themselves for final assignments. Volunteers from Sunshine Therapy Dogs attended the drop-in sessions that took place during the students’ lunch break between 12:00pm to 1:30pm. Students had the chance to interact with and receive emotional support from the dogs and connect. View photos from the ITR students’ visit with Therapy dogs on May 7.

Summer Mentorship Program

Every July, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine hosts a Summer Mentorship program which provides highschool students who identify as Indigenous, Black African, Black Caribbean, Black North American, or multi-racial with Black ancestry a chance to explore health sciences at the University of Toronto. As a part of this program, FIFSW hosted a “Social Work Day” to introduce the students to the social work profession. This year, FIFSW invited several MSW students to volunteer for the day, connecting with high school students to share their experiences and to mentor the students through various activities throughout the day.

Learn about more student support initiatives implemented in the 2023-2024 academic year via the Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion section of the Year in Review.