Academic & Personal Counselling

The Office of the Registrar and Student Services

The Office of the Registrar and Student Services provides academic advising, counselling on financial and personal matters, and other support services for all John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design (Daniels) students.  

The Office of the Registrar and Student Services (ORSS) is the primary intersection for student information and advice, and should be consulted as soon as any problems or questions of an academic or personal nature are encountered. The office is the first stop for students to find answers to any questions during their undergraduate career.  ORSS addresses all matters relating to Daniels students: it coordinates counselling, registration, enrolment, student records, transfer credit, petitions, final examinations, and graduation.  Students with complaints or problems relating to the teaching of Daniels Faculty courses (lectures, tutorials, evaluation, workload, etc.) that they cannot resolve with the instructors concerned can obtain advice and assistance from the Office of the Registrar and Student Services. 

Students registered at Daniels who have problems with Faculty of Arts & Science courses should go for advice either to the Faculty of Arts & Science departmental Undergraduate Administrator or to the Office of the Registrar and Student Services at Daniels. Students with questions about any aspect of their undergraduate experience can visit us at 1 Spadina Crescent or can e-mail the Office of the Registrar and Student Services at registrar@daniels.utoronto.ca.

Office of the Registrar and Student Services

Location:  DA100 (Ground floor), 1 Spadina Crescent, Toronto, ON  M5S 2J5

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (9:30am to 4:30pm) and Wednesday (10:30am to 4:30pm).

Email: registrar@daniels.utoronto.ca  Phone:  416-946-3897
Website: https://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/students/current-students

Services and Programs for Students

Academic Support

The Office of the Registrar and Student Services is a reliable first stop for students who have questions or concerns or are facing issues that are getting in the way their success.  The staff within the Office of the Registrar and Student Services can provide advice and guidance on virtually all matters relating to Daniels Students.

The Centre for Learning Strategy and Support offers students the chance to develop skills in time management, exam preparation, textbook reading, and note-taking, and in dealing with anxiety, procrastination, and perfectionism.  

• Students can connect with a learning strategist for individualized support to:
• Learn to manage time and stress, and address procrastination issues
• Develop new strategies including active studying, reading and note-taking, and exam preparation
• Improve research, assignment completion and presentation skills
• Navigate the University’s academic systems and services

Contact.   Centre for Learning Strategy Support Reception. 800 Bay Street, 5th floor Toronto, ON M5S 3A9. clss@ytoronto.ca  Hours: Monday - Friday 8:45am to 5pm

Academic accommodations are arranged through Accessibility Services when students experience disability-related barriers in demonstrating their knowledge and skills. It is extremely important that you contact the office as soon as you are accepted to UofT so that it is possible for accommodations to be arranged prior to the start of classes. 
455 Spadina Ave, Suite 400.   416-978-8060.

First Nations House provides culturally relevant services to Aboriginal students in support of academic success, personal growth and leadership development.  They also offer learning opportunities for all students to engage with Aboriginal communities within the University of Toronto and beyond.
416-978-8227

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Writing Centre

The Writing Centre at Daniels is a resource for students seeking assistance with academic writing, research, and related academic skills.  The Writing Centre currently offers consultation-based writing instruction. Consultations may involve a wide range of approaches to academic thinking, research, and writing, including (but not limited to):

• Creative and critical thinking
• Idea-generation exercises and tools, including mind-maps, outlines, dictionaries, thesauri, web searches, and a variety of word play and other experimental methods
• Analysis of design, culture, historical topics, texts, etc.
• Review of readings and assignment sheets
• Review of composition elements, such as the thesis, the topic sentence, etc.
• Discussion of research methods
• Conversation and transcription
• Discussion of grammar and syntax

During the Fall/Winter academic session, students may access the online appointment booking system at: https://uoft.me/writingcentres (waitlists available)

It is recommended to schedule several appointments in advance according to assignment deadlines.

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Careers

Students do not have to look far at the University to find part-time work. The Career Centre post thousands of paid and volunteer jobs each year from on- and off-campus employers who feel that a student would make a valuable part of their team.  The Career Centre provides career education and experiential opportunities, which foster career clarity and build skills and lifelong competencies. In addition, throughout the fall and winter semesters Daniels students have access to their own on-location career educator for support and skills development on site at 1 Spadina Cres (days/times TBC)

Email:  careerservices@utoronto.ca.   

