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Molecular Genetics, Department of

sgupta — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:17 +0000

Molecular Genetics, Department of sgupta Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:47

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https://moleculargenetics.utoronto.ca

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St. George

Medical Science, Institute of

sgupta — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:17 +0000

Medical Science, Institute of sgupta Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:47

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https://ims.utoronto.ca

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St. George

Graduate Studies, School of

sgupta — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:13 +0000

Graduate Studies, School of sgupta Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:47

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https://www.sgs.utoronto.ca

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St. George

Graduate Students' Union

sgupta — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:13 +0000

Graduate Students' Union sgupta Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:47

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https://utgsu.ca

Graduate House

sgupta — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:13 +0000

Graduate House sgupta Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:47

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https://gradhouse.utoronto.ca

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St. George

Graduate students identify strategies to boost morale, mental health

sgupta — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 11:41:52 +0000

Graduate students identify strategies to boost morale, mental health sgupta Wed, 12/16/2015 - 06:41

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Graduate student mental health is a widely recognized problem across universities, say organizers of a recent workshop (photo by Jason Krygier-Baum)

Terry Lavender

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Terry Lavender

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Workshop participants say faculty and staff can help by encouraging student collaboration, providing positive feedback

“We need more guided discussions with peers to discuss grad school issues more openly and honesty.”

“It was really useful to hear from other students that difficulties are common, that it’s not just me.”

Those were some of the comments from participants after a recent mental health workshop for ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) graduate students. The workshop was a resounding success, according to organizers Tess Grainger, Alex De Serrano and Rachel Germain, and will be used as a model for future workshops in other U of T departments, starting with the Faculty of Information in January.

The workshop was jointly organized by the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Student Association and the School of Graduate Studies.

“Graduate student mental health is a widely recognized problem across universities,” Grainger, De Serrano and Germain said in a report evaluating the workshop.

Workshop participants identified a number of challenges to mental health and morale posed by grad school, such as isolation and competiveness, imposter syndrome (the conviction that you do not deserve the success you have achieved), supervisor-student conflict, work-life balance and financial and career instability. Strategies were proposed to tackle some of these challenges including open and honest communication with supervisors, more interaction with peers to deal with feelings of isolation and scheduling guilt-free time off.

The participants said faculty and staff can also help, for example, by encouraging short-term projects that can serve as morale boosters, encouraging student collaboration and giving students positive feedback.

“The students reported feeling relieved to hear that other students suffer from imposter syndrome and other health and wellness issues related to grad school,” said Grainger, De Serrano and Germain. “Students were also happy that counselors from SGS, Health and Wellness, and the Crisis Resolution Centre attended to provide specific advice on when students could use their services; meeting these counselors in person was a great way for students to put a face to the resources that are available.”

Workshop participants recommended further workshops dealing with specific topics, such as depression/anxiety and maintaining positive student-supervisor relationships. They also recommended workshops for faculty on identifying and helping students in distress and strategies for student-supervisor relationships.

The organizers said they briefed EEB faculty on the results of the workshop. “They seemed surprised to hear that mental health was an issue in our department and wanted to know how they could help.”

U of T offers a number of mental health services for graduate students at the departmental and faculty levels as well as through the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). For example, the SGS has a counsellor who specializes in graduate study issues, including depression, anxiety and stress management. It also offers workshops on coping skills, grief, mindfulness and other topics. The school is also establishing a conflict resolution centre in January 2016.

Learn more about graduate counselling services

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Former home of Sir John A. Macdonald, Oliver Mowat to get upgrades for grad students

sgupta — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 15:23:04 +0000

Former home of Sir John A. Macdonald, Oliver Mowat to get upgrades for grad students sgupta Wed, 12/09/2015 - 10:23

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U of T has the largest graduate school in Canada, with more than 17,000 students in about 280 graduate degree programs (Photo by Johnny Guatto)

Terry Lavender

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Creating "more welcoming space" with student lounge, better facilities and services

It’s said that the ghost of Sir John A. Macdonald still haunts 63 St. George St., where he lived almost 140 years ago.

If the story of an apparition of a man in a frock coat on the second floor is true, then Sir John A.’s spirit will probably approve of the planned renovations to his former property, now occupied by U of T’s School of Graduate Studies.

The renovations will not only restore the house’s heritage features, but also improve services, according to Locke Rowe, dean of graduate studies and vice-provost, graduate research and education.

“We’re making it a more welcoming space for graduate students,” Rowe said.

The heritage-listed building was built in 1872 and occupied by MacDonald from 1876 to 1878. It was later owned and occupied by Ontario premier Oliver Mowat. Knox College took over in 1910 and now leases the house to U of T for use by SGS, which also occupies the house next door.

Both buildings need work but priority is being given to Macdonald-Mowat House as it is used more by students. The neighbouring property at 65 St. George St., consisting mostly of administrative offices, is in better condition.

Services offered at Macdonald-Mowat House will be temporarily relocated to 704 Spadina Ave. (near Sussex Street) beginning Dec. 14. Renovations are expected to take about six months to complete.

Many graduate students defend their thesis or dissertation at Macdonald-Mowat House. One of the aims of the renovations is to create better rooms for these defences, said Josie Lalonde, SGS associate director, student services.

(At right: one of the unrenovated rooms used for students defending their thesis or dissertation/ photo by Johnny Guatto)

“Their defence date is one of the most important days of their lives up to that point,” Lalonde said. “We want to make sure that it’s a special experience and that the space honours that.”

Many rooms and corridors were subdivided over the years, especially when the building was used as a student residence in the 1960s. Fire escape stairwells were added, detracting from the exterior appearance.

As part of the renovations, offices will be reorganized and non-structural partitions removed. Heritage features are to be restored.

(Below, a room that has already been renovated for students defending their thesis or dissertation/ photo by Johnny Guatto)

Washrooms will also be updated. Mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems will be improved and windows replaced.

The building’s original library will be restored and converted into a student lounge. There will be additional student services for grad students, including mental health services, services for international students, and graduate professional development.

“We’re focused on the graduate student experience,” Rowe said. “We’re providing more services to graduate students, and the building will allow us to do so, and in a more welcoming manner.”

Students are looking forward to the renovations, said Caitlin Campisi, internal commissioner for the U of T Graduate Students’ Union, and a doctoral student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

“Graduate students will benefit greatly from the provision of graduate-student-specific services, such as embedded counselling services and graduate professional development programs, in a centralized and accessible location.”

U of T has the largest graduate school in Canada, with more than 17,000 students in about 280 graduate degree programs. In addition to its role in enhancing the student experience and pursuing innovation in programming, the School of Graduate Studies defines and administers university-wide regulations for graduate education; deals with such issues as program delivery, performance standards, equity and ethical conduct; and provides awards and financial assistance.

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