This Week @ York for Week of March 9, 2021

Announcement

  • Announcement: Restricting Use of Online Proctoring for Examinations. In response to some challenges associated with online proctoring of exams, and in accordance with the principle of maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity in the examination process, York University Senate Executive have made the decision that, effective for the Summer 2021 terms and for the duration of the disruption caused by COVID-19, any form of online proctoring will not be used except in exceptional circumstances. Read the complete statement here.

  • Safe Exam Browser. With the removal of online proctoring is the introduction of Safe Exam Browser (SEB), a customized web browser that may be enabled by instructors for use during online quizzes and exams. SEB differs from online proctoring tools because activity is not monitored and no data is recorded. Read more about Safe Exam Browser here.

  • UIT Announcement: There will be two upcoming network maintenance disruptions as UIT upgrades the data centre network. The maintenance will occur on Thursday, March 11 from 6 to 6:30 a.m. and Saturday, March 13, between 10 p.m. on Friday, March 12 to 8.30 a.m. This maintenance will enhance performance and reliability to many systems and applications at York. During this maintenance period, there will be intermittent outages that could last up to 60 minutes to many services, including major University applications such as the University's main website and eClass.

Connect with Community

  • Inclusion Days 2021. Join the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion in a series of free talks and interactive, skills-based workshops to explore and engage with belonging as a concept and a nexus between equity, diversity and inclusion. Click the link for event descriptions and registration links.

  • All-Community Virtual Town Hall.  Join President Rhonda Lenton and other York senior leaders at this all-community Virtual Town Hall to discuss the Framework & Draft Action Plan on Black Inclusion. The panel will answer questions from students, staff, instructors and faculty concerning the upcoming months. Submit your questions in advance using this Virtual Town Hall question submission form. Thursday, March 18, 2:30 to 4 p.m.

  • Undergraduate Research Fair & Art Walk. Log on and attend one of the most anticipated and uplifting events of the academic year. The Fair & Art Walk honours student researchers and provides them with an opportunity to share work that creates positive change. Registered attendees can log into the Undergraduate Research Fair to browse posters, participate in student panel discussions and watch an awards ceremony. Wednesday, March 10, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Registration required.

  • Call for Nominations: The Robert Everett Exceptional Leadership in Student Governance Award 2021. Do you know a York student actively engaged in governance life, whose efforts and contributions are making a difference at the University? Recipients of the award will have a notation included on their transcript, receive a certificate and have their name included on a plaque placed in the Dr. Robert Everett Senate Chamber. Nomination Deadline: Friday, March 26.

  • The Student Senator Caucus (SSC) is now accepting nominations for graduate/professional student nominees, from full-time graduate students who are eligible two maintain their full-time status for the duration of the two-year appointment. Visit the website above for information about student nominee to the Board of Governors. Nomination Deadline: Friday, March 12. Late or incomplete forms will not be accepted.

  • The University Academic Plan and the Pandemic: Challenges and Opportunities for the Teaching and Research Priorities. You're invited to attend the first of two planning sessions centred on the 2020-2025 University Academic Plan (UAP). This session will focus on how we can best support the UAP teaching priorities in view of the seismic events of 2020-2021 and the actions needed over the next one to two years to keep our academic mission on track to purposefully shape the post-pandemic future of the University. Thursday, March 11, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Registration required.

Student Support Services

  • What's new with SAVY? Did you know that SAVY is constantly being updated to answer more of your questions every single week? Most recently, SAVY has added responses to questions about York’s Libraries and their workshops, information about Learning Skills Services, new details about Markham campus and more! SAVY can answer these and so many more of your questions. You can talk to SAVY by clicking the buttons in eClass or on the Current Students website. 

Learning Skills

  • Check out the new Student Guide to Group Work! This eLearning resource is designed to help you learn the fundamentals of group work, through four short videos and a variety of downloadable tools and resources.

Money Matters

  • Employment Opportunity: Student Community & Leadership Development and their partners in Student Counselling, Health & Well-being, Learning Skills Services and Residence Life are now accepting applications for Peer Leader positions! Build leadership skills, community connections and York pride. Enhance your academic goals through paid work-study positions. Open to current undergraduate students. Now accepting applications for Summer & Fall/Winter Term 2021.

Health & Wellness

  • Workshop: Mastering Sleep During Covid-19. Join this workshop and explore the impact that poor sleep has on our bodies, minds and academics, especially within the context of the pandemic. Thursday, March 11, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration required. Bonus: Participants will be entered to win an Uber Eats gift card.

  • Workshop: Food and Mood. Log in and learn about how the food you consume can affect your grades and your ability to handle challenges and stressors. Discuss the relationship between nutrition and food choices and how it impacts student well-being. Hear about some mood-boosting foods along with some simple and practical recipes for a student budget. Thursday, March 11, 11 a.m to noon. Registration required. Bonus: Participants will be entered to win an Uber Eats gift card.

  • Workshop: Overcoming Procrastination. Attend this online session and learn some tips and strategies to help you overcome procrastination, and how it is related to both our mental and physical health. Registration required. Bonus: Participants will be entered to win an Uber Eats gift card. Friday, March 12, 11 a.m. to noon.  Registration required. Bonus: Participants will be entered an Uber Eats gift card.

  • Live Cooking Demo: Brain Boosting Snacks for Exam Season. Join Athletics & Recreation’s Nutrition Coach as they walk you through three easy and affordable snack ideas to help you during your long study sessions this exam season. Monday, March 15, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration required. Bonus: Participants will be entered an Uber Eats gift card.

Academics

  • Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships for Black & Indigenous Scholars at York University. York is excited to launch a new Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Black and Indigenous Scholars, as part of the commitment to promoting justice and embracing a variety of scholarly perspectives, backgrounds and lived experiences. The program will offer emerging scholars from a wide range of disciplines access to the financial support, mentorship and career development opportunities needed to build the foundation for a successful professional future. Application Deadline: Thursday, April 1.

Worth Repeating

  • Writing Centre One-To-One and Drop-in Appointments. The Writing Centre invites you to bring any academics-related writing to a 50-minute one-to-one appointment with a writing expert. They’re open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you don't have time for a full appointment, drop in for a 15-minute session to have a question answered. They’re always happy to help.

  • Student Accessibility Services continues to meet with students virtually! Students already registered with Student Accessibility Services can connect with their Accessibility Counsellor by email or via sasinfo@yorku.ca.

    To learn more, join one of their Information Sessions on the first Monday of each month from noon to 1 p.m.  You can find the Zoom link on the York Events Calendar. If you are interested in registering with Student Accessibility Services, visit the New Students page on their website.