Location: 800 Bay St., 5th floor.

Work-study opportunities are also available to students in the Daniels Faculty.  The work-study program is an excellent opportunity to build skills while working in one of the many offices, departments, labs, libraries, and gallery spaces on campus.  The Daniels Faculty has work-study opportunities available with individual faculty members and in an administrative capacity. Work-study positions are posted and managed through the Career Centre.

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International Students

International students who wish to work off campus, or who want to work in Canada after graduating should contact the Centre for International Experience for assistance with work and post-graduation work permit applications.  The Centre for International Experience is also a meeting place for a diverse community of international students coming to the University as well as for domestic students looking to go abroad. 

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Diversity & Equity

Diversity and equity are fundamental values at the University of Toronto.  Students from every background are supported by policies and resources that help create an inclusive environment and one that actively works against discrimination.

The Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (SGDO) develops partnerships to build supportive learning and working communities at the University of Toronto by working towards equity and challenging discrimination. The Office provides innovative education, programming, resources and advocacy on sexual and gender diversity for students, staff and faculty across the University’s three campuses.
416-946-5624

The Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre is here to help and support students, staff and faculty at the University of Toronto who have been affected by sexual violence or sexual harassment.
416-978-2266 

The Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office provides complaint management and resolution for issues related to discrimination or harassment based on race, ancestry, place of origin, religion, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship or creed.  You are also welcome to contact the office if you are seeking a forum to discuss ideas that will strengthen U of T's diverse community and its commitment to an equitable environment.
416-978-1259

U of T's Multi-Faith Centre for Spiritual Study and Practice was created to provide a place for students, staff and faculty of all spiritual beliefs to learn to respect and understand one another.  The Centre facilitates an accepting environment where members of various communities can reflect, worship, contemplate, teach, read, study, celebrate, mourn and share.
416-946-3120 

Accessibility Services provides services and resources to students with all types of disabilities, such as physical, sensory, medical, mental health, learning and temporary.
416-978-8060 

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Family Life

The Family Care Office provides free confidential information, guidance, referrals, and advocacy for students, staff, faculty, and their families.  Students can take advantage of free workshops, support groups, and seminars.  Family Care Office Resource Centre contains practical information on a broad range of family care issues, from pregnancy and infant care to lesbian and gay parenting, from special needs children to caring for elderly family members.
416-978-0951 

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Community Safety

The Community Safety Office addresses personal and community safety issues for students, staff, and faculty across all three campuses.  The office provides assistance to students, staff, and faculty who have had their personal safety compromised, develops and delivers educational initiatives addressing personal safety, promotes and delivers self defense courses on campus, and coordinates and responds to critical incidents on campus.
416-978-1485 

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Community Service

A student's learning experience is by no means limited to the campus precinct.  There are so many reasons to volunteer in the University of Toronto community or for one of the hundreds of causes in the Greater Toronto Area —students will not only gain valuable skills that will better prepare them for the working world, but also become more well-rounded and enjoy the fulfillment of helping others. 

The University provides students with opportunities to get involved in community work through volunteer postings, the Centre for Community Partnerships, volunteer chapters, volunteer fairs, and initiatives led by student groups. 

Regularly checking volunteer postings is the perfect way to get a feel for the wide range of opportunities that exist.  Whether looking for experience in a specific area or are hoping to get ideas on how broaden your horizons, feel free to review postings throughout the school year.  Off-campus volunteer jobs are posted at the Career Centre.  On-campus volunteer jobs are posted on Ulife. 

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Clubs and Leadership Development

The Clubs and Leadership Development (CALD) team support students who are in formal leadership positions (clubs, groups, representative leaders), those looking to get involved in leadership opportunities, and staff who support student leaders. The team has resources focused on skill development, leadership development, self-awareness, team dynamics, and communication and conflict resolution, and we deliver these materials through training sessions and in collaboration with initiatives across the Division of Student Life. We also provide space for recognized clubs and groups at the 21 Sussex Club House and a drop-in lounge for student leaders.

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Mentorship & Peer Programs

The Mentorship and Peer Programs (MAPP) team provides training, professional development, programming, events, and resources to students involved in academic, wellness, community engagement, and mentorship peer programs. We provide a central hub for student colleagues, staff and faculty who promote student success.

