Dwayne’s World – September 2024

Dwayne’s World – September 2024
Goodbye Summer, Hello New School Year

Author:
Vice Provost, Strategic Enrolment Management: Dwayne Benjamin

It’s hard to believe that another academic year is upon us. September is a month imbued with a sense of anticipation, as we fall into familiar back-to-school rhythms and the campus becomes more energized. 

Of course, it’s hard not to feel a sense of loss now that summer is behind us. Coincidentally, the guitar song I’m currently learning, ‘Trains’ by Porcupine Tree, captures this melancholy, with themes that reflect the sadness of summer’s end (among other emotions). While a beautiful piece, it certainly doesn’t celebrate September (so bring on Earth, Wind and Fire). 

It was great to see many of you at our “Fall Kick Off” event on August 27 – held earlier than usual because of the successful alignment of sessional dates across all first-entry divisions, thanks to our University Registrar’s Office!  

Dwayne Benjamin, Vice Provst, Strategic Enrolment Management, welcomes VPSEM staff to the Fall Kick Off Event.
Staff enjoying the VPSEM Fall Kick Off Event.

I am looking forward to a busy, productive year marked by a slate of exciting projects, new and ongoing. Here is a small sampling of things that are in the works across our teams, as well as some of the regular work we do to enhance the experience of our students: 

  • The development of a wholly redesigned Future Students website, which will improve outreach efforts and wayfinding for prospective students; 
  • The continued implementation of Service Level Agreements with first-entry divisions to provide additional, targeted admissions services; 
  • The review of current policies and procedures related to the use of instructional space (i.e., classrooms) at U of T, with the objective of identifying gaps and discrepancies across these documents as well as opportunities to streamline; 
  • Continued work to identify requirements for a future Student Information System and to develop a proposal to transform the current SIS (ROSI); 
  • A review of current final exam administrative processes and practices with the goal of supporting student success by identifying best practices, common principles, and opportunities to streamline processes; 
  • Streamlining Pearson and National Scholarships and moving both application processes into Slate;  
  • Implementation of the recommendations from the Office of Convocation review;  
  • The timely disbursement of grants and loans to students to ensure a successful start to their year; 
  • Critical beginning-of-term frontline support for students provided by our Client Services team.

I am happy to note that the Client Services team has returned to 172 St. George after operating out of the School of Continuing Studies (SCS) for the summer months, due to the June flood at 172. We are grateful to SCS for accommodating our team so they could continue to provide essential in-person services to students. We hope to welcome the rest of 172’s usual occupants back in the coming months.

Thank you for your continued work in support of our students.