Deans Community Update – November 02, 2020
Dear OISE Community,
I am writing to share some updates and information for OISE students, staff and faculty. Please take a moment to review this message as well as all previous Deans Community Updates and Resources.
UofT Fall Convocation and OISE Virtual Celebration
The University of Toronto has now announced the date of the virtual fall Convocation for all divisions and programs. UofT Virtual Convocation will take place on Saturday, November 21st at 12:00pm and OISE Virtual Convocation Celebration will be hosted on Thursday November 26th at 2:00pm. Registration details for the OISE Celebration will be available shortly on the OISE website.
OISE Black Resistance and Self-Restoration Series
I am excited to announce that in November, OISE will be hosting a series of sessions for the OISE Black community of students and staff. You are invited to join facilitator AinaNia Ayo’dele for a series of sessions on Black Resistance and Self-Restoration. The sessions will address the direct impact of anti-Black racism on Black/People of African Descent, explores ancient African practices and principles for resistance and self-restoration, and offers participants some simple and practical tools to mitigate traumatic impacts of institutional anti-Black racism. These sessions are for OISE students and staff only. Please register online at the following link.
Find out more about these sessions along with a range of additional sessions being hosted on the OISE Wellness website at https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/wellness.
OISE Winter 2021 Tuition Exemption Information
Please note that students whose graduation would normally have been planned for Fall 2020 but who needed an additional semester to complete the requirements of their degree due to significant delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may request to register with tuition exemption on the basis of progress delay due to COVID-19. OISE will be launching the Winter 2021 request to Register with Tuition Exemption in the coming days. For more information please see oise.utoronto.ca/orss/COVID19_Support_to_Students.html.
OISE Graduate Student Supports and Resources
I want to extend a reminder to graduate students that the OISE Registrar and Student Services Office offers a range of excellent support services and resources including:
2 ORSS Online Drop-In - Fall 2020 Schedule
Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday | 12:30 - 1:30 pm
Online Link to ORSS Online Drop-In
Academic Social Club (AcSoc)
Every Thursday | 12-1pm
Join in an open discussion-based session where the topics are determined every week based on participants. Thursday meetings will be via Zoom: AcSoc.
Additional weekly professional and academic development events vary. Full AcSoc schedule and links to events are online.
UofT School of Graduate Studies Hub
The University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies has launched the Graduate Studies Hub offering helpful information and resources for students at this time. Be sure to visit the review the full range of graduate studies information and links online.
Education Commons Update
Over the past year, OISE’s Education Commons went through a community consultation process culminating in the approval of a new strategic plan in the spring. The next step in this process was the development of an organizational structure that would match the strategic directions articulated in the plan. The new structure involves numerous shifts in position roles and responsibilities. Transitioning to this new structure will involve a number of iterative steps, but we expect the new structure to be fully in place in the spring of 2021.
OISE Building Entry Reminder
Last week, you should have received messages directly from UofT as well as from me, regarding the new Campus Building Entry Protocol. All OISE students, faculty and staff must now complete a self-assessment health check screening before coming on campus. The university’s self-assessment tool, UCheck, is available at ucheck.utoronto.ca. Please be sure to review all details found at OISE Building Entry Protocol.
Take care,
Glen A. Jones, Ph.D.
Professor and Dean