Do you know an instructor who is great teacher?  Nominate them for ASSU’s Ranjini Ghosh Excellence in Teaching Award!

Criteria for the Award
The award is made on the basis of excellence in teaching and contributions to undergraduate education. In evaluating nominees, the following criteria are considered:
*Stimulates and challenges students’ intellectual capacity
*Is skillful at communicating the course material to students
*Shows mastery of the subject area
*Is highly accessible to students
*Influences development of students’ intellectual and critical skills
*Does anything else you feel makes them an outstanding educator

Eligibility for the Award
Any instructor who taught or is currently teaching in the 2011-12 academic year is
eligible for nomination. Teaching staff of any rank are considered to be instructors:
Full/Associate/Assistant Professors, Senior Lecturer, Lecturer. Teaching Assistants are not eligible for this award. Nominees must also be published in the ASSU ANTI-CALENDAR.

Nomination forms can be picked up from the ASSU Office or downloaded here – RiniTeachingAward

Deadline is Friday, March 2, 2012, 5 p.m

ASSU is excited to team up with Swapsity (www.Swapsity.ca), to help students convert their assets and skills into a NEW currency, to get what they want and need.

Cash is necessary for some things. When possible, we believe you should save your cash and satisfy your needs and wants by swapping or bartering. Swapping can help reduce student debt by using dormant resources to their full potential.

How? Try trading textbooks instead of using your valuable cash. Swap your pre-loved collectibles, video games or electronics. Exchange skills like website design or social media marketing to build your resume. Rides to campus and tutoring fellow students are also very swap-worthy. Have hobbies like photography? You can even use that as currency!

The student swap portal - www.swapsity.ca/uoft - is the newest addition to ASSU’s many resources aimed at improving the conditions around campus and making U of T more green.

You students are smart enough to know that we need a global shift in thinking and habits if we want to maintain economic and environmental sustainability. Is there a better place to start than U of T? The University of Toronto is a leader among North American schools for sustainability and this is another way for students, faculty, staff and alumni to contribute to the university’s eco-initiatives while saving cash.

We would like to engage you in a conversation about collaborative consumption so you can experience the benefits of swapping and sharing pre-loved items, skills, knowledge, talents and time with each other.

Why use cash or credit cards when you can tap into YOUR own currency? Swap on U of T!

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

U of T Student Swap Portal

The U of T student swap portal is an online community for U of T students, professors, staff, and alumni to swap academic and non-academic items and skills with fellow U of T swappers. Check it out here: http://www.swapsity.ca/uoft

ABOUT SWAPSITY

Swapsity, founded by a U of T alumnus, is an online community that fosters collaboration, sustainability, and mindful consumption through barter. Visit our swapping community at www.swapsity.ca to learn more about the world of barter.

The Undergraduate Research Fund has been established, jointly with the Arts & Science Students’ Union (ASSU), to help undergraduate students defray the costs of engaging in research. The purpose of the Fund is to foster research experience at the undergraduate level by providing students with an opportunity to develop a research project of their own, for which there is no other available funding. The Fund should be used for research initiated by students and related to their degree, either through a regular course, an independent study, a research essay, or other academic project supervised by a faculty member. Students may want, for example, to explore in more depth ideas that emerged in a 299Y course, or develop further some implications of the research they have done in a seminar, or undertake the additional research required to turn a final essay into a journal article, etc.

The Fund is open to all Arts & Science students in good academic standing – no minimum GPA is required. Group research is eligible (with a maximum of three students per group). There will be two competitions per year:  November 28, 2011 and March 12, 2012.

For more details, click here.

Another year for Project: Universal Minds is here!  Applications are now open for tutors in our high-school tutorship program. Tutors go into area high-schools to help students in Math, Science, and English.   Applications are available online!  This is a great way to get involved!!

For more information and the application form click here.

APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED!!

The new 2010-11 ASSU ANTI-CALENDARS are now available for pick up in our office!!!!  Or view it online.

Urmila (Uma) Sarkar Award for Outstanding Service to Students - This award goes to a member of the University who has gone beyond their regular duties and responsibilities to assist the students in our Faculty.  With the award, a donation of $500 is given to a cause/charity in their name.
-East Asian Studies Students’ Union (EASSU)

Terry Buckland Award for Diversity and Equity in Education - This award is presented to an individual who has been outstanding in promoting diversity and equity issues at the University.  The winner receives a plaque and cash prize of $250. from ASSU.
-Dr. Rod Michalko, Lecturer, Equity Studies

Sanjeev (Sanj) Dewett Course Union of the Year Award – This is for the most active Course Union of the year who have fulfilled all ASSU requirements, emphasis is placed on academic activities.  A plaque is presented as well has a cheque for $150 to the Course Union. The Department also receives $100 to be awarded as a book prize to a student in their department – this is done in consultation with the Course Union.
-Mathematics Union

Ranjini (Rini) Ghosh Excellence in Teaching Award – This is presented to an instructor who has excellent teaching skills and has given permission to be published in the ASSU ANTI-CALENDAR. The recipient is given a plaque and $500 is donated to a cause/charity in their name.
-Professor Nicholas Everett, Department of History

William R. Gardner Student Leadership Award – Given to a student who has shown leadership both on campus and in the community.
-Carina Chan – winner ($1500)
-David Berkal – runner up ($750)
-Madiha Naseem – runner up ($750 – awarded by Dean’s office)

ASSU Campus Leadership Award – Given to a student who has shown leadership on campus. 
-Brandon Bailey – winner ($1500)
-Jia-Yun Karen Cao – runner up ($750)
-Michael Scott – runner up ($750)

First Year Campus Involvement Award – Given to first year students who have shown initiative to get involved on campus in their first year.  Each recipient receives $200.
-Adam Chan
-Jessica Wong
-Hannah Hong

Use the 2010 Summer Anti-Calendar to choose your 2011 Summer Courses.  Hard copies are also available in the ASSU office for pick up.

2010SummerAntiCalendar

The Arts and Science Students’ Union and the University of Toronto are holding a small memorial on Friday so that his friends and colleagues can come together and celebrate his life. The organizers hope to honour his wishes in keeping this memorial simple and modest.

The reception will be held on September 18, 2009 at 4 pm on the second floor of the University of Toronto Multi-faith Centre located at 569 Spadina Avenue.

Terry felt very strongly about the development of area studies at the University of Toronto and over the years had helped ASSU Presidents take a stand on this very important issue. He held a particular affinity to South Asian Studies and over the years had built a strong working relationship with the program and its former home, New College. In his memory, New College and ASSU are working to put together an endowed Bursary fund, the “Terry Buckland Memorial Bursary” which will generate at least one bursary every year for a student interested in social justice and equity issues in South Asia. In lieu of flowers, donations to the “Terry Buckland Memorial Fund” will be accepted at the reception.

It is with deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Terry Buckland. Terry was the long time Executive Assistant and had been with the Union since 1984. Terry passed in hospital after a long illness. All of the Executive, as well as countless members of the university community mourn the passing of such a caring and dedicated person.

Terry’s dedication to social justice and education infected the students who came through the office, and his passion and knowledge will be sorely missed.

Preparations are being made to honour his memory, inquires can be made at 416-978-4903 or students.assu@utoronto.ca