Orientation for Students with Family Responsibilities

Date: Friday, September 22, 2023
Time: 10:00 am– 12:00 pm
Location: The Zoom link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The Family Care Office invites incoming and current students with family responsibilities to Orientation 2023!

Being a student while caring for family members can be a uniquely challenging and rewarding experience. Whether you are juggling being a student while also being a parent and/or caring for parents, siblings, or other loved ones, the Family Care Office (FCO) is here to support you. The Family Care Office Orientation for Students with Family Responsibilities offers helpful suggestions for navigating academic studies while also balancing family life and connects you to university supports and resources.


Agenda

10:00 – 10:15 Opening Remarks & FCO Overview

10:15 – 10:40 Peer Mentor Program & Supports for Students

10:40 – 11:10 Students with Family Responsibilities Panel

11:10 – 11:15 Break 

11:15 – 11:45 Breakout Rooms 

11:45 – 11:55 Academic Success Centre

11:55 – 12:00 Closing Remarks


Also, the Family Care Office is hosting Student Family Socials on each of the three campuses in September.  Check out our event listing for additional details.

Registration required. Both incoming and returning students are encouraged to attend the FCO Orientation.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office by Thursday, September 14.

Orientation for Students with Family Responsibilities 2022 – Student Panel & Family Event

Date: This event, originally scheduled for September 24, has been postponed. Please check our website for the new date.
Time: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location:  The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join us for an opportunity to discover strategies and insights from current students with family responsibilities on how to adjust to university life. We will have a panel of three students who will talk about their experiences of being a student with family responsibilities.

After the panel, musician Michelle Rumball will lead our families in a child-friendly musical activity.  This event will allow families an opportunity to meet each other virtually, as well as experience an example of the great family-friendly activities our office provides.  Children of all ages are invited, but the activity will be geared towards children under eight years old.

Registration required. All incoming & returning U of T students with family responsibilities are welcome.  Register by emailing your name, names and ages of your children if applicable to family.care@utoronto.ca

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office by Thursday, September 15 and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Orientation for Students with Family Responsibilities 2022

Date: Friday, September 23, 2022
Time: 10:00 am– 12:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The Family Care Office invites incoming and current students with family responsibilities to Orientation 2022!
Start building your support networks and learn how to be proactive and prepared so you can successfully navigate your degree while caring for others:

  • Meet university staff
  • Learn about services and resources on campus

Registration required. All incoming & returning U of T students with family responsibilities are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office by Thursday, September 15  and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Online Storytime with U of T Libraries

Date: April 12-16, 2021 (all week from Monday to Friday)
Time: 11:00 – 11:30 am
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session’s initial start date.

Join an online storytime with U of T librarians, who will be reading from their favourite picture books.

Does your child want to showcase some of their amazing artwork? Email storytime@library.utoronto.ca with a photo of their creations for chance to have it displayed during the storytime session.
Multiple photos/pieces accepted. Please let us know in the email if you plan on attending on a particular day(s), so we can be sure your little artist gets to see their work on display!

Recommended for ages 3-8 years (but all are welcome!)

Registration required. Children of University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, and their partners are welcome to attend.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Orientation 2020 Session: Life Beyond the Classroom + Social

Date: Friday, October 9th, 2020
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Join us for a presentation by the Co-Curricular Record and Graduate Skills Professional Program to learn more about life beyond the classroom at U of T.

This session will include a Social, following the presentation portion of the session to network and ask additional questions.

A Family Care Office staff member will be available to answer any general questions

Facilitators: Co-Curricular Record (CCR) representative – Rose Lin; Graduate Skills Professional Program (GPS) Representative – Liam O’Leary

Registration required. All incoming & returning U of T students with family responsibilities are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Orientation 2020 Session: Undergraduate Students – Academic and Financial Supports + Social

Date: Friday, September 18th, 2020
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Learn about the academic and financial supports available to you as an undergraduate student with the University of Toronto.

This session will include a Social, following the presentation portion of the session to network and ask additional questions.

Facilitator: Barbara Muniz, Woodsworth College

Registration required. All incoming & returning U of T students with family responsibilities are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Online Chat for Prospective and Current Student Families

Dates:

  • Friday, January 24, 2020, 10:00 – 11:00 am

Location: Online (link will be emailed)

Get the information you need from the comfort of your own computer/phone. A Family Care Advisor will be available to chat and answer questions on:

  • Child care & child care subsidies
  • Schools
  • Children’s programs
  • Balancing study and family (and work too, if that is your case)
  • How to get connected with a peer mentor
  • Other issues that student parents have to deal with

All prospective, new, current U of T student parents and their partner/spouse are welcome, registration required.

Overwhelmed to Overjoyed (U of T Scarborough)

Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, Room IC318

Have you ever felt that there is too much going on? Between work, school, commute, family, (insert your issue here), you can’t find time to breathe? You are not alone! If you have ever wanted to alleviate the constant stress and take control of how you respond, come join us at Overwhelm to Overjoyed. During this 90-minute workshop, you will discover the 4 simple keys to managing stress in healthy ways.

Facilitator Bio: Tara Rhodes is a certified life and leadership coach, dedicated to helping people gain clarity on the life they want to live, and developing the healthy habits to make it a reality. S he firmly believes that life is too short to live a life which makes you unhappy. A wife and mom to two boys, she actively practices what she preaches to maintain a healthy balance and presence in every day.

Registration required. All University of Toronto students, staff, faculty and their partners are welcome. Please let us know if you have any mobility challenges so we can accommodate your needs.

Orientation to the Athletic Centre for Students with Family Responsibilities

Come join other students with family responsibilities and receive a tour and orientation to the Athletic Centre and its programming. Find out about their classes and drop-in programs and how to use their facilities such as their gymnasia, pools , strength and conditioning centre, indoor track, dance studio, cardio machines, and squash courts. You will also learn about the Family Programs, Camp U of T, and Junior Blues. There really is something for everybody!

Orientation for Student Parents

Vegetarian Lunch Available.

The Family Care Office invites incoming and current student parents to Orientation 2013. Please join us to learn about the services and resources available to student parents on campus, get advice from our student mentors on how to adjust to the University, and start creating your support networks by making new friends and meeting University staff.

12:00 pm – 12:15 pm: Welcome, Lunch, and Networking with Mentors.
12:15 pm – 12:30 pm: An overview of University services.
12:30 pm – 12:45 pm: “How S/he does it?” project launch. Find out key learning strategies of highly successful student parents.
12:45 pm – 01:15 pm: Panel Discussion: How student parents manage their family life, school and work at the U of T.
01:15 pm – 01:30 pm: Informal Q & A with students & University staff.
01:30 pm: Campus tour showcasing family friendly spaces on the St. George campus.