by Eleni Kanavas
As another school year approaches, many university students face the challenge of finding a part-time job that fits into their busy schedule. But many UTSC students may be unaware of the vast number of interesting work and volunteer opportunities available on campus, according to officials here.
The Experience UTSC Fair has been organized to raise awareness of these opportunities for students. This year marks the first time that a combined on-campus work and volunteer fair has been organized here. The fair will be jointly hosted by the Academic Advising & Career Centre and UTSC Human Resource Services. Coordinators of the event say the event will showcase both job opportunities and exciting volunteer experiences for students.
All students are welcome to attend the fair on Wednesday, September 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Meeting Place. Students will have the opportunity to meet with participating departmental representatives who offer part-time, work-study and volunteer opportunities on campus.
“The purpose of this event is to acquaint students early in the year with the range of paid and volunteer experiences available to them here at UTSC and to enhance their learning and development,” said Marg Lacy, employment development coordinator for the Academic Advising & Career Centre.
The Experience UTSC Fair was developed in partnership with Human Resource Services to meet the needs of campus employers and to engage students in various employment opportunities related to their field of study and other areas of interest at U of T Scarborough.
“It was important that Human Resource Services partnered with the Academic Advising & Career Centre because we are here to service the employers on campus and to provide the tools they need in order to be successful in hiring and training their staff,” said Marilyn Kwan, human resources generalist at UTSC.
During the school year, the Academic Advising & Career Centre hosts a variety of fairs to help students network with employers and other professionals from different organizations. These events include: the Professional and Graduate School Fair, the Volunteer & Internship Fair, the International Opportunities Fair, the Summer Job Fair, and the Career Information Fair.
“We are a team that provides academic advising and career counseling, as well as employment services to our students,” said Ruth Louden, assistant director of the Academic Advising & Career Centre. “We do this through support services in our resource centre, one-on-one appointments and through our workshops, event planning and programming.”
The jobs range from laboratory assistants to administrative support roles, and many different positions are advertised through the UTSC Career Centre. Students can register for an online account at www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc and select the “jobs” box to view listings for September and year-round.
Despite the listings, an estimated 80 per cent of jobs are never advertised, according to the advisors. Many positions are instead filled by “word of mouth” and so job seekers are encouraged to network, volunteer and be active.
“The number of volunteer opportunities on campus is something we want to promote to students as a way of building skills and connections,” Lacy said. “The objective is for them to gain experience in any way, shape or form which can be done through paid work or volunteer,” Lacy said. “Volunteering is a great life experience and we often see students lighten their course load in order to become more involved in various campus activities.”
The AccessAbility office is one of many departments on campus that requires volunteers such as note takers and tutors. Other departments such as the Health and Wellness Centre, SCSU, and the Registrar’s Office, often need assistance.
The Work-Study program provides students with the opportunity to work part-time on campus for the University of Toronto. The program takes place during the fall and winter semesters at U of T, with a summer program unique to UTSC. Eligible students must be taking at least a 60 per cent course load (40 per cent for students with disabilities) and qualify for OSAP. Many of the work-study jobs supplement the student’s current field of study with practical experience or by providing duties useful for exploring future academic programs or career areas. Students interested in the program who have questions about their eligibility should visit the Academic Advising & Career Centre as soon as possible.
For the 2008-2009 fall-winter term, a total of 143 work-study positions were available, and 28 did not get filled. During the summer 2009 term,123 work-study positions were available to students. Statistics on the number of positions filled have not yet been received. Liz Annis, career development coordinator of the Academic Advising and Career Centre says, “the number of vacancies are due in part to a lack of awareness of the opportunities among students, while others may not have qualified.”
Some of the departments participating in the Experience UTSC Fair include: Academic Advising & Career Centre; Arts & Events Programming; Athletics & Recreation; Doris McCarthy Gallery; Health & Wellness Centre; Human Resource Services; Science Engagement Program – Centre for Teaching and Learning; Student Housing & Residence Life; and the Volunteer Network Program.
If you are interested in setting up a booth at the Fair, contact Marg Lacy at mlacy@utsc.utoronto.ca or (416) 208-2759 or Liz Annis at lizannis@utsc.utoronto.ca or (416) 287-7551. The deadline to register is Friday, September 4, 2009. There is no cost to participate but space is limited.
UPCOMING CAREER FAIRS 2009-2010 -
(All are sponsored by the Academic Advising & Career Centre)
Experience UTSC Fair - Wednesday, Sept. 16, 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. inThe Meeting Place.
Professional & Graduate School Fair - Thursday, Oct. 8 (International); Wednesday, Oct. 14, (Canadian); Thursday, Oct. 15, (Canadian), from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. each day in The Meeting Place.
Volunteer & Internship Fair - Wednesday, Nov. 4, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., in The Meeting Place.
International Opportunities Fair - Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in The Meeting Place.
Summer Job Fair - Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in The Meeting Place.
Career Information Fair - Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in The Meeting Place.
For more information, visit www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc.