Your first year of university is an exciting time, complete with new experiences and new opportunities.  You are invited explore some of those opportunities by attending one or all of these free events designed to help you meet other new students, learn about U of T, build academic skills, and get involved in campus life.

Kickstart has been developed for students who are looking for an alternative to their college or faculty orientation, are unable to attend their full orientation, or would just like to explore more of what is available to them at the University of Toronto.  Check out the offerings below and register online for whatever interests you.

 

Registration is now open for Kickstart. Before registering, please read about the events below and record which events you would like to attend. Once you're ready, head over to the registration page.

 

Wednesday, September 7

How to Love Your Lectures: The Life Sciences Version
2:00pm to 4:15pm in Room 3163 of the Medical Sciences Building (1 King's College Circle)
Want to know what your classes will be like before they actually begin?  Learn some valuable note-taking techniques from our experts and then put your skills to good use as one of U of T’s finest professors in the life sciences gives you a taste of what to expect once classes start.  Make your first lecture fun and stress-free!

 

Thursday, September 8

How to Love Your Lectures: The Humanities Version
10:00am to 12:15pm in Room 2135 of Sidney Smith Hall (100 St. George Street)
Want to get a head start on your academic experience?  Learn some valuable note-taking techniques from our experts and then put your skills into practice as one of U of T’s top-rated professors in the Humanities gives you a taste of what to expect once classes start.  Make your first lecture fun and stress-free!

How to Love Your Lectures: The Social Sciences Version
2:00pm to 4:15pm in Room 2135 of Sidney Smith Hall (100 St. George Street)
Wondering what your first day of classes will be like?  Come learn some valuable note-taking techniques from our experts and then put your skills into practice as one of U of T’s top-rated professors in the Social Sciences gives you a taste of what to expect once classes start.  Make your first lecture fun and stress-free!

Let’s Get Spiritual: Exploring the Multi-Faith Centre
4:00pm to 5:30pm in the Koffler House Main Activity Hall (569 Spadina Avenue)
Regardless of your denomination, spiritual tradition, or how you make meaning, the Multi-Faith Centre has something for you. Come explore this amazing space and get acquainted with the many programs and services it has to offer.  Meditation, prayer, and yoga are just a few of the activities you’ll discover here.  You'll also find social justice, arts, and dialogue opportunities to build bridges and honour differences.

Friday, September 9

Gearing Up: Resources for Academic Success
Session Full
(First of two offerings)
10:00am to 12:00pm in the East Common Room of Hart House (7 Hart House Circle)
Learn what you can do to give yourself the best start to your academic career at U of T. Gain useful tips on how to manage your time, and how to avoid the pitfalls of procrastination before it gets the best of you and your grades.

Monday, September 12

Get Involved: Becoming a Leader at U of T
Session Full
(First of two offerings)
1:00pm to 2:45pm in the East Common Room of Hart House (7 Hart House Circle)
Looking to get involved, but don’t know where to start, or even why getting involved is important? Discover a new way to think about leadership development and community service, and find opportunities on and off campus. Join us and learn how getting involved will help you get the most from your university experience.

Hart House is Our House: A Tour of Hart House
Session Full
3:15pm to 5:00pm
Departing from Soldiers' Tower (the Hart House clock tower) at 3:30pm sharp (7 Hart House Circle)
Want to know where on campus you can get involved, exercise, be creative, relax, meet other students, and so much more? The answer is Hart House, and it’s a building you’ll want to get to know soon after you arrive at U of T! Join us on this tour to get the details on how Hart House can help you explore your passions.

Tuesday, September 13

Gearing Up: Resources for Academic Success
Session Full
(Second of two offerings)
10:00am to 12:00pm in the East Common Room of Hart House (7 Hart House Circle)
Learn what you can do to give yourself the best start to your academic career at U of T.  Gain useful tips on how to manage your time, and how to avoid the pitfalls of procrastination before it gets the best of you and your grades.

Wednesday, September 14

Get Involved: Becoming a Leader at U of T
Session Full
(Second of two offerings)
10:00am to 12:00pm in the Main Activity Hall of the Multi-Faith Centre (569 Spadina Avenue)
Looking to get involved, but don’t know where to start, or even why getting involved is important? Discover a new way to think about leadership development and community service, and find opportunities on and off campus.  Join us and learn how getting involved will help you get the most from your university experience.

Mindfulness Meditation
Session Full
(First of two offerings)
1:30pm to 3:00pm in Main Activity Hall of the Multi-Faith Centre (569 Spadina Avenue)
Mindfulness meditation is about being aware in the present moment. We spend a lot of time thinking about the past or worrying about the future and this distracts us from what we want to do in the moment. It also stresses us out! In this introductory session you will learn how mindfulness can reduce stress, improve concentration and promote a healthier state of mind.

