This Week @ York for Week of Sept 8
Here’s your timely & targeted compilation of key events, noteworthy news and important dates for the remainder of the week.
Note: any information related to changes due to COVID-19 found in this newsletter has already been communicated to the community and can be found at York’s YU Better Together website. All this information is accurate at the newsletter’s time of publication.
If you don’t have time to read This Week @ York, or would like to refer to it again, every edition can be found on the This Week @ York Archive web page.
Here are some important items to keep in mind this week.
| 1 | Message from Vice-Provost, Students Lucy Fromowitz about fall term. “I am excited to get started despite how different this year is from any other. I want to help you have a smooth and successful transition to this academic year and let you know about some services and resources available to you.” Read the full message here. (en Français) |
| 2 | Navigate 2020. Whether you are in the Greater Toronto & Hamilton Area, the rest of Canada or overseas, we want you to feel a sense of belonging and that you have the necessary support for your journey. There are a host of programs and services available to support your academic and professional success, to support your well-being and personal development, and to help you build and find your community in York. Look through the Navigate 2020 website for more information about resources available to you. |
| 3 | York U Virtual Orientation 2020. York offers a wide variety of Orientation programming, all online in 2020, for all new and incoming students. It is a great way to meet new people, discover campus resources and learn about your degree while you transition into university. The Fall 2020 Virtual Service Fair is this afternoon, Tuesday, September 8, 1 to 4 p.m.
The Centre for Student Community & Leadership Development (SCLD) is here to help you get the most out of your university experience. They offer an array of tools, guidance, programs and workshops to ensure your growth and engagement in student life. You'll find everything from first year orientation programming, nutrition, health and wellness to community building, leadership and learning skills. |
| 4 | All-Community Virtual Town Hall. Join President Rhonda Lenton and other York senior leaders at this all-community Virtual Town Hall. The panel will answer questions from students, staff, instructors and faculty concerning the upcoming months. Submit your questions in advance using this Virtual Town Hall question submission form. Monday, September 21, 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. |
| 5 | Announcement about Moodle/eClass. Effective September 1, your primary course platform, Moodle (for Keele Campus students), has been renamed eClass. eClass has all the same features as Moodle, with some enhancements including improved graphics, functionality, reliability, and an improved interface. Continuing students do not have to learn a new system. |
| 6 | ACMAPS Event Schedule. Are you a mature student at York? Are you interested in meditation or attending a casual, drop-in café hour to meet other mature students or a mature student peer mentor? Check the schedule at the link above and attend any session you wish, via Zoom. |
| 7 | Student Financial Services (SFS) Workshop: Money for YU: Financing Your Academic Year. Whether you are a first-year student or continuing student, domestic or international, York is committed to supporting you financially so you can focus on your academic goals and maximize your funding. Join the Student Financial Services team for this one-hour live session, where you will learn how to access various financial resources available to you and other possible sources of funding that you may not have previously explored! Friday, September 11, 10 to 11 a.m.
If you can't make the event or if you are looking for assistance with your OSAP application, check out #YUBlog’s “Understanding OSAP” series. This two-part series is aimed at helping you understand the OSAP application process and receiving your funding. |
| 8 | Career Centre services are available online! The Career Lounge remains open daily online and Career Peer Educators will be on Zoom during dedicated Lounge hours. One-to-one appointments are available over the phone or Skype as well. The Career Centre website also has online resources and tools to help you with your job search and career questions. |
| 9 | Apply to become a York International Global Ambassador! If you have studied, worked or volunteered abroad during your studies, you know how transformative education abroad experiences can be and how much they contribute to academic and career development. As a global ambassador, you will promote the value of an international experience to fellow York students by participating in info sessions, social media engagement, and much more. Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 9.
York International’s daily Virtual Coffee Breaks are an online space for international and domestic students from across programs, Faculties, countries and cultures to connect and get to know each other! Student Leaders are on Zoom every weekday with different fun and interesting topics. When you sign up, a confirmation email with the zoom link will be sent to you upon registration. View the York International Events Calendar for the full Virtual Coffee Break weekly schedule. |
| 10 | Student Accessibility Services continues to meet with students virtually! Students already registered with Student Accessibility Services can connect with their Accessibility Counsellor by email or via sasinfo@yorku.ca. Check out the new Student Accessibility Services Moodle site, which is full of supports and resources to support you in your studies in a remote environment!
Interested in registering with Student Accessibility Services? Visit the New Students page on the SAS website. |
| 11 | Student Counselling & Development is continuing to offer individual remote single-session counselling and telephone support at 416-736-5297, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They have also provided a suite of COVID-19 mental health resources to help you prioritize your mental health and wellbeing and access additional community supports.
Glendon Campus students can access individual counselling through Glendon’s Accessibility, Well-Being and Counselling. |
| 12 | Finally, stay tuned for a big announcement about the Student Virtual Assistant later this week! |
WORTH REPEATING
How York plans to keep students on campus safe this fall. “While the majority of our community will be working and studying from home this fall, there are some important activities that will require a phased return to campus, such as ongoing research and a limited number of in-person courses. The gradual reopening of our campuses will continue to be guided by public health guidelines and the government. Our priority is keeping you safe. Unless have been approved for select in-person activities (e.g. in-person courses, residence) in the Fall term, you do not need to come to campus.”
Progress Update: Addressing anti-Black Racism at York. “We have undertaken a series of consultations with students, faculty, instructors, staff and other community leaders at York on anti-Black racism and to identify ways to address systemic barriers within the institution. We are grateful to the community members who have taken the time to share their experiences and thoughts with us.” Read the full message here.
Independent review of the culture in York's Athletics & Recreation varsity teams initiated. York University will always seek to promote an atmosphere of civility, diversity, equity, and respect in our interactions with others, either on or off campus. In response to concerns raised regarding the culture of our Athletics & Recreation varsity teams, York is launching an independent, third party review to explore the culture within York's athletic programs through the lens of the student-athlete’s experiences, and review York Athletics & Recreations’ policies. The review, commissioned by the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion, on behalf of the Vice Provost, Students, has engaged Ethical Associates to lead the review. Anyone who would like to participate is invited to please contact: share@yorkathleticsreview.com. The review will begin immediately. Read the full message here.
The Creation of York’s new Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change. “I am very pleased to be able to announce the formal creation of the new Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change (EUC) which brings together the expertise housed in the Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES) and the department of Geography in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. This new Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change is believed to be the first faculty of its kind in the world to bring together a critical mass of physical geographers, ecologists, social scientists, humanities researchers and artists whose innovative, world-renowned research addresses natural, built and social spaces from a global perspective.” Read the full message here.