Volunteer Opportunities & Events: August at LA&PS
August 13, 2026 Issue
With the Fall Term quickly approaching, now is a great time to start preparing for the year ahead. In this month's edition, you’ll find opportunities to connect with your community, discover valuable resources and get involved on campus, helping you start the academic year feeling confident, prepared and ready to make the most of your York experience. 🍂✨
Ask Me Anything: Drop-In Sessions
Have questions about Fall Term enrolment, studying abroad or getting involved on campus? Join us every Tuesday from 9 to 10 a.m. EDT for live support. No registration needed — simply log on and connect with a member of our Global Community & Engagement team.
Learn about studying abroad
Meet Laura Barbosa, our new study abroad coordinator! Laura brings more than six years of experience in international education, supporting and coordinating educational and gender-responsive projects across Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean. She is passionate about travelling, creating meaningful international learning opportunities and helping students make the most of their global experiences.
If you'd like to learn more about our study abroad programs, exchange opportunities, or the application process, Laura would be happy to connect with you. 🌍✨
📍 Visit Laura: Ross Building North, Room N819
📧 Email: laubarb@yorku.ca
Volunteer for 2026 LA&PS Academic Orientation
Be part of one of our biggest and most exciting events of the year. As an Orientation volunteer, you'll play a key role in welcoming new students, building community and helping create an unforgettable start to their university experience.
It's a great opportunity to develop leadership skills, make new connections, gain valuable volunteer experience and show your LA&PS pride. Join our team and help make Orientation 2026 a success!
Volunteer at BPM 2026
Join the team behind one of the world's leading Business Process Management conferences. BPM 2026 will take place at York University in Toronto, Canada, from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2.
Why volunteer?
- Gain valuable event experience
- Network with global researchers and industry leaders
- Earn a half-day of complimentary conference attendance for every full day volunteered
- Put your complimentary attendance toward the Welcome Reception
- Build your professional skills and connections
Your First Lecture
Get a head start on the Fall Term. Experience a university-style lecture, learn practical academic skills and discover campus resources designed to support your success.
- Learn effective note-taking and study strategies
- Explore key campus supports and resources
- Connect with the Peer Support Team
- Take part in a campus scavenger hunt for a chance to win prizes
Open to students who began their studies in Winter 2026 and Summer 2026.
📅 Tuesday, Sept. 8 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Vari Hall C and Vari Hall D (second floor) | Register Here
Questions? Email lapsfye@yorku.ca.
Sociology Lecture Series: Celebrating the Book
The Reality of Knowledge: Towards a Critical Realist Sociology of Knowledge
Join Associate Professor Philip D. Walsh as he discusses his new book, The Reality of Knowledge. Drawing on the history of the discipline, Walsh presents a critical realist rethinking of the sociology of knowledge, exploring topics such as human cognition, universities, objectivity and everyday knowledge, while highlighting its convergence with Norbert Elias’s work.
Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. | Kaneff Tower, Room 519
Sociology Annual Lecture
Pre-Determined Purchasing Power: Governing Algorithmic Price and Wage Discrimination
How do algorithms quietly determine your wages and the prices you pay? Guest speaker Professor Veena Dubal reveals how data-driven systems are reshaping economic life – and entrenching inequality – before transactions even begin.
Thursday, Sept. 24 | 4 – 6 p.m. | Kaneff Tower, Room 519
Reminders
Visit the Writing Centre: The Writing Centre is open over the summer for all your editing needs – essays, assignments, exams and more. Book an appointment online.