The Career Centre and You
Session Full
3:30pm to 5:00pm in the Koffler Student Services Centre, meet at the Front Desk (214 College Street)
Don’t wait until fourth year to check out this incredibly helpful resource! Get the low-down on how the Career Centre can help you prepare for interviews, write a resume and, of course, find a job.

 

Thursday, September 15

The Essentials
Session Full
(Second of two offerings)
10:00am to 12:00pm in the East Common Room of Hart House (7 Hart House Circle)
This session will be your guide to the need-to-know details of attending the University of Toronto. All of your questions about academic expectations, student support services, involvement opportunities, and more will be answered while you meet new people, make new friends, and indulge in some tasty snackables.

Words of Wisdom: Upper-Year Panel
2:30pm to 5:00pm in the East Common Room of Hart House (7 Hart House Circle)
You did it! Come out and celebrate surviving your first university classes with other students who understand your experience. Join us at this informal event where third and fourth year students will be available to share some words of advice, answer your questions, and allay any lingering fears you may have about embarking on your journey at U of T.

 

Friday, September 16

Mindfulness Meditation
(Second of two offerings)
1:00pm to 2:30pm in the Main Activity Hall of the Multi-Faith Centre (569 Spadina Avenue)
Mindfulness meditation is about being aware in the present moment. We spend a lot of time thinking about the past or worrying about the future and this distracts us from what we want to do in the moment. It also stresses us out! In this introductory session you will learn how mindfulness can reduce stress, improve concentration and promote a healthier state of mind.

 

Race-At-Your-Own-Pace Challenge

Have some time in between these mock lectures, workshops, and tours? Want to discover the places on campus the upper years wish they’d known about in their first year? The Race-At-Your-Own-Pace Challenge will take you to locations on campus that you’ll want to know about once classes begin. Each location will have a mini-challenge that will teach you a useful skill or introduce you to a helpful resource. The more mini-challenges you complete, the more ballots you’ll earn in our grand prize draw for a $100 gift card to the U of T Bookstore! There are also other U of T Bookstore prizes to be won.

The Race-At-Your-Own-Pace Challenge will be running throughout Kickstart, from September 6 to 16 so set your own pace, familiarize yourself with useful locations on campus, and win!

You can pick up your clue sheet from the Career Centre Front Desk, located on the main floor of the Koffler Student Services Centre at 214 College Street. Completed clue sheets and ballots can be dropped off at the Career Centre Front Desk. All clue sheets and ballots must be submitted by 3:00pm on Friday, September 16 to be eligible for the draw. Draw winners will be contacted by e-mail.

 

Additional Opportunities

Aside from your college or divisional orientation and Kickstart, there are a number of other programs and events out there to help you transition into your first year at the University of Toronto.  Here are some of the additional opportunities that are available to you:

Academic Mini-Courses
August 23 to August 25
Improve your academic skills by attending these mini-courses designed to introduce you to the expectations of first-year university courses.  There is also an informal discussion about navigating the University, held on August 24.  For more information and to register, please visit the Academic Success Centre website.

Moving Forward Transition Program
August 29 to September 2
Students with learning disabilities and ADHD can participate in these workshops to help develop skills to achieve their goals and learn what is expected of them at a university level. For full details and to register, please visit the Accessibility Services website.

New International Student Orientation
August 29 to September 9
Newly-arrived international students should make the Centre for International Experience their first stop. This year's orientation features a daily morning tea, informative workshops, and evening walking tours of Toronto's cultural neighbourhoods.  For more information, please visit the Centre for International Experience website.

University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU) Orientation Days
September 7 & 9
The UTSU Clubs Fair takes place on Wednesday, September 7, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, on Hart House Circle. This is your opportunity to learn about and get involved with any of the more than 300 campus groups and organizations with representatives in attendance. The Orientation Parade, the concert and the after-party will be held on Friday, September 9, starting in the afternoon and going late into the night. For more information, visit the UTSU website.

Orientation for Student Parents
The Family Care Office help navigate the challenges of balancing family responsibilities with education and/or work. This workshop will teach you about the services and resources available to student parents on campus, provide advice from current students on how to adjust to the University, and help you start creating your support networks now by making new friends and meeting University staff. For more information and to register, please visit the Family Care Office website.

Programs for LGBTQ Students and Allies
During Orientation Week, there are two social events for LGBTQ students and their allies, providing an opportunity to connect with the on-campus community.  There is an LGBTQ Reception at Victoria College on Wednesday, September 6 and Chill Factor at University College on Thursday, September 7.

Queer Orientation, a series of events that bring together the LGBTQ community from all three campuses, runs from September 18 to 24.  With events ranging from social mixers to informative workshops to dance classes, this week-long orientation program promises something for everyone!

 

Contact Us

Do you have questions about Kickstart or any of its events?  Feel free to contact us by e-mail, phone, or by dropping into the Office of Student Life - we're happy to help!

E-mail: kickstart@utoronto.ca
Phone: 416-978-6907

Office of Student Life
214 College Street, Main Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5T 2Z9