Marks for F courses

Final marks for F section code courses are becoming available on the Student Web Service. If your grades haven't appeared yet, be patient and keep checking. Remember that exams must be marked and final marks approved before they can be posted on ROSI.

Waiting lists for S courses

Remember that since the last day that you can join a waiting list or be enrolled into a course from a waiting list January 16 for S section code courses, you should log on to ROSI on January 17 and list your courses to see if you were enrolled in anything through the waiting list process.

Religious accommodation during April exams

The Final Exam Period in April begins at 9:00am on Tuesday, April 12 and concludes at 5:00pm on Friday, April 29. There are no exams Friday, April 22 and Monday, April 25, as the University is closed on those dates. U of T has a policy to arrange reasonable accommodation for students who observe religious holy days that aren't already accommodated by ordinary scheduling and statutory holidays. To minimize potential conflicts with periods of religious observance, it would be helpful if affected students could notify the Faculty Registrar's Office as soon as possible so that this may be considered in the exam scheduling process. If you expect that you will need accommodation on any day of the exam period, please email your name, student number, and the times of obligatory absence to ask@artsci.utoronto.ca, ideally by January 14.

Absence declaration

If you have missed classes because of illness or other reasons beyond your control, and the absence affects your course mark in some way, make sure you use the ROSI Absence Declaration. Log on to ROSI and record the entire sequence of days you were absent, not just the date of the class where your mark was affected.

You must still contact your instructor in a timely manner and follow what the instructor requires regarding absences. Instructors may require additional documentation, such as the U of T Medical Certificate (or Registrar's Letter), but students should always record their absences on ROSI, and should present the instructor with the printed confirmation if requested. You are responsible for making up any work missed during your absence.

Updates and weather closures

Remember that you can call 416-978-SNOW or check the U of T home page for information on inclement weather that may affect classes and university services. These are the only official sources about snow closures.

2011 summer courses

The summer session is a great time to pick up courses that you may have missed this fall/winter or courses that you may need or want to take before next September. The Faculty of Arts & Science has one of the largest summer programs in Canada. The tentative 2011 summer timetable is now available, and the final version will be available in late March.

June graduation

Planning to graduate in June 2011? It's a good idea to re-check your degree and program requirements now. This will prevent any nasty surprises in future. Be sure to print off the current version of your academic record from ROSI rather than relying on memory or earlier versions so you are sure of what will be assessed. If you have questions about your degree requirements, contact your college registrar's office; for program requirements, contact your department or program sponsor.

Second term OSAP

Please note that if you are expecting a second-term OSAP disbursement, your documents may now be available in your college registrar's office.

Dean's Student Initiatives Fund

The application deadline for the winter competition of the Faculty of Arts & Science Dean's Student Initiatives Fund is February 1. This fund was established to provide financial support for undergraduate or graduate student initiatives that aspire to create dialogue and foster a greater sense of community.

Scholarships with March 15 deadlines

The Faculty of Arts & Science Student Awards Committee will begin accepting applications for a number of in-course scholarships in mid-January. The application deadline is March 15. Full details of criteria, value and application instructions are available on the Arts & Science web site for current students.

Physicists create supernova in a jar

A team of physicists from the University of Toronto and Rutgers University have mimicked the explosion of a supernova in miniature.

Nine Internationalized Course Modules announced for 2010-11

The Faculty of Arts & Science this year is funding nine Internationalized Course Modules (ICM) of the 15 proposals received. The ICM program enables instructors to enrich existing courses by taking groups of students abroad to experience first-hand the phenomena, cultures, key events or unique natural settings studied in class.

Psychologists link profitable law firms with college yearbook photos of managing partners

Psychologists at the University of Toronto and Tufts University have shown that law firms are more profitable when led by managing partners with powerful looking faces. Further, an individual's career success can be predicted as much as 30 to 40 years earlier simply by looking at their face.

