Gradschool e-News: October 2010

Gradschool e-News: October 2010


In Focus: Eric Wan

Eric Wan, a Master's student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, puts his passion and skill to work at the Bloorview Research Institute developing software and devices with a focus of improving the quality of life of children and youth with disabilities and special needs. Eric learned the basic programming languages at age eight.

Read more



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Important Dates

• October 6
Final date to add fall or full-year courses

• October 11
Thanksgiving Day; University closed

• November 1
Deadline to change immigration status or to claim exemption from international student fees for the September session

• November 3
Final date to drop September session full-year or half courses without academic penalty



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SGS Student Services
63 St. George Street

Hours of operation
Monday to Friday
10:00am to 4:00pm




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Student Services web pages new look and content
SGS is pleased to announce that the Student Services web pages have been updated to improve the user experience and navigation of the site. The new thematic categories such as "Forms & Registrarial Services" and "Understanding Policy" etc. should make it easier to find the information you want when you need it.

Course enrolment deadline: October 6
The final date to add a September session or full-year course is October 6. To add a course after the deadline you will need written permission of the course lecturer, written permission of your graduate coordinator, and SGS approval.

The deadline to drop a September session or full-year course, without academic penalty, is November 3. See Student Fees for the applicable refund schedule, if any. Use the Add/Drop Course form available on the Student Services web page to add or drop courses.

Graduate-only transcript option
As of fall 2010 graduate students now have the option to select the graduate portion only of their academic record to be displayed on their transcript. The format of the consolidated transcript will remain but the sessional registration and course detail from undergraduate divisions would be suppressed. The full undergraduate/graduate transcript remains the default when ordering a transcript, but you may now request the Graduate Only Transcript option via the Student Web Service (SWS).

Hang on to your SGS Calendar
Hang on to the SGS Calendar you received when you were first admitted as a new graduate student. Your program requirements are found in the Calendar of the year you were admitted. Degree program requirements do change from time to time but the requirements at the time of your admission remain in effect unless the new requirements are more advantageous to the student. The current SGS Calendar is available on the SGS homepage.

Graduating in November 2010?
Fall 2010 Convocation ceremonies will be held in Convocation Hall from November 8 - 12, 2010. Confirming your attendance at convocation is a simple two step process. First you need to arrange for Gown and Hood Rental. Rentals start October 14 and end October 27. The next step is to RSVP and place a guest ticket order via Student Web Service (ROSI) between from October 18 and October 27. Please visit the Preparing for Graduation portion of the website to ensure that you have completed all of the steps necessary for a successful ceremony.

Immigrant status change - fees impact
If your status in Canada changes during the fall session you may be eligible for domestic fees. To qualify you must report your status change and present supporting documents at the SGS information desk, 63 St. George St. prior to November 1, for an adjustment to fall session fees. See Money Matters/Graduate Fees on the SGS Student Services website for details.

2011 Awards of Excellence
The U of T Alumni Association (UTAA) is pleased to welcome nominations for the 2011 Awards of Excellence as of October 1, 2010. This program consists of nine awards and celebrates students, faculty and staff who have contributed, through their outstanding academic and/or extracurricular involvement, to the University's vision of becoming a leader among the world's best public universities. Additional award information, including nomination and application forms, may be found on the UTAA website.

Women in Engineering Scholarships
Women in Canada who are pursuing engineering studies are eligible to apply for the Women in Engineering Scholarships offered by the Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation. The application deadline is January 14, 2011. The Master's Scholarship in is valued at $10,000 while the Doctoral Scholarship is valued at $15,000.

Master's tuition fee bursary
Tuition fee bursaries are available to eligible master's students who still have a small amount of work outstanding. To qualify, students must have been registered full-time from the beginning of their program and the minimum period of registration for degree completion will have ended by or before either August or December of the current year. Students receiving tuition fee bursaries are not eligible for fellowships, scholarships or other awards. The bursary essentially allows the recipient to pay the part-time fee for one term. See Completion Grants and Emergency Funding.

Get ready to vote: municipal election day is October 25
If you are a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years old, get ready to vote in the upcoming municipal election, happening in every city in Ontario on Monday, October 25. For those of you living in the City of Toronto (including students in residence), you can find out if you are eligible to vote at the City of Toronto's elections website. Can't vote on Election Day? You can vote eight other days. Check out when and where. Make sure you are on the Voter's List as it makes voting fast and easy. Find out how to get on the list. U of T has lots of events to help you make your decision: check out Hart House, and the Cities Centre. Voter information for those of you living in Mississauga can be found on the City of Mississauga's official 2010 municipal election website.

Win up to $1000 in U of T Video Competition!
U of T is full of stories - what's yours? Did you find your life's passion? Figure out how to change the world? Discover the best place on campus to relax? We want to know what makes U of T special to you. Be quirky, honest, ingenious, sarcastic, authentic - capture your student story in a short video and you could win up to $1000 cash! No special talent is needed - just a good story. The contest closes on October 12, 2010 at 5:00pm. Visit www.studentvideo.utoronto.ca for details.

U of T's human-powered ornithopter becomes first ever to achieve sustained flight
Aviation history was made when the University of Toronto's human-powered aircraft with flapping wings became the first of its kind to fly continuously.

Run for the Cure comes to campus
This year's Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure will take place the St. George and Mississauga Campuses on Sunday, October 3. Sign-up today to help raise funds for breast cancer research and help U of T win the University Challenge. Don't want to run? Organizers are also looking for volunteers to help out on the day.

Grad Escapes - ghosts and goals
Grad Escapes ushers in fall with two great events this October - Toronto FC soccer and The Haunted Streets of Downtown Toronto ghost tour. Come out and support the Toronto FC as they take on Panama on October 19. Tickets are $20 each and will be sold at the Office of Student Life, 214 College Street, from October 12-15. If urban legends and ghost stories are more up your alley, explore Toronto's haunted streets on the ghost tour on October 26. Tickets go on sale October 18-22 at the GSU buliding, 16 Bancroft Avenue. $10 per person. All events have a 2 tickets per student limit, cash only please.

Bibliomania!
Get ready for Toronto's book buying event of the year! Thousands of books covering every subject imaginable will be available at very low prices at the annual University of Toronto Book Sales.
University College Book Sale
Trinity College Book Sale
St. Michael's College Book Sale

Build on your strengths
You had the stuff to make it this far. Now it's time to build on those strengths. Throughout October, Health and Wellness, in partnership with programs and services across the St. George campus, will be dedicated to raising awareness around positive mental health. Check the Health and Wellness website for information about services, events, opportunities, and workshops being offered on the St. George campus in support of student wellness and academic success.

SGS financial counselling service
SGS Financial Counsellors are trained to assist students in all aspects of financial management including planning a budget and debt load management. Don't let financial problems get out of control. Financial counselling can help relieve stress, resolve immediate financial problems and help you plan for the future. For more information or to schedule an appointment call the Graduate Awards Office (GAO) at 416-978-0808 or visit the Funding Resources page of the SGS website.

English Language Writing and Support
Online registration for October courses offered by the Office of English Language Writing Support (ELWS) opens Tuesday, October 12 at 10:00am. Courses fill quickly, so register on October 12. One-on-one writing consultations are also available but must be booked in advance. ELWS also offers free workshops which continue through October - no registration is required.

Enhance your library research skills
Free workshops are offered for graduate students by the University of Toronto Libraries. Register ahead because workshops fill quickly. Visit the Library Workshops page of the U of T Libraries website for a complete listing of workshop offerings.



Distributed on Thursday, September 30, 2010 | ©2010 University of Toronto