The ISESAC provides advice and feedback to staff representatives from the Centre for International Experience (CIE) on the strategic direction, services, physical space, and programming related to international student experience on the U of T St. George campus. Student feedback is invaluable to the development of our programming. If you are an undergraduate or graduate international student at U of T St. George and you would like to contribute your experience and knowledge on international student life to improve our international community, then this opportunity is for you! More details about the committee and its aims can be found on the ISE Student Advisory Committee webpage on the CIE website.

Applications are now open for the 2023-2024 term!

To apply, please fill out the Microsoft Form before April 16th, 10:00 p.m.

Note: You must be a current U of T student to join the committee. Student’s starting in Summer or Fall 2023 are not eligible to join this cohort.

Join us for the gala reception and screening featuring the best films and videos by University of Toronto students and Hart House members. Juried awards will be presented.

The University of Toronto Film Festival was started in 2002 by Hart House Theatre and the Hart House Film Board with a mandate to celebrate and promote U of T’s rich contribution to the arts through its student and alumni filmmakers. The Festival quickly gained popularity with other U of T agencies, student groups and community sponsors.

March 27, 2023 from 7-11 pm. More information on the Hart House Website.

March 8, 3-4:30 pm

This curated conversation uncovers the historical and continuing contributions of women in Hip-Hop.

In celebration of Hip-Hop’s 50th year, we continue to shine an unapologetic light on the myriad contributions of women to the art, culture, and impact of Hip-Hop.

We continue threads of discussion from our 2022 installment, ‘Women in Hip-Hop: Erasure. Trailblazers, and Placemakers’ which took as its starting point Joan Morgan’s seminal work “When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost: A Hip-Hop Feminist Breaks it Down”.  We would struggle to name 3 women jazz guitarists, 2 reggae artists, or countless women producers in Hip-Hop, based on the belief that women are accessories to culture, and not cultural producers themselves. This could not be more backwards. If the origin story of Hip-Hop continues this narrative, how do we interrupt it for all to see clearly, and retrace the steps and contributions of women to its history and evolution?

How can we retrace the origin story of the culture and art from Cindy Campbell’s idea to throw the first ‘jam’, and how many mold-breakers, interrupters, and disruptors need to be known more widely during this monumental anniversary for the culture and art form? What are the major accomplishments by women that have been ignored by media? Who are the cultural custodians keeping the culture alive on their shoulders?

Join us to unpack these and more questions in what is sure to be an enriching and celebratory conversation with giants in the origin story of Hip-Hop.  

Learn more and Register on the Hart House website.

The Black Graduate Student Excellence Bursary (BGSEB)

The application will close on 31 March 2023 at 12pm.

The Black Graduate Student Excellence Bursary (BGSEB) was created by the UTGSU in partnership with the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies (SGS) in September 2020 to provide financial support to help improve fair and equitable access to educational opportunities for Black students in graduate studies at the University of Toronto. It recognizes that talent and excellence thrive in Black communities and that providing fair and equitable access to educational opportunities acknowledges the creativity, leadership capacity and gifted nature of Black students.

A total of fifteen (15) bursaries of $2000 each are available for distribution in the academic year. It aims to provide additional financial support to help offset the costs associated with academic endeavors for domestic and international Black students, completing graduate studies at the University of Toronto. Priority will be given to first-year students commencing graduate studies. The bursary will be offered and held by students in addition to any other financial aid or graduate funding they may receive (OSAP, major awards, or graduate funding).

The Graduate Community Development Fund (GCDF)

The application will close on 21 March 2023 at 12pm. 

The Graduate Community Development Fund (GCDF) was created in partnership with the University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies (SGS) in March 2017 to provide merit-based equity awards recognizing exceptional students on campus for their contributions to the graduate student experience. Ten Awards will be disbursed with each award of $500 each.

Applicants who identify as Internal students, Women and Trans, non-binary, two-spirit students, Black, Indigenous and Students of colour, and students with disabilities will be prioritized for this bursary. 

Women Only Hours: Athletic Centre and Varsity Centre 

Women-identifying students are welcome to drop-in for any of our women only programs. We offer open gym, lane swimming, stick n’ puck, field sports, volleyball and basketball.

Check out uoft.me/women-only for more details and a full schedule with all our offerings.  