Computer scientist wins 2010 Steacie Prize

Computer scientist Aaron Hertzmann has been awarded the 2010 Steacie Prize, one of Canada's most prestigious honours for rising stars in science and engineering, for his work in linking research in the areas of computer graphics, machine learning and computer vision. This is the second consecutive year that a U of T scientist has won the prize, and only the second computer scientist to receive the award since its inception in 1964. See the video "Optimizing Walking Controllers for Uncertain Inputs and Environments" for an example of Aaron's work.

Get your nomination in for an Outstanding Teaching Award

There is still time to get a nomination in for an Outstanding Teaching Award if you know of a particularly deserving teacher in Arts & Science. The deadline is Friday, January 21.

Can you make a film in 74 hours? Hart House Film Challenge

Enter the Hart House Film Challenge and make a film over the weekend! Participants receive an email every Friday morning at 10:00am indicating a theme or genre and a word, phrase or prop that must be incorporated into the film. Films must be under 5 minutes in length, and must be submitted by noon on the following Monday. At the end of each month, all eligible participants will be entered into a prize-draw. All entries will also be eligible for the U of T Film Festival.

Student nominations for Governing Council

Have you ever considered standing for election to the Governing Council as a student member? Nominations for student seats on Governing Council are now being accepted until January 21. Nomination forms are available on the Governing Council website.

Make your voice heard

Over the next three months the University will be asking for your feedback through a series of focus groups and surveys. At the end of January, first and fourth year students will receive an invitation to participate in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). U of T uses the results of this survey to set priorities and enhance the student experience. When you receive the survey invitation by email, please respond promptly and honestly.

In addition to the NSSE survey, a number of focus groups are being held. One series will assess the publication Intuit: Your Guide to Student Life at the University of Toronto and another will ask for feedback from students on their classroom learning experiences.For more information and to register for these focus groups, visit U of T is Listening.

What are you doing this Reading Week?

Make a difference and gain valuable leadership skills by participating in Alternative Reading Week Days of Service. Join hundreds of other students to help the community of Mount Dennis in this community service-learning program.

The Sussex Network

You're invited to explore the Sussex Clubhouse at the annual Sussex Club Crawl! This open house event is your chance to interact with over 50 campus groups, enjoy some free food, and maybe even win a prize. Thursday, January 27, 3:00pm - 6:00pm, 21 Sussex Avenue.

For detailed listings of events and opportunities for students, be sure to check out Ulife at www.ulife.utoronto.ca. What are you doing after class?

Build your own legacy with the First in the Family Mentoring Program

Are you the first in your family to pursue post-secondary education? The First in the Family Mentoring Program provides an intimate learning community to connect with an upper-year peer mentor, learn academic skills, engage in U of T's vibrant student life and access bursaries and other financial support for first-generation students. Visit firstgen.utoronto.ca and join today!

What are you doing after you graduate?

The Career Centre can introduce you to a career action plan, show you the steps involved and connect you with services that will support you through the process. Register for the Mastering On-campus Recruitment workshop on the Career Centre website.

Advance your English for academic success

English Language Learning will offer a new series of 5 Communication Cafés starting on January 11, 2011. Join other students to work on academic English and improve speaking skills. Learn about logical argument, practice pronunciation, and gain confidence in your speech. No registration is necessary, sessions are free and newcomers are welcome any time.

Reading eWriting offers individualized instruction online. Focus on critical thinking, development of ideas, word choice, and more. Instruction is free. To register, send your name, college, and year to Leora Freedman, the ELL Coordinator.

Financial Survival for Student Families

Having trouble staying afloat? Being in school while supporting yourself and your family on OSAP can make for a tight budget. Join University financial experts and a student panel discussing access to grants and scholarships, financial tips and responsible money management at this workshop on January 27.

Application deadlines for study abroad programs coming soon

Are you interested in studying abroad? The Centre for International Experience selects students for most exchange programs and institutions once per academic year, during the winter session. January 17 is the early deadline for some destinations and February 28 is the deadline for most destinations.

Three- to six-week summer courses are also available through the Summer Abroad program. Information sessions are taking place throughout January and February and the deadline for applications is March 1.