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Student Life & Services

 

Academic Success Centre

Improve your academic skills by attending workshops, drop-in hours or individual appointments. Please visit the ASC web site for more information.

Accessibility Services

Accessibility Services (AS) is an interdisciplinary team of professionals who collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to provide a level playing field for students with disabilities to learn and demonstrate what they know and can do. It provides individualized solutions that meet the accessibility needs of registered students and ensure the academic integrity of the University of Toronto. AS’ work is anchored in the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and the U of T Statement of Commitment Regarding Persons with Disabilities.

Students registered with Accessibility Services may live with:

  • Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
  • Chronic health conditions
  • Concussion & head injuries
  • Learning disabilities (LD)
  • Mental health conditions
  • Mobility or functional disabilities
  • Sensory disabilities, and
  • Temporary disabilities & injuries

Over 50% of students registered with our office cite mental health impacts on academic functioning.

How to Register
Step 1: Obtain required documentation
Step 2: Complete online Student Intake Form
Step 3: Submit your completed Intake Package
Step 4: Attend an Intake Appointment

After a student submits an Intake Package, they will be contacted to schedule an Intake apt. with an Accessibility Advisor. The Accessibility Advisor will review their Intake Package and discuss any barriers or difficulties they have been experiencing in their academic progress.

Privacy and Confidentiality
Personal and medical information is held confidentially by Accessibility Services, and information is only shared on a need to know basis. A student’s involvement with AS is not noted on one’s transcript. AS does not contact employers.

Academic Accommodations May Include:

  • Notetaking support
  • Extensions on assignments
  • Missing class for medical reasons
  • Sign language interpretation, real time captioning, computerized notetaking for students who are D/deaf/hard of hearing
  • Materials in alternative format (e.g. e-books)
  • Adaptive furniture/technology
  • Funding for disability related services and equipment (adaptive tech., tutoring, counselling, coaching, etc.)

Some Current Programs and Services

  • ADHD Peer Connections
  • Learning Skills Workshops (geared towards challenges with online learning)
  • SASA (Social Association for Students with Autism)
  • Virtual Accountability Check-ins
  • One-on-one appointments with our Adaptive Technologist
  • One-on-one appointments with our Learning Strategists

FIFSW’s On Location Accessibility Advisor is Karan Sharma. Students may reach him via email at ks.sharma@utoronto.ca or by phone at (416) 978-7759.

Athletics and Recreation

Registered UofT students paying compulsory athletic incidental fees are automatically members of the Athletic Centre, Hart House and the Varsity Centre (conveniently located across the street from the FIFSW). This includes part-time and full-time undergraduate and graduate students.

The Graduate Students’ Union offers a number of SGS Intramurals and Leagues. Visit the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union web site for further details.

Computer Lab and After Hours Access

The Computer Lab, Room 724, is available to MSW students.

The Lab is normally open from 8:30 AM. to 4:45pm, Monday to Friday. If the door is locked, please check with the Main Office, Room 250.

Students wishing to access to the lab after 5:00pm and during weekends may do so by obtaining a FOB from the Main Office. To obtain a FOB, a deposit of $40 is required. The FOB will allow you to access FIFSW’s building after hours and will include a code to access the Computer Lab.  There are a limited number of FOBs available, and they will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Your FOB will remain valid until you graduate from the program.

Should you experience a problem with a computer, please notify the Main Office at (416) 978-6314,  and provide the asset number (found on the red and white sticker) of the machine.

Printing Arrangements: Students requiring printing services should inquire at the Main Office.

Conflict Resolution Centre (CRC) for Graduate Students

A joint partnership of SGS, Student Life and the Graduate Students’ Union (GSU).

The CRC is a resource for members of the graduate community for best practices in conflict resolution and dispute prevention, including a grad-to-grad peer support team (G2G Peer Advisors). The G2G provide informal and confidential advice to their peers on any academic matters to help them navigate conflict early and more effectively – no issue is too small to discuss.

Counselling and Psychological Services

Health and Wellness Centre located in the Koffler Student Services Centre, 2nd floor 214 College St.,  offers a number of services including mental wellness.

Course Material Information

For copies of course outlines, bibliographies, practicum evaluations, etc. see if the course instructor(s) has a copy.  A charge will be levied to provide copies of course materials that are requested after graduation. Contact the General Office (416) 978-6314 for details.

Should you wish to review material held in your student docket, see the Registrar, Room 252. Letters of reference which were part of the Admission Process are not available for review.

Graduate Centre for Academic Communication

The Graduate Centre for Academic Communication offers excellent courses and workshops (note that unless you are taking their grant workshops, you cannot have individual appointments with their writing instructors since you have your own writing centre).Workshops: https://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/resources-supports/gcac/workshops/. Courses: https://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/resources-supports/gcac/current-terms-courses/. They are all online; you need to register ahead of time.