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Daniels Mentorship Program

The Daniels Mentorship Program provides first-year students with the opportunity to connect with other first-year students and upper-year students to develop friendships and to learn about resources, opportunities, and life at the Daniels Faculty and University of Toronto.  Students who wish to participate in the Daniels Mentorship Program can sign up on the Daniels website. mentorship@daniels.utoronto.ca

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Rights & Responsibilities

The University of Toronto respects and upholds all students' rights but also entrusts every student with certain responsibilities and expects them to be familiar with, and follow, the policies developed to protect everyone's safety, security, and integrity.

A directory of the policies, guidelines and resources that relate to your conduct as a student at the University of Toronto can be found on the Office of the Vice-Provost, Students website. 
All University policies can be found in the Governing Council Policies website.

U of T is committed to fairness in its dealings with its individual members and to ensuring that their rights are protected.  In support of this commitment, the Office of the University Ombudsperson operates independently of the administration, being accountable only to the Governing Council, and has unrestricted access to all University authorities.

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Faith & Spirituality

The University of Toronto's Multi-Faith Centre for Spiritual Study and Practice was created to provide a place for students, staff and faculty of all spiritual beliefs to learn to respect and understand one another.  The Multi-Faith centre supports the spiritual well-being of everyone on campus and provides opportunities for people to learn from each other while exploring questions of meaning, purpose and identity.  The facilites and programs accomodate a wide range of spiritual and faith-based practices and encourage interfaith dialogue and spiritual development as part of the learning experience of all students.

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Housing

The University of Toronto Student Housing Service is a year-round source of up-to-date housing information for off-campus, single student residence, and student family housing.  An online registry of off-campus housing is available to U of T students, providing listings for both individual and shared accommodations. 

Student Housing Services also provides emergency and temporary housing for all U of T students.  Contact them to get connected with an emergency housing coordinator.

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Health & Wellness

Wellness refers to overall physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social condition, not simply the absence of illness.  When a student is not feeling at their best, the friendly team at the Health and Wellness Centre offers a wide range of services to support students in achieving their personal and academic best. The Health & Wellness team includes family physicians, registered nurses, counsellors, psychiatrists, a dietitian, and support staff.  They provide confidential, student-centered health care, including comprehensive medical care, immunization, sexual health care, counselling and referrals.  Services are available to all full- and part-time students who possess a valid TCard and have health insurance coverage. 

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Student Unions and Associations 

Architectural and Visual Studies Student Union (AVSSU)

The Architecture and Visual Studies Student Union (AVSSU) is a democratically elected student government established in 2014.  They represent, and advocate for the rights of, the undergraduate student body at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto. 

AVSSU dedicates its resources to improve the university experience and create a diverse community for our Daniels students.  They promote an inclusive environment between all students to build a strong, nurturing, and connected student experience. Academically, AVSSU advocates easy access to resources and facilitate communications between students, professors, and the faculty.  Outside the classroom, AVSSU promotes the use of the city as a place of further exploration, a learning tool, through art communities and urban fabric of the city itself. 

As the undergraduate programs grow into their place in the Daniels Faculty, AVSSU plans to continuously grow and adapt with them to best serve all of the future students of architecture and visual studies.

University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU)

The University of Toronto Students' Union represents all 50,000 full-time undergraduate and professional faculty students at UofT's St. George and Mississauga campuses.  They work to build community on campus and ensure students have the best possible student experience while at the University. 

UTSU is governed by a Board of Directors selected from every college and faculty at the University.  There are also six Executive Committee members who work full-time to advance the goals and programs of the Students' Union. 

UTSU employs nine full-time staff members as well as nearly 100 part-time student staff to deliver services, coordinate programming, and plan events to enrich the campus life experience.

Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students (APUS)

All part-time undergraduate students at the University of Toronto are members of the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students (APUS).  The role of the Association is to ensure its members have access to a broad range of services, programmes, and resources within the University.  This is achieved by representing part-time students throughout the decision-making process of the University, and of governments, as well as by acting as a voice for the concerns of its members. 

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Awards

For students with particularly noteworthy academic results, there are three specific forms of recognition:

Recognition of Exceptional Academic Achievement: “Dean’s List Scholar”

This designation is given at the end of the Fall/Winter or Summer session to Daniels Faculty degree students who successfully complete their fifth, tenth, fifteenth, or twentieth degree credit* in the Faculty with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.50 or higher.