Dance for everyBODY: Every Wednesday, February 8 – March 22, 8-9 p.m. @ Goldring Fitness Studio 

Join a weekly drop-in dance class for every-BODY, every mind and every experience level. Express yourself through popping, locking, breaking, house, freestyle and many other hip-hop sub-genres. Simplified and seated demonstrations will be provided. Come and find your groove!  
uoft.me/dance-for-everybody 

Move with Culture: Metis Jigging March 2 from 4-6 p.m. @ Goldring Fitness Studio 

Megan Southwell will teach you Red River jigging, partner dancing, and social (group) dancing all to vibrant live fiddle music from Alicia Blore! Learn something new and register at uoft.me/move-with-culture 

Personal Training with Sport & Rec 

Get access to a coaching team at the forefront of evidence-based practice and cutting-edge research! Maximize your fitness and performance by booking personalized training centred around you and your specific fitness needs, whatever level you are at. 8- and 12-session packages are available for purchase. Learn more at uoft.me/personaltraining. 

Feb 15, 2023 12:00 PM to 05:00 PM
Multi-Faith Centre – Multi-Purpose Room, 569 Spadina Ave

Grief Support (In-person, drop in) – Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
Feb 15th, 12pm – 5pm
Multi-Purpose Room, 2nd Floor

This is a communal space that will be staffed by Yijia, MFC’s Peer Support person and Jeanette, Ecumenical chaplain. Students are welcome to come to talk, reflect/say a prayer, find a moment of silence and solace. You are welcome to drop in any time between 12pm to 5pm and stay for as little or long as you like.

Light refreshments will be available.
Prayer and meditation mats will also be available for those requiring them.

If you are looking for a virtual group session, please see the following:
Virtual Grief Support Group
Mar 7, 2023 03:00 PM to 05:00 PM
https://clnx.utoronto.ca/home/slevents.htm?eventId=48014

Now more than ever, it is important to take care of your mental, physical, and spiritual health! 

Complete five wellness activities before March 10th, 2023, to be eligible to win one of five $50 gift certificates towards the wellness activity of your choice! 

Register on CLNx  

Please register to receive the 2023 list of Wellness activities to help you explore what wellness means to you and share what you have done to inspire others to explore wellness too. When you complete your five wellness activities, fill out this form before March 10th, 2022, to enter. 

For questions about the Winter Wellness Challenge, reach out to Odelia Bempah at odelia.bempah@utoronto.ca.

Have TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook? 
Share your wellness activities on any of these three platforms and tag @uoftstudentlife #winterwellnesschallenge2023 (optional) 

An Intern Join us for a discussion about social entrepreneurship. Want to make an impact?  
  
In celebration of Black History Month, join the Centre for International Experience for an inspiring conversation about social entrepreneurship with U of T alumnus, Christopher Thompson (BA 2012 UTM), Executive Director of the Federation of Black Canadians.  
  
Drawing from his own professional and personal experiences as a Black community leader, Christopher will share insights into what it’s like working in the non-profit sector and being a social entrepreneur.  
  
From empowering Black communities in Canada, to founding his own charity and consulting practice, to supporting capacity building for grassroot organizations, Christopher’s experiences will highlight the impactful opportunities that exist in social entrepreneurship and how you can get involved.  
  
More about Christopher  
  
Christopher Thompson is a passionate leader who has a desire to empower others and give back to the community. He currently serves as the Executive Director of The Federation of Black Canadians, a national non-profit organization that advances the social, economic, political and cultural interests of Canadians of African descent. In 2016, Christopher founded Skills for Life, a local charity in the Peel Region that focuses on life skills development for youth and young adults. He has over 10 years of experience in community engagement and grassroot organization capacity building and founded his own not-for-profit consulting practice, Chris Consulting Group.  
  
Christopher studied Political Science, Sociology, and Crime, Law & Deviance at U of T Mississauga and graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in 2012. He served as the UTM Student Union President, UTM Alumni Association President, and Athletic Association Director. Christopher is a recipient of an Arbor Award for his exceptional and longstanding volunteerism with U of T.  
  
Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023  
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm  
Location: Online (Zoom links will be provided closer to the day of the event)  

** Register on CLNx  

People around the world are reacting with alarm and sadness at the news of devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria that have killed thousands of people and injured many more.

Need help understanding how to access health care on and off campus? Led by faculty and students at the U of T’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, the Discovery Pharmacy offers free virtual or in-person appointments designed to answer international students’ questions about health resources at U of T and beyond.  Prioritize your wellbeing this semester by booking a Health Orientation for International Students appointment.  Discovery Pharmacy is located at 144 College Street (North-West corner of College & University) and just steps from the Queen’s Park subway station. You can book an appointment and learn more about the pharmacy’s services on the Discovery Pharmacy website.