Handing in Assignments

While most assignments are submitted online in cases where a paper copy is required, student assignments can be handed in at the Main Office, Room 250. Assignments will be date-stamped and distributed several times daily to the Faculty mailboxes.

Students are advised to make a copy of their assignments before handing them in to the General Office.

Health and Dental Plans

Visit the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union web site for more information.

Health and Safety Committee

Committee membership is comprised of administrative staff and faculty at the FIFSW. Please report any concerns to the Main Office, Room 250.

  • Catering ingredients: Caterers are required to provide a list of ingredients for food being served at Faculty events and meetings.
  • Door Security: Front and back doors are locked after business hours. Instructors of evening and weekend courses are asked to inform their students not to prop doors open at mid-class breaks unless someone can be designated to ensure the door(s) are securely locked after all students have returned.
  • Emergency Blue Lights: Emergency help buttons (Blue Code) are located at all exit stairwells in the building.
  • First Aid Kits: There are 3 kits located in the building – Main Office, Room 250; Dean’s kitchenette, Room 444; fifth floor kitchenette
  • Scent-free zone: FIFSW is a scent/fragrance-free building so as not to adversely affect those who might have allergies and other related health problems.

Health and Wellness Centre

The Health & Wellness Centre provides the same services as your family physician. Students who have registered and paid fees at the University of Toronto are eligible for services.

Visit the web site http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc 

Library Research

For library research, start with this link (https://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/) and use the advanced search and the databases. If you need research assistance, you may contact Nalini Singh, who is the library liaison for Social Work (nalini.singh@utoronto.ca).

Alternatively, the AskChat is a quick way to get research help: https://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/question-form.

In addition, consider getting a RefWorks account: https://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/refworks.

Multi-Faith Spaces

For information regarding Multi-Faith Spaces at University of Toronto St. George campus visit http://www.multifaith.utoronto.ca/Multi-Faith-Prayer-Spaces.htm

Registrar’s Office

Located on the 2nd floor of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work Building in Room 252 (within the Main Office, Room 250). Contact (416) 978-6364 for registrarial services and funding inquiries.

Student Success Centre

Located on the main floor of the Koffler Student Services Centre at 214 College Street (on the North West corner of St. George Street and College Street).

The Centre encompasses Academic Success, Career Exploration & Education (formerly known as the Career Centre) and Housing. The Centre is open 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. weekdays (to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays). The reception desk staff can help you navigate the Centre’s resources and programming, and set up appointments to meet with educators and strategists. For more information about the services in the Centre and to plan your visit, visit our websites or contact us by email, phone or chat:

Academic Success:  uoft.me/asc, mail.asc@utoronto.ca, Tel. 416-978-7970, Chat
Career Exploration & Education:  uoft.me/careers, careercentre@mail.careers.utoronto.ca, Tel. 416-978-8000, Chat
Housing: uoft.me/housingservice, housing.services@utoronto.ca, Tel. 416-978-8045

University of Toronto Student Life Programs and Services

Connect life to learning on the St. George Campus http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/ 

Writing Centre

The Health Sciences Writing Centre (HSWC) offers individual writing instruction and support to MSW and PhD students in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. You may bring in writing assignments at any stage, and we will help you develop your capacity to plan, research, organize, write and revise your papers, grants, theses, comp papers, dissertations and manuscripts for publication. Visit HSWC’s website to book an appointment online. Appointments are 50 minutes long and are free. You are welcome to make an appointment with any of the instructors.

To better support PhD and MSW students this year, Michael Cournoyea will also be hosting a writing support schedule that is exclusively for Social Work students. This schedule has over 20 appointments per week, including evening appointments. FIFSW students may schedule an appointment via Microsoft Bookings. 

The HSWC is a busy site, so it is advisable to book at least two weeks in advance. If you don’t see an appointment, please use the waiting list on the hswriting.ca site. If your name is on the waiting list, watch your email closely in the 48 hours before you want an appointment. Note that you may book up to one appointment per week, holding a maximum of three appointments at any one time between both the HSWC and FIFSW schedules. As you complete an appointment, you can book another as needed.

Appointments can take one of three forms:

  1. Asynchronous: Upload your assignment guidelines and draft any time before your appointment. You will receive your draft back with written comments. The scheduling system calls this “e-tutoring.”
  2. Online synchronous: You will participate in the session (audio and video) in “real time” with your instructor, so you must be at a computer at the designated time. Follow the instructions on the scheduling site.
  3. In person: Come to room 704 in the Social Work building at your appointment time.

If you can’t access the scheduling sites, you are welcome to write Roz Spafford Roz Spafford (for the hswriting.ca site) or Michael Cournoyea (for the Microsoft Bookings schedule) and we will walk you through it.

We look forward to seeing you and talking about your work!