*The following courses are included in this credit count for the Dean's List:

• Daniels Faculty courses completed for degree credit;
• Courses in other divisions (e.g. Faculty of Arts & Science, St. George) completed for degree credit while registered as a student in the Daniels Faculty;
• Retained Credits: Courses completed while registered as a student in the Faculty of Arts & Science (St. George);
• Courses completed with a final standing of "CR" or "P" which meet the criteria above.

Excluded from this credit count for the Dean's List are:

• Transfer Credits from secondary school (e.g. AP, IB, GCE, etc.) and/or other post-secondary institutions;
• Other division courses (e.g. FAS, UTM, UTSC, etc.) completed while registered as a student in a division other than the Daniels Faculty except those that are retained;
• Courses designated "Extra" on a student's academic record;
• EDU courses taken as part of the Concurrent Teacher Education Program (CTEP).

A “Dean’s List Scholar” notation is automatically added to each qualifying student’s transcript in late July (for those who satisfy the criteria at the end of the Fall/Winter session) and in late October (for those who satisfy the criteria at the end of the Summer session). There is no monetary value. Students who satisfy the criteria but do not receive a transcript notation by the dates above for the appropriate session should write to the Office of the Registrar and Student Services, Room 100, 1 Spadina Crescent, Toronto, ON, M5S 2J5 or at awards@daniels.utoronto.ca . Dean’s List Scholar notations are not applied at the end of the Fall term.

Recognition of Exceptional Academic Achievement: “High Distinction” and “Distinction”

Students who graduate with a Cumulative GPA* of 3.50 or above are described as graduates “With High Distinction”. This achievement is noted on the diploma and transcript. Students who graduate with a Cumulative GPA* of 3.20 to 3.49 are described as graduates “With Distinction”. This achievement is noted on the diploma and transcript.

* Note: the Cumulative GPA must be based on at least 5.0 credits taken for Daniels degree credit.

Faculty Scholarships

The Faculty offers many academically-based scholarships and other awards to exceptional degree students. Full details of these scholarships are available on the Faculty website at https://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/undergraduate-awards.

Study Abroad/Study Elsewhere 

The Centre for International Experience (CIE)

Daniels Students who are interested in studying abroad and completing courses at another academic institution may be eligible to apply for an Outbound Exchange. Outbound Exchanges are run by the Centre for International Experience at the University of Toronto. Students in the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design can earn Faculty of Arts and Science credits while on exchange. Students who wish to earn Architecture or Visual Studies credits, should contact the partner institution or the CIE to verify that the courses they wish to take are open to exchange students. These exchanges allow students to experience new cultures and languages in an academic setting while earning credits towards their degree. Exchanges may be for one term or a full year or summer.

All students considering an Outbound Exchange must review the Daniels Faculty Guidelines for Outbound Exchange on the Daniels website here: https://www.daniels.utoronto.ca/exchange.

The CIE hosts Learning Abroad Info. Sessions and please see their Events page for details.

The cost of an exchange includes the University of Toronto tuition plus incidental fees, along with the cost of living and studying abroad.  While on exchange, students are still eligible to receive government assistance such as OSAP.  There are also many specific scholarships and bursaries run by various U of T offices, and the CIE itself administers a needs-based bursary program; for exchange students who qualify, this bursary will usually cover at least the cost of airfare. 

Eligibility:  In general, undergraduate University of Toronto students who have completed at least one year of full-time studies at Daniels, with a minimum CGPA of 2.25, are eligible to apply.  Students must also achieve a minimum annual GPA of 2.5 for the year during which an application is made.  A few exchange programs do have higher GPA cutoffs, and others have special language requirements. 

Refer to the Learning Abroad website for guidelines on how to plan and apply for an Exchange.

• Be a degree-seeking student within the Daniels Faculty
• Completed at least 4.0 credits at U of T before participating in an exchange
• Minimum CGPA of 2.25
• Not have already received 7.5 transfer credits (including on admission transfer credits)

Destinations:  Students may choose from over 135 universities in the following locations: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea (South), Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, and the West Indies.  Please check the CIE website for an up-to-date listing of exchange partners. 

Application:  Applications for most programs are due mid-January to late February, but students should always check the CIE website regarding the specific exchanges that are of interest.  For more information, contact the CIE: Cumberland House, Room 209 Telephone: (416) 978-2564
learning.abroad@utoronto.ca
Home - University of Toronto - Learning Abroad (utoronto.ca)

Note that students participating in an exchange through the Centre for International Experience will have their credits finalized for transfer upon return.  Students are eligible to participate in up to three terms of exchange.  Exchange semesters can be arranged in multiple ways —full year and additional semester or three consecutive summers or three separate semesters in up to three locations!  The maximum amount of transfer credits a student may earn through exchange is 7.5 credits (provided they do not have more than 2.5 transfer credits already on admission or on Letter of Permission).  In order to be considered for full transfer credits, students must complete the equivalent "full course load" at the host institution.  Note that this term does not refer to the minimum full-time load at an institution.  To find out what constitutes a full course load at the host university, students are to refer to the CIE webpage for that host institution.  Studying at another institution does bring a degree of academic risk.  Although Daniels cannot guarantee that the courses, a student has chosen will receive full credit, all students will receive a fair assessment. 

Summer Abroad Program

Students are also encouraged to consider taking part in a U of T Summer Abroad course (these are different to a summer exchange). Information on Summer 2024 programs will be posted by mid-December.  

The Summer Abroad programs are designed to enrich students' academic lives by providing an exciting and educational international experience. Students complete full-year University of Toronto undergraduate degree credit courses from the Faculty of Arts and Science that are relevant to each location. Relatively small classes (about 25 students on average) are taught by University of Toronto professors or faculty from the host university. All classes, with the exception of languages courses, are taught in English.

One of the most important and engaging aspects of these programs is that the learning is not limited to the classroom. The locations themselves become your "living textbook." You will observe and experience many of the things you study, including the language, history, culture, art, religion, business and politics of the host country.

Since 1972, thousands of students have earned a University of Toronto credit outside of Canada through one of our programs. The responses have been consistently enthusiastic - many previous participants rate their Summer Abroad experience as the best summer of their lives!

In keeping with the University of Toronto's policies on equity, diversity and excellence, the Summer Abroad programs strive to be fully inclusive. Studying abroad presents unique challenges in regard to equity issues. However we seek to ensure to the greatest extend possible that all students enjoy the opportunity to participate in these programs. Our support for equity is grounded in an institution-wide commitment to achieving a working, teaching, and learning environment that is free of discrimination and harassment as defined in the Ontario Human Rights Code. Daniels students are eligible to apply to the Summer Abroad Program. 

Courses:

Students take specially designed University of Toronto undergraduate degree credit courses, relevant to the location, for a period of 3 to 6 weeks.  The courses have field trips that complement and highlight the academic materials.  Courses are taught predominantly by University of Toronto professors and, with the exception of language courses, are offered in English.  Typically, full year second and third year courses are offered in disciplines such as history, political science, management, literature, film, architecture, fine art, religion, and languages.  The Science Abroad program allows students in various science disciplines to earn a full-year research credit while gaining laboratory experience overseas.  Most courses do not have prerequisites. 

All Summer Abroad courses and grades show on students' transcripts as regular U of T credits and are calculated into their cumulative GPA. 

Eligibility:

University of Toronto undergraduate students

• U of T students who have completed one or more courses must have a CGPA of at least 1.75 at the time of application.
• First-year students with no final grades yet may also apply but must have completed a term of study by the time of application.
• Students on academic probation or suspension at the time of application are not eligible to participate.

U of T students in a professional faculty

• Daniels students may enrol in Arts & Science courses as electives.
• Please check with your Faculty to ensure that you have permission to enrol in the course you have chosen.  Once admitted, additional information may be requested from you to assist in your registration.

Application:

Admission to Summer Abroad programs is competitive (decisions are not made on a first-come, first-served basis and there are not necessarily spots for all applicants). Applicants will be assessed on the strength of their overall application including:

• Academic record over the past 12 months
• Relevance of the course to the applicant's program of study
• Personal statement addressing specific questions (which will be listed in the application)
• Additional responses to questions regarding adaptability

Note that Woodsworth College may request additional documents in certain cases. 

Contact:

Please email us at summer.abroad@utoronto.ca for assistance or call 416-978-8713 between 10:30 am and 3:30 pm from Monday to Friday.

Virtual appointments with our Summer Abroad program advisors can be booked online.

Our mailing address is as follows:

Professional and International Programs
Woodsworth College, University of Toronto 
119 St. George Street, 3rd Floor
Phone: 416-978-8713
Fax: 416-